Notes:
The North Fork of the Stanislaus starts below Lake Alpine and travels some 65 miles to New Melones Dam near Angels Camp. It is a deep canyon with many boulders and rocks creating deep pools. The river contains Browns, Brookies, and Rainbows. Most of the access spots are stocked with planters, so you need to move away from the access positions to get into the wild trout, averaging 10-14″. The Calaveras Big Trees State Park access is well-stocked with planted rainbows. You need to go either upstream or downstream from the bridge to reach the wild trout.
The hatches are not plentiful or regular. Stoneflies, Caddis, and Mayflies exist but anticipating the timing of the hatches is difficult. Generally, attractor dries work good as well as standard nymph patterns. Hopper and Ant patterns are also good during the mid-summer months. During June, a Golden Stone hatch can come off in which a stimulator pattern with an attractor beadhead nymph works well. By July, Little Yellow Sallies as well as Golden Stones will be around. By the end of July, Caddis nymphs and midges are effective during the early morning hours and, during the evening, a caddis or mayfly dry with a caddis emerger dropper will work well. August and September will be hopper time. A PMD hatch can start around August and remain until October.
Beaver Creek is another option. It has mostly wild rainbows in the 6-10″ class and some brookies. Caddis, Stonefly, and Mayfly dries and nymphs will work.
The Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River has been building a reputation over the years as having some of the best fishable waters westside of the Sierra. Most of this reputation has come form the nutrient-laden waters below Beardsley Reservoir resulting in excellent aquatic insect populations of stoneflies, caddis, mayflies, and midges. A 17 mile section from Beardsley Afterbay to the confluence of the North Fork Stanislaus is designated by the State of California as a Wild Trout Fishery. The lower section of the Middle Fork Stanislaus is open to all types of fishing, bait or fly. A foot trail is available for access along the river from Spring Gap Bridge to Sand Bar Flat, a distance of 4 miles. Downstream of Sand Bar Flat, the trail fades quickly and you enter the rugged canyon reach, only lightly fished because of its difficult access, as the river comes down to its confluence with the North Fork, 10 miles further. The river is characterized by large boulders and deep pools with scattered pocket water sections. Best fishing starts in Mid-June after the Reservoir slows its releases to less than 200 cfs.
Early Season hatches include the Golden Stoneflies, size 8, starting in May and ending in June. Although stonefly nymphs can be used at any time, the adult patterns are best during the dusk part of the day. The river is very susceptible to high flows from discharges of Beardsley Reservoir during June and July, check on conditions prior to fishing. Caddis hatches will occur throughout the Summer months starting in the late morning until mid-afternoon. Patterns such as Z-wing Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, and Goddard Caddis are suggested. For Mayflies, try Pale Morning Duns and Light Cahills. The PMD’s will start hatching in June and continue through August. Small Mayflies start hatching in March, try #18 and #20 Adams. Nymphs such as Bird’s Nest, Pheasant Tail Nymphs, and Zug Bugs are popular. Pheasant Tail Nymphs dropped from the dry works well as do #6-10 bugger patterns. A good October Caddis hatch usually starts in mid-September and continues through October.
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| Fishing RegulationsNorth 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. Middle Fork Stanislaus River from Sand Bar Flat to the confluence of the North Fork: Open all year. All gear. 2 trout/4 in possession. Big Trees Creek (Tuolumne Co.) upstream from the confluence of Beaver Creek.: Closed to all fishing all year. Other Lakes and Reservoirs: Open all year. 5 trout. 10 in possession. No gear restrictions. Other creeks and tributaries: 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. |
