Free Resource · Updated 2026
Hot Creek is a spring creek in the Long Valley Caldera near Mammoth Lakes. The public section is catch-and-release and holds selective wild brown and rainbow trout. PMD and Trico hatches from June through September are the primary events. Midges fish well year-round.
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Hot Creek Hatch Calendar at a Glance
Hot Creek flows through a geothermal landscape in the Long Valley, fed by springs that maintain stable temperatures year-round. The public stretch is a designated wild trout stream managed as catch-and-release. The fish are wild, pressured, and among the most selective trout in California.
The creek is narrow and clear with slow-moving sections that allow trout to inspect every fly carefully. Long leaders of 12 to 15 feet and tippet of 5X to 7X are standard. The fish do not respond to attractor patterns in the clear, slow water. Match the hatch or fish small nymphs and midges.
Trico spinner falls from July through September are the signature event. PMDs fire mid-morning in June through August. Midges are present year-round and provide winter fishing on mild afternoons. Callibaetis mayflies also appear through the summer months.
Planning a trip? Read our Hot Creek fishing guide for access, live flows and local tips.
See the full California Fly Hatch Chart for hatch timing across all of California's top trout streams.
Check Conditions Near Hot CreekWhat to Fish
Trico spinner falls on Hot Creek are an early-morning event. Be on the water before sunrise from July through September. Fish begin rising as spinners hit the surface and the window can be short. The trout feed on the tiny spent flies in the film and refuse anything that drags even slightly. 7X tippet is not unusual here.
Recommended: #22-26 Trico Spinner
PMDs hatch mid-morning and the fish key on the dun and cripple stages. Hot Creek fish are among the most selective in California. Use a Comparadun or CDC dun in the correct size and fish it without any drag. The slow, clear water reveals every mistake.
Recommended: #16-18 Comparadun, CDC Dun
Midges fish well on Hot Creek year-round, especially in winter when other hatches are absent. Cold days from November through March produce midge hatches that bring fish to the surface. A size 24 or 26 midge pupa under a small indicator is the most reliable winter approach.
Recommended: #22-28 Zebra Midge, Griffiths Gnat
Live readings from USGS gages on the river.
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