Crown Valley

Suggested Flies for Crown Valleyarea:
Western Sierra Hatch Selection

Other Local Favorites:

Stillwater Flies:
Mohair Leech #8-10
Woolly Bugger, Brown and Olive #8-10
Olive Matuka #8-10

Dry Flies:
Parachute Adams #16-18
Olive Caddis #16-18
Yellow Humpy #14
Black Gnat #14-16
Chernobyl Ant #10-12
Mosquito #14-18

Nymph Flies:
Pheasant Tail Nymph #12-14
Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear #14-18
Prince Nymph #14-16

Directions:

From Fresno, take Highway 168 east 51 miles to Dinkey Creek Road. Turn east and drive 12 miles to McKinley Grove Road. Turn east and continue 14 miles bearing to the left at the Wishon turnoff, another three miles. Cross the dam and continue on McKinley Grove Road for 5 miles to the Crown Valley Trailhead.

Notes:
From Rancheria or Crown Valley Trailhead, it is about 14 miles to Tehipite Valley on the MF Kings.
Sites to fish along the route include:
Rancheria Creek: Consists of Rainbows and Browns. Flow from the outlet of Spanish Lake to NF Kings River below Wishon Reservoir. About 5.5 miles of fishable water from 6,200 to 8,500 feet elevation.
Spanish Lake: About 4.5 miles from the Crown Valley Trailhead. The lake has Browns, Rainbows, and Brookies. Elevation is 8,500 feet.
Geraldine Lakes: Two lakes at 8,700 and 9,200 feet make up the headwaters of Rodgers Creek. They consist of Rainbows and Brookies. About 6.75 miles from the trailhead.
Rodgers Creek: Consists of Rainbows and Browns. About 6 miles from the trailhead. The trail follows the creek for about 4 miles before heading south below the creek to gain access to the Middle Fork Kings below Silver Spray Falls.
Scepter Creek: Consists of Rainbows and Browns. About 9 miles from the trailhead at 7,900 feet. Follow the creek about 4 miles upstream to its headwaters at Scepter Lake at 9,630 feet.
Crown Creek: Consists of Rainbows, Browns, and Brookies. About 9.5 miles from the trailhead taking either an upper of lower trail out of Crown Valley. The creek has about 8 miles of fishable water from 6500 to 10,000 feet. The brookies will be in the higher elevations.
Middle Fork of the Kings River (Tehipite Valley): Very good fishing for Rainbows in the 10-12" size class.Trail proceeds up to Simpson Meadow and you can exit out at Copper Creek at Road's End within Kings Canyon National Park.

From the Rancheria Trailhead , you can take the Hoffman Mtn. Trail to reach two lakes in 3.5 miles with a 1200’ vertical climb:
Duck Lake: about 3.3 miles from the trailhead at an elevation of 9,173 feet. Contains Brookies and Rainbows. Taking the Cabin trail south from Hoffman within 3 miles of the Rancheria trailhead you reach the Chain Lakes trail, proceed 1.5 miles to Upper Chain Lake. This Lake is at 9438 feet elevation and has both Brookies and Rainbows, 10-12 inches.

Fishing Regulations

Middle Fork Kings River inside Kings Canyon National Park:

From the last Saturday in April through November 15, five trout daily bag limit, 10 trout in possession; and, from November 16 through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April, 0 trout bag limit, artificial lures with barbless hooks only and trout must be released unharmed and not removed from the water. Special Park Regulations below 9000' elevation: 0 Rainbow and 5 trout limit on non-native trout using articifical lures with barbless hooks.

Middle Fork Kings River, from the western boundary of Kings Canyon National Park downstream to the main stem;:

All year. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used. 0 trout.

Other Rivers and Streams:

From the last Saturday in April through November 15, five trout daily bag limit, 10 trout in possession; and, from November 16 through the Friday preceding the last Saturday in April, 0 trout bag limit, artificial lures with barbless hooks only and trout must be released unharmed and not removed from the water.

Other Lakes within this area:

Open all year. No restrictions. 5 trout per day. 10 trout in possession.