Woodchuck Country

Woodchuck Country

Suggested Flies for Woodchuck Country area:
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:

Woodchuck Country Directions

From Clovis, take Hwy 168 42 miles northeast to Shaver Lake. Turn right and go east on Dinkey Creek Road and follow it 26 miles to the Y at Courtright and Wishon Reservoir. Take the right fork to Wishon 4 more miles south. Woodchuck Trailhead is just across the dam.

Notes:Wishon Reservoir
Taking the Woodchuck Trail from the Woodchuck trailhead you can reach the following streams and lakes:
Woodchuck Creek: 2 miles from trailhead with Woodchuck trail and Chuck Pass trail following the two main forks. Consists of Rainbows.
Chimney Lake: At 6 miles on the Woodchuck Trail (Moore Boys Camp), take the trail 1 mile east and then take the Marsh Lake Spur trail north about .5 miles. Consists of Rainbows at an elevation of 9,500 feet. About 7 miles from the trailhead.
Marsh Lake: From Chimney Lake, continue another .5 miles, Consists of Rainbows and Brookies at 9,500 feet. About 7.5 miles from the trailhead.
Woodchuck Lake: At the 8 mile mark on the Woodchuck Trail, 1.3 miles past the Marsh Lake Spur, the trail heads north another .75 miles to the lake. About 8.75 miles from the trailhead. The trail actually loops back to Moore Boys Camp. Consists of Goldens at 9,900 feet.
Crown Lake: Taking the easterly trail from the 8 mile mark will take you to Crown Pass, 9.5 miles from the trailhead.The trail splits, one going north, the other south. Going down the southern trail down the side of the pass about a mile will take you to the lake. Crown Lake is the headwaters of Scepter Creek, 10.5 miles from the trailhead. Consists of Rainbows at 9,750 feet.
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.
Halfmoon Lake: Taking the northerly trail from Crown Pass about 3 miles will take you to Halfmoon Lake. Consists of Rainbows and Brookies at 9,400 feet. About 11 miles from the trailhead.
North Fork Kings River: Continuing on the trail past Halfmoon Lake there are anumber of switchbacks that will get you to the NF Kings River. This is Big Masxon Meadow, 13 miles from the trailhead. Consists of Rainbows.

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 (Effective March 1st, 2021)

Wishon Reservoir:

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

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.

 

© 2023 Steve Schalla
This page is not to be copied without my explicit permission.
Wishon Reservoir Upper Chain Lake Chimney Lake Marsh Lake Dinky Creek Crown Valley Blackcap Basin Red Mountain Basin Dinky Lakes Wilderness Woodchuck Lake Woodchuck Lake Halfmoon Lake Crown Lake North Fork Kings