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Should I go fishing?
Skip fishing here today.
No access method is recommended today. Review the live conditions below before choosing another river or day.
Fishing rating15
Rating updatedRiver local time:
Why this recommendation?
USGS water temperature is about 93.4F. USGS marks the temperature data provisional and may revise it. Do not pressure trout or salmonids in warm water.
Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighA verified hard stop is active, so the avoid-or-wait decision is clearer than the fishing score itself.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes
Water temperature above salmonid stress threshold
Red Flag Warning issued September 11 at 10:18AM PDT until September 13 at 2:00AM PDT by NWS Reno NV
If you go
- Check first
- Use RiverReports and USGS 10265150 for current flow context near the flume.
- Try
- Confirm the legal public section before fishing. Do not trespass on private ranch water.
- Leave when
- Skip the trip when closure boundaries near the geologic site are active in the reach you planned to fish, when wind ruins long-leader control, when snowmelt muddies the lanes, or when crowding forces you to rush drifts in a tiny public section.
Flow and weather
Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
- Flow
- 38 cfs
- From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.Water 93.4°F · 24h high 101.3°F · USGS provisional
- Air forecast
- 49°F
- Next 24h high
- 80.0°F
NWS air forecast near
- Rain chance
- 0%
Latest stored weather check
Mostly Clear
- Wind
- 5 mph
- Weather checked
More forecast and source details
Mostly Clear
National Weather Service
Hot Creek forecast point
The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.
Live data
Where these readings come from
RiverReports gauge: Hot Creek at Flume near Mammoth Lakes
Water 93.4°F · provisional · 24h high 101.3°F provisionalWater observed · high observed
Flies for this time of year
Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.
- Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWOView fly guide ↗
- Zebra MidgeView fly guide ↗
- Leech PatternsleechView fly guide ↗
- Soft-Hackle Wet Fliessoft hackleView fly guide ↗
See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try
Winter
What to look forMidges and tiny mayflies
Flies to try
Also try scud
Spring
What to look forBWOs, midges, caddis, scuds
Summer
What to look forTricos, caddis, terrestrials
Flies to try
Also try Trico spinner
FallThis season
What to look forBWOs, midges, streamer windows
Flies to try
Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.
More fishing tips
Methods, fish species and trip notes
How to fish Hot Creek today.
Hot Creek is most useful when you slow down. The best plan is a legal access point, a current flow check, a light presentation, and a willingness to watch feeding fish before casting.
Clear normal flow
Use long leaders, tiny flies, and clean downstream or across-stream drifts.
Low and weedy
Target lanes, edges, and sighted fish. Avoid dragging rigs through vegetation.
Stained or high
Use small streamers or visible nymphs only where access is safe and legal.
Geothermal area
Do not enter closed water or closed ground. The danger is real and unrelated to fishing skill.
Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Not recommended todayChoose another river or day
No access method is recommended in today's conditions. Review the live river and weather checks before making another plan.
Wading15/100
Not recommended today. Recheck the river, weather, and access before planning another trip.
Bank fishing15/100
Not recommended today. Recheck the river, weather, and access before planning another trip.
FloatingNot recommended
Not recommended today. Recheck the river, weather, and access before planning another trip.
Full river report
Is Hot Creek worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for California before you go.
Hot Creek is technical, clear, and famous for trout, but the geologic site has serious geothermal hazards and closure rules. Use the fishing access sections, check current rules, and keep presentations light.
Fishing words used on this page
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
- A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
- Cubic feet per second (cfs)
- Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
- Technical fishing
- Technical fishing means the fish are hard to fool, so careful casts and natural drifts matter.
- Nymph
- A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
- Presentation
- Presentation means how you cast and move the fly so it looks natural to a fish.
- Blue-winged olive (BWO)
- Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
- Caddis
- Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
- Emerger
- An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
- Indicator
- An indicator is a small floating marker that can show when a fish takes an underwater fly.
