Pleasant Valley Reservoir
lake in California
This reservoir serves as an afterbay for the Owens River and offers excellent opportunities for stillwater fly fishing from shore, float tube, or boat, particularly for larger holdover fish.
What's working on Pleasant Valley Reservoir
- 01Pleasant Valley Reservoir is fishing well under clear skies and mild fall temperatures.
- 02Stable flows create ideal conditions for wading and float tubing.
- 03October Caddis is providing exciting dry fly opportunities, especially in the late afternoons.
- 04Sporadic Pale Morning Duns (PMDs) and Blue-Winged Olives (BWOs) are active on the surface.
- 05Brown and brook trout spawning is in full swing, making egg patterns highly effective.
- 06Focus efforts along deeper channels, aquatic vegetation, and near the dam/Lower Owens River section for trout and bass.
Past reports week by week
6 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Scud
Freshwater shrimp (scuds) are a consistent year-round food source in reservoirs like Pleasant Valley, especially in areas with aquatic vegetation, making them effective for bluegill and bass.
Blood Dot Egg
Brown and brook trout spawning occurs in the fall at Pleasant Valley Reservoir, making egg patterns highly effective.
Buy at AmazonBlack Woolly Bugger
A versatile streamer that imitates leeches and baitfish, effective for aggressive trout and bass in the cooler fall waters of Pleasant Valley Reservoir.
Olive Woolly Bugger
Another essential streamer pattern for fall, imitating leeches and baitfish that are key forage for trout and bass in Pleasant Valley Reservoir.
Pheasant Tail Nymph
A classic and effective mayfly nymph imitation, a consistent food source for trout year-round, especially in fall.
Buy at AmazonZebra Midge
Midges are a primary and consistent food source year-round, making this weighted nymph crucial for finicky trout in the cooler fall waters of Pleasant Valley Reservoir.
Buy at AmazonOctober Caddis (Dry)
The October Caddis hatch is one of the largest caddis hatches of the year in many western rivers, providing excellent dry fly opportunities in the fall.
Buy at AmazonPMD (Pale Morning Duns)
Pale Morning Duns are actively hatching in fall, providing a key food source for opportunistic feeding trout at Pleasant Valley Reservoir.
Where to fish and who to ask
Intake Tunnel (Pleasant Valley Reservoir)
The upstream end where the Owens River enters, often a hot spot for cruising fish.
Owens River Inflow Channel (Pleasant Valley Reservoir)
This channel can be very productive, especially when fish are migrating or feeding on insect life.
The Gorge (Pleasant Valley Reservoir)
The section near the dam where the reservoir narrows, offering deeper water and good structure.
Fly shops within 40 miles
Sierra Trout Magnet Fly Shop
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California season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
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Quick answers
Common questions about Pleasant Valley Reservoir.
What flies work best on Pleasant Valley Reservoir?
Our top scored fly patterns for Pleasant Valley Reservoir right now are Elk Hair Caddis (90% confidence), Flashback Pheasant Tail Nymph (90% confidence), Parachute Adams (90% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Pleasant Valley Reservoir?
Pleasant Valley Reservoir holds Bluegill, Bass, Trout. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
Is Pleasant Valley Reservoir fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Pleasant Valley Reservoir each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.