CROWLEY LAKE

Fly Fishing Crowley Lake: Flies & Tactics

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Crowley Lake is the crown jewel of Eastern Sierra stillwater fly fishing - a big, rich reservoir that grows fat rainbows, browns and cutthroat on a near-endless midge buffet. If you can master the buzzer game here, you can fish stillwater anywhere.
 

Crowley is a midge lake first and foremost. The vast majority of the trout’s diet is chironomid (midge) pupae, which is why buzzers and epoxy buzzers fished under an indicator are the bread and butter here. Depth is everything: fish typically hold and feed between 12 and 20 feet, so set your indicator accordingly and adjust until you find the zone. Productive water includes Sandy Point, the Six Bays, Alligator Point and Hilton Bay.
 

Spring through fall is prime time. Early mornings reward you with calm water and cooperative fish; breezy afternoons can push the bite deeper. Be ready for perch to move through - if you stop catching trout, change depth before you change flies.
 

Top flies for Crowley Lake:

• Black Buzzer and Buzzer Claret - your default midge pupae

• Blood Midges #14 -18 - a Crowley staple

• Epoxy Buzzer Red Pearl and Epoxy Buzzer Green Flex Rib - to get deep, fast

• Buzzer Dark Purple - for bright light and clear water

• BH Krystal Bugger Peacock - when you want to cover water
  
  
  
   

New to Crowley? Chat with us and we’ll help you build a buzzer box for your trip.