Zebra Midge in sizes 16-20. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the river canyon provided an important summer hunting ground and a trade route between Native Americans in the Central Valley to the west and the Great Basin to the east. It's one of the likeliest places in California to catch a 10-pound rainbow. As agricultural production rose, farmers along the Tuolumne formed California's first two irrigation districts to better control and develop the river. Remember that these are small, wild trout and those fish usually respond well to classic flies. Best Places to Fish the Upper Tuolumne River Access to the upper section of the River ranges from easy to difficult. Print Map. Hetch Hetchy Valley was one of the main summer grazing areas for sheep. The Merced is still, in spite of its grandeur, a trout fishery. And with a lake record just a hair under 20 pounds, there are some true giants out there. Here are some general fly recommendations for fishing in Yosemite National Park: Bear in mind that you should always check local conditions and hatches upon arriving at Yosemite to choose the best flies for each section of the river, as populations can vary from year to year. View our maps and read detailed fishing reports from nearby anglers. In Yosemite National Park, the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne (from Tuolumne Meadows to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir) was first kayaked in 1983. Spencer Durrantis a fly fishing writer, guide, bamboo rod builder, and novelist from Utah. Whether you're a boater, an angler or both, you'll find the waters of Tuolumne County are just fine. . The chief meeting point of the Paiute and Miwok was the Hetch Hetchy Valley, rich in edible plants and game. A major tributary, Eleanor Creek, is dammed to form Lake Eleanor, and diverted into Cherry Lake through a tunnel. Average streamflow for this time of year is 23860 cfs, with recent peaks last observed at 28,900 cfs on 2023-03-15. Connect with him on Instagram/Twitter, @Spencer_Durrant. Follow that road 2 miles to the fork in the road, and take the right fork. Welcome to Yosemite Outfitters Fly Fishing Guide Service - we fish for Rainbow, Brown, Brook, and Golden Trout.. and we aso fly fish the high the sierra in california, and Yosemite wilderness. The River is not highly developed for recreation due to rugged . [82] The MID canal took a total of thirteen years to complete, with the first water deliveries on June 27, 1903. To reach the Merced, drive to the Yosemite Valley and take Tioga Pass road, or you can park in the valley and ride the shuttle to the river. [94] Today, San Francisco diverts about 33percent of the flow of the Tuolumne at Hetch Hetchy, or 14percent of the river's total flow. However, it took until 1966 for the Federal Power Commission (now FERC) to greenlight the project. You can also fly into San Francisco or Oakland and then take the Bay Area Regional Transit (BART) to the Amtrak Station, and from there you can take the train to Merced and get on the Yosemite Area Regional Transit System (YARTS) to reach destinations in the park. Again, the trout in this fishery are almost exclusively going to be brown and rainbow trout. Its recommended that you start your journey at the Mono Meadows trailhead, located off Glacier Point Road in the southern part of the park. Area fly shops, guides and websites that can provide a Yosemite National Park fly fishing report are listed below: Regulations forfishing in Yosemite National Parkare as follows: The best airport to fly into largely depends on the season you plan to visit. [101] The Cherry Creek is also run by commercial trips. Tuolumne River. The Merced offers enjoyable fishing all summer and into the winter. Use as your home location. Get all the fishing intel you need to start catching more, and bigger, fish. Last week, on a crisp California winter morning, my guide Bryant from Echo Adventure CoOp led me down a trail along Cherry Creek to some of the best lake run steelhead fishing in the state. Again, with this being a trout fishery in the High Sierra, I cant stress enough the need for classic, time-tested trout flies. California Department of Fish & Game; 2011-2012 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations; 2011 Fly Fishing Specialties; South Fork Tuolumne River; 2011 Writer Bio Call and most likely you'll get to talk with Marty. The present-day La Grange Dam, completed in 1893, replaced the older mining dam at the same site; at 122 feet (37m), it was the highest overflow dam in the United States. The San Joaquin River and