Where to Fly Fish in Tuolumne County

LOWER STANISLAUS

Headed east down Highway 108, towards the Central Valley, you can access the meandering bends of the lower Stanislaus River, below Lake Tulloch. Salmon, Steelhead, and Striper Bass come into the system which is primarily comprised of deep fast riffles and long slow runs. Drift boats and inflatable rafts are a popular way to cover this fishery.

• NEW MELONES RESERVOIR: This humongous man-made lake hosts bass tournaments throughout the year but also contains rainbow trout and kokanee salmon. Trout fishing is best in early spring when the water temperature is cool enough that trout are comfortable in shallow water. Fast boats and Russian Mafia are regularly encountered on the water.

• LAKE TULLOCH: 10lb Largemouth bass that weighs and 4lb smallmouth bass are found here in abundance. Tulloch is served by cold water flows from the much larger New Melones. You can fish for rainbow trout close to the dam or at the entrance of the Stanislaus River, while bass are found throughout the lake. Great crappie fishing from winter until springtime. Launch ramps, gas docks, boat renting services, a restaurant, and a general shop are at the Southshore Marina.

• GOODWIN DAM: You can access this dam-locked fishery before arriving at Tulloch's Southshore Marina. Road-side parking at a now defunct day-use site leads to calm, overgrown section of water with some monster trout.

• 2 MILE BAR: River access between Goodwin and Knights Ferry, trails are usually overgrown and rarely occupied.

• KNIGHTS FERRY: a quaint town with a small market, a few restaurants and great river access. This is a popular place for rafters and floaters causing high traffic on weekends and holidays.

LOWER TUOLUMNE

At La Grange (J59 / HWY 132) you will come across the lower Tuolumne River, below Don Pedro Reservoir. ZZ Top did not write their 1973 hit about this California town, but we like to think they did. Drift boats are popular method for fishing this section. Watch out for spawning salmon in the fall.

UPPER MIDDLE FORK STANISLAUS: forms in the Emigrant Wilderness and flows down the west slope of the Sierra Nevada paralleling Highway 108 from Kennedy Meadows to its confluence with the Clark Fork. It contains both rainbows and browns and is heavily stocked with trout annually. Tributaries and outlying portions of the stream can contain 9-12in wild trout. The river consists of deep pools, riffles, and runs. Spring runoff can make for dangerously high flows with low clarity making it difficult to fish until mid June.

• DEADMAN CREEK contains Rainbows and Browns. It is planted during spring and early summer while the water levels are sufficient. It flows 7 miles from Kennedy Lake and joins the Stanislaus at Kennedy Meadows. Pack trips are available at Kennedy Meadows for for heavy gear haulers who wish to overnight with a float tube. The lake is at 8000 feet and contains both rainbows and browns.
  
• CLARK FORK: a small stream with runs and riffles. It is heavily used by campers and is stocked with rainbows annually. Wild trout can be found hiking into the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness. A trail follows the stream with a gradual elevation of 500 feet for the next 2.5 miles to the confluence of Boulder Creek.

• DONNELL LAKE: Rather difficult to access with a high probability of a sasquatch encounter.

• BEARDSLEY: The main lake is rather vast and deep with rather steep walls making it mainly accessible by boat. The afterbay is accessible by foot and leads a few miles down an old railroad grade alongside some good deep holes.

• SPRING GAP: Power station between Beardsley and Sandbar, accessible from Fraser Flat.

• SANDBAR FLAT: if you continue driving past Fraser Flat you will eventually arrive at a day use and camp site along a flat section of the river.

SOUTH FORK STANISLAUS: 

• PINECREST LAKE: A very, very popular lake resort a with a small marina, market, restaurant, lodging, camping, Dodge Ridge ski resort, mountain bike course, and disc golf. Planted regularly with 

• STRAWBERRY: Easy stop off the highway, where you cross the river to find a nice little market with cabins for rent and a lodge with a restaurant. Flows are generally fishable late spring to early fall.

• FRASER FLAT: One of the first USFS campgrounds you will come to on your adventure up Sonora Pass. A very popular place to access the water with family friendly campsites.

• LYONS LAKE: Fishing is allowed year-round, but the lake is accessible in the winter by ski or snowshoe only. Brook trout are no longer stocked by California Department of Fish and Wildlife in Desolation Wilderness, but there may be a few hold overs.

NORTH FORK STANISLAUS: Accessible while traveling west on Highway 4 trough Calaveras County from the towns of Murphys (wine tasting) and Arnold. The North Fork flows from Union and Utica Reservoirs down to New Melones and Lake Tulloch where it merges with the other branches. Popular access points are Big Trees State Park, Sourgrass Day Use, Camp 9 Rec Area.

Flowing from Yosemite National Park, access the forks of this river traveling south on Highway 49 to west on Highway 120 towards Groveland and Yosemite. Fish stocking occurs during the fishing season.

• NORTH FORK: A 35.7-mile tributary of the Tuolumne River. Originating above Dodge Ridge Ski Area it flows southwest, past Long Barn, Twaine Harte, Soulsbyville and Tuolumne City. Like the Clavey River (which runs parallel for a few miles), the North Fork is one of very few Wild & Scenic Sierra foothill streams that are unaltered by dams or diversions.

• MIDDLE FORK: Good access via Evergreen Road; trout is stocked during fishing season. Dimond O Campground is the most convenient campground; otherwise, dispersed camping is permissible. 

• SOUTH FORK: Access via Hwy 120 or Carlon Day Use Area. Rainbow Pool is a high traffic day use area on your way towards Yosemite. Rainbow and brown trout are supplemented by plantings during fishing season. There is no overnight camping permitted in day use areas. 

• LOWER TUOLUMNE: At La Grange (J59 / HWY 132) you will come across the lower Tuolumne River, below Don Pedro Reservoir. ZZ Top did not write their 1973 hit about this California town, but we like to think they did. Drift boats are popular method for fishing this section. Watch out for spawning salmon in the fall.