Dry Flies:
Small Western Green Drake #14-16
BWO #16-18
Parachute Adams #12
Elk Hair Caddis #14-16
St. Vrain Caddis
Kings River Caddis #12-16

Nymph Flies:
Pheasant Tail Nymph #14-16
Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear #14-18
Bird’s Nest #14-18
Prince Nymph #14-16
Kaufmann Stone #8-10
Little Yellow Stone Nymph #12-14

Directions:

South Fork Stanislaus: Hwy 108 out of Sonora is the main route taking you to both the South and Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River. The South Fork can be reached from Lyons Reservoir off Lyons Reservoir Road at Sierra Village. A trail extends along the north side of the river upstream from the Reservoir. Further along Hwy 108, you can reach another section of the SF Stanislaus at Fraser Flat Campground from Spring Gap Road south of the village of Cold Springs. This section of the river can be viewed from the Middle Fork Stanislaus page as the two forks come very close to each other. The last access to the SF Stan is where Hwy 108 crosses the SF just below Pinecrest Lake.

Notes:

The South Fork of the Stanislaus above Lyons Reservoir has some good sized browns. The river has many good fishable waters up to Pinecrest Lake with trail access along the river. Most of the access points are regularly planted but a sizeable population of wild trout exists not far from each access point. The DFG puts in about 8,000 rainbows annually from Fraser Flat to Strawberry. However, the stream is so heavily fished that many of these stockers are caught and kept within 4-5 days. Fortunately, there are still many 10-14″ wild trout which aren’t hooked and that this keeps the stream a viable fishery.

An Early Season Stream

The Spring run-off makes the South Fork Stanislaus River difficult to fish until late June. Since the South Fork is smaller than the Middle Fork, it is considered to be a better “early-season” trout stream. The fork can often be fished until the end of July. A good caddis hatch occurs in June and July and fly fishers should use caddis type patterns at this time. Below Lyons Reservoir, the water is diverted to a flume and ditch (Columbia Ditch) that brings water to the town of Twain Harte.

Very little water remains within this section of the South Fork Stanislaus due to the diversion. In fact, CDFW plants the ditch with rainbows throughout the fishing season. Additional flow is picked up downstream by Deer Creek but fishable water remains quite restricted due to narrow canyons. In addition, numerous mining claims are within this section down through Italian Bar. It is a popular area for gold panning.

Other Nearby Waters

Rose Creek and Knight Creek: Both of these are tributary creeks to the MF Stanislaus. Both creeks are seasonal intermittent streams and active mining areas. Fishing these streams is quite limited.

Lyons Reservoir: A narrow impoundment lake at 4200′ elevation formed by Lyons Dam that was constructed by PG&E in 1930. It is the municipal water supply for Twain Harte and no boating or swimming is allowed. They lake is stocked with Rainbows through the fishing season and it is heavily fished. The lake also has resident Browns, and some Bass, both Largemouth and Smallmouth. Access to the lake is open only from May 1 to Nov 1.

Fishing Regulations

South Fork Stanislaus River:

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.

Lyons Reservoir:

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

Other Lakes and Reservoirs:

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

Other creeks and tributaries: