Sespe Creek Fishing Reports by Power Current - Ventura, California (River Fishing Reports by Anglers for the Western U.S.)

Fishing Reports for Sespe Creek

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2012-05-14 15:50:47
by: millergunn (+1)

I am thinking about hiking the Sespe out of Ojai in July, but want to make sure I can catch some fish along the way too. Are there any current reports? I've never been there.

2010-11-07 08:51:25
by: jeffE (+15)

Sespe Creek is the best wild trout fishing stream in Ventura County. Currently, most of it is closed to fishing due to efforts to reestablish a steelhead run. If the fishing ladder was operated properly on the Santa Clara River downstream, it would support a healthy and large steelhead run. Most of it requires 1.5 to 2 hours of hiking to reach the streambed. From there the access is good up- and downstream with sandbars for camping. But the upper 1/3 can be accessed off of Highway 33 above Ojai. Species in the river are rainbow trouts / steelhead, brownbowhead catfish, and green sunfish. There is also a natural hot springs deep in the center of the wilderness area near the banks of the stream. Fishing waters alternate between deep pool and small riffle. Trouts can range between 6 to 8 inches and to 20 inches after good extended water seasons.

P.S. Make sure to check regulations as they change them every year.

2010-06-04 18:51:25
by: Casey (+5)

P.S. when it gets too warm and you don't catch fish - keep hiking until u get 2 the feeder creeks coming off the North-facing slopes such as Bear Creek about 5 mi. down from Lion's Camp, Howard Creek just upstream from Lion's, and even down at Narrows/Tar Creek/West Fork area. These often run 20 Deg F colder than the main flow of the Sespe and I've seen 200+ trout packed into the confluence holes of colder creeks in years past (back when they used to stock the river).

2010-06-04 18:13:45
by: Casey Abbott (+2)

Anybody cut shooting heads? I'm only getting 90 feet with 28 feet of Rio T-14 on ?Amnesia? shooting line with a 9 foot long 12-wt fast taper graphite rod. I know it's heavy yet(392 grains), but not by much. Will call my instructor to check my form before cutting any more. Seems I used to get 105' to 115' with spliced line + lead core on the same rod at just a few grains less.

2010-06-04 18:02:41
by: Casey Abbott (+2)

03 June, 2010 - just a practice casting session with a 12-wt shooting head recently purchased and hurriedly assembled was disrupted by a small (9") rainbow trout that hit a #2 steelhead pattern (Deschutes Blue Spruce fly)with the hook removed! He released himself in short order. Devils Gate pools area - crack of dawn.

2008-09-19 03:12:19
by: jefff e. (+1)

fishin by rose valley or howard creek or down by west fork?

2008-09-18 20:14:46
by: tn fisher (+1)

the warm water fish are in deep pools. i am catching them on small nymphs

2008-09-09 20:41:45
by: Sebastian (+1)

anyone know where the warmwater fish are?

2008-05-27 04:23:06
by: jefrf E (+1)

most likely because of the record lack of rainfall last year which probably killed almost all the fish. Did you fish off the 33?

2008-05-26 12:05:59
by: tightlines (+2)

Anybody know why the Sespe is fishing so slow lately? I usually have good success on the river but yesterday I fished the heck out of the river and didn't have any takes; I didn't even SEE a single fish!

2008-04-06 20:55:32
by: asdf (+3)

bjkrin_g@yahoo.com hsy is sespe flows still good?

2008-02-18 09:19:40
by: bjkrin_g@yahoo.com (+1)

Ive spent lots of time in the sespe, fishing as a young man would take me into some remote areas like the sespe wildernes area I had exstream sucess fishing this area the larger pools yielded bows averaging 12+inches and fat.the area south of hot springs canyon is the place tobe!

2007-08-30 10:53:53
by: fghuhguy (+1)

dsg ugeqtfq8qqrwqy

2006-08-13 19:28:16
by: rsuusa (+1)

I fly fish a lot on a stream that runs off the Sespe. The best pools are about a three to four hour hike from St. Thomas Aquinas College a private college near Santa Paula. The water level is low but there are native fish. Please be careful the area seems extremely fragile environmentally. With the low water I beleive a few efficient fishermen coudl fish the entire area out in just week or so. There is a bear in the area who seems to have spooked the fish, and me too I might add.

MTC at rsuusa@dslextreme.com

2006-06-05 17:06:16
by: jeff (+105)

they just kept coming in waves! I lost two good friends that day. I barely made it back

2005-02-10 13:44:51
by: jim (+304)

Matt, Thanks for those links. Nice pictures!

2005-01-21 19:38:38
by: John (+57)

I am interested in fishing Sespe creek, last time I was in the area (10 years ago)I camped at Piedra Blanka which I here is closed (Too Bad I really liked camping there). Any suggestions on camping and or fishing would be great!!
Much Thanks

2005-01-10 09:06:42
by: jim (+304)

Yes please. Anyone information on the Sespe would be great! I think I fished it a few times with a buddy of mine many years ago. Doesn't that creek have huge boulders? It's a long hike as well if I remember correctly.

2005-01-10 08:42:50
by: shepstone@earthlink.net (+1)

Looking for information about fly fishing Sespe Creek.