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Floating Lower Owens River
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 4:11 pm
by elsbree
Hey all, not sure if this is the best forum to post this in, but I'll be passing through Bishop in a few weekends and was hoping to spend an afternoon floating part of the Owens River near town. Beyond acknowledging that floating the Owens is a fun pastime, I can't find much in the way of details on the ol' web. I was thinking of picking up an innertube and some beers and starting my float from Line Street. I'd take out about two miles down the river near the ponds. Given the winding nature of the river I'm assuming that will take me the better part of an afternoon.
I'd love any tips on river conditions or the feasibility of such a float. I totally get that people are probably reluctant to post stuff like that publicly, so feel free to DM me if you feel like sharing. If not, I've got a lot of river experience and I'm ready for an adventure
Re: Floating Lower Owens River
Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2020 5:53 pm
by SSSdave
The Owens River from below the Pleasant Valley Dam to many miles south of Bishop is a truly amazing meandering river viewed on Google Earth that few in the public are aware of outside fly fishermen and locals as it is out of sight, out of mind and not where people expect trout to be out in the hot valley. Chalk Bluffs dirt road.
Re: Floating Lower Owens River
Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2020 5:55 am
by Fly Guy Dave
The flows are currently 318 CFS, so you might get to your destination a bit faster than you anticipate.
Re: Floating Lower Owens River
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2020 9:13 am
by SNOOOOW
elsbree wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2020 4:11 pm
Hey all, not sure if this is the best forum to post this in, but I'll be passing through Bishop in a few weekends and was hoping to spend an afternoon floating part of the Owens River near town. Beyond acknowledging that floating the Owens is a fun pastime, I can't find much in the way of details on the ol' web. I was thinking of picking up an innertube and some beers and starting my float from Line Street. I'd take out about two miles down the river near the ponds. Given the winding nature of the river I'm assuming that will take me the better part of an afternoon.
I'd love any tips on river conditions or the feasibility of such a float. I totally get that people are probably reluctant to post stuff like that publicly, so feel free to DM me if you feel like sharing. If not, I've got a lot of river experience and I'm ready for an adventure
So typically in my many past experiences floating the owens, it typically takes around 2-3 hours to float from Line street to the rope swing which is usually where everyone gets out from the float. The flow of the river is controlled but I would say plan for a 3 hour float from line street to the rope swing and you should be fine. Let us know how it goes, I haven't done a float on the owens in quite some time but it is still my favorite river to float.