- Midge
- Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
Why this call
Why this score
Water temperatureHurts
USGS water temperature is about 93.4F. USGS marks the temperature data provisional and may revise it. Do not pressure trout or salmonids in warm water.
Public alertHurts
An active alert is in effect: Red Flag Warning issued September 11 at 10:18AM PDT until September 13 at 2:00AM PDT by NWS Reno NV. Check public safety sources before going.
FlowHelps
USGS shows 38 cfs. The flow has been stable over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (1990-2025, 36 readings) show a typical middle range of 34 cfs to 59 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.
SeasonHelps
Fall: Cooler weather brings BWOs, midges, and lighter pressure, with careful stealth still required.
Fishing usefulnessHelps
Skip the trip when closure boundaries near the geologic site are active in the reach you planned to fish, when wind ruins long-leader control, when snowmelt muddies the lanes, or when crowding forces you to rush drifts in a tiny public section.
Trip notes
Check these before you choose a reach.
Use the flume trend as a context check, not a magic number. Stable clear flow is the best signal for technical dry-fly or emerger fishing. Sudden color, weed drag, or a sharp jump in current should push the day toward fewer casts or another creek.
Skip the trip when closure boundaries near the geologic site are active in the reach you planned to fish, when wind ruins long-leader control, when snowmelt muddies the lanes, or when crowding forces you to rush drifts in a tiny public section.
Start by separating three things before you rig: the closed geologic-site area, the private ranch context, and the signed public fishing water. Once the legal access point is settled, watch one weed lane or feeding fish before deciding whether the day should be dries, emergers, or a small indicator rig.
If Hot Creek is too windy, crowded, or legally cramped, pivot to the East Walker for a bigger flow-driven tailwater day or to Hat Creek when you still want technical trout water with more room to move.
Hot Creek access and rules.
Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.
Before you go
Verify current CDFW rules and Inyo National Forest closure notices before fishing. Do not fish in closed Hot Creek Geologic Site areas, and do not enter private water without permission or a valid reservation.
Where to access the river
Public water near Hot Creek Hatchery Road
Use signed public areas and confirm boundaries before fishing.
Hot Creek Ranch boundary context
Private ranch access is not the same as public creek access. Follow reservation and property rules.
Hot Creek Geologic Site
A geothermal viewing area with no-fishing and no-entry safety context in closed areas.
Gorge and lower public sections
Can offer public fishing, but access and safety should be confirmed before committing.
- Inyo National Forest states the Hot Creek Geologic Site has no fishing and serious geothermal hazards.
- Public fishing access and private ranch water are close together, so boundary awareness matters.
- Snow, mud, and road conditions can affect winter and spring access near Mammoth Lakes.
- Small creek size means crowding affects both fishing quality and habitat.
- Use official closures and posted signs over older guidebook descriptions.
Sources and report details
Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
See all 7 checked sources
Rules and closures
Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.
What this source covers
Open the current rules and check the river section, season, and special limits.
Flow and weather
Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
What this source covers
Open this river reading to check the latest level, flow, and update time.
Access and land
Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.
What this source covers
Open the land or access page, then check signs before you park or enter.
More helpful links
Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.
What this source covers
Open this page for more river information and check when it was last updated.
What this source covers
Open this page and check the latest safety advice before your trip.
How this report was checked
How this report was checked
Reviewed byBlueStreamFly River Review Team
Trip guidance checked
What was checked: This report starts with official regulation, access, flow, weather, and public-land sources, then adds practical planning guidance for fly anglers.
Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.
First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.
Quick questions
Can you fish at the Hot Creek Geologic Site?
No. Inyo National Forest lists no fishing at the geologic site. Fish only legal public sections and obey closures.
What flow source should I use?
Use RiverReports and USGS 10265150 at the Hot Creek flume for current flow context.
Should I wade Hot Creek?
Avoid wading when bank presentations work. The creek is small, clear, and sensitive, and some areas are closed for safety.
What flies work best?
Bring tiny midges, BWOs, tricos, scuds, caddis, emergers, ants, beetles, and a few small leeches.