the SacramentoSan Joaquin River Delta, which link the Tuolumne salmon runs to the Pacific, have also been affected by flow reduction and pollution. California Freshwater Fishing Regulation Map. These fish are also going to be some of the most educated and wary within the park. In 1961 voters approved revenue bonds to fund the project. While the trout may not be too selective, they are easily spooked due to the crystal clear waters of this alpine stream that flows through smooth granite rock. [53], The Tuolumne once supported large spring and fall runs of chinook salmon (king salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Although the irrigation districts had the primary rights to the Tuolumne under the doctrine of prior appropriation, those rights could be relinquished under the "use it or lose it" rule, so storage had to be developed to enable the full beneficial use of river water. The best fishing is found on the 2.5 mile stretch below the cascade. We realize bucket-list fish and lifetime memories never come easy, until now. Tuolumne Meadows is the largest campground in Yosemite and sits close to several trails, scenic viewpoints, the Tuolumne River, and even a few lakes. Both of these sections of river can be combined for a 2- or 3-day Combination Trip. Youll find rainbow and brown trout in this portion of the Merced River, and these fish are all wild. You dont need much more than what youd take for any trout fishing trip in the Sierra or Rocky Mountains. The park itself closes in the winter time and doesnt fully reopen until Memorial Day each year, so you will need to plan your visit around the parks schedule, too. The Tuolumne River is actually one of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers, and it deserves this stunning designation! The Upper Merced is as varied as the portion through the Yosemite Valley, but in a much smaller format. If the fish are not spooked they'll readily except most . If needed contact info -. You can now use your online account to book a match or buy a season permit for one of our stunning commercial fisheries. During the 1880s American sheep ranchers brought their herds into the upper Tuolumne River watershed for summer pasture, which further damaged the range in the foothills and Sierras. The Clark-Skidmore Party made this crossing in 1852 via the upper Stanislaus River and the north fork of the Tuolumne. 47325.741 ACRE-FT. Total streamflow across the Tuolumne River was last observed at 23860 cfs, and is expected to yield approximately 47326 acre-ft of water today; about 100% of normal. The appeal of Yosemite isnt just its mountain vistas and the giant sequoia trees that dot the landscape either. Thankfully, the Lyell Fork offers great fishing. [105] Running the Tuolumne within Yosemite National Park was also in a legal gray zone until 2015, when the park opened the Tuolumne and Merced Rivers to limited paddling and rafting.[106]. While the upper Tuolumne is a fast-flowing mountain stream, the lower river crosses a broad, fertile and extensively cultivated alluvial plain. It is dammed to form Cherry Lake and the tailwater section flows into the Middle Fork. During the latter part of that year and early 1849, mining camps were established along the Tuolumne, including Jamestown, Tuttletown, Melones, Don Pedros Bar, and Shaws Flat. Modesto Canal, on the north side of the river, and Turlock Canal, on the south side, are both large irrigation diversions. From the 1900s to the 1930s, the river was dammed at Don Pedro and Hetch Hetchy to provide water for Central Valley farmers and the city of San Francisco, respectively. Dry Creek joins the Tuolumne from the north between the airport and the railroad. In Waterford, turn right on Hickman Road (county road J-9) and drive 1 mile to Lake Road. Fishermen will find a variety of fish including brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout here. Instead, you should focus your efforts on the stretch between Mirror Lake and where Tenaya Creek enters the canyon between Half-Dome and North Dome. Here, since its smaller water, youll likely want less ostentatious bugs than you would on the Merced. This is where we put in for our popular class IV-V Main Tuolumne rafting trips. Catch and release is not required for fish under 12 inches in length, but anything over 12 inches must be released. Id recommend long leaders and small flies, as well, to increase your chances of success. Our 1, 2 and 3 day trips begin at Meral's Pool, a quiet spot in the river about 23 miles downstream from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, and end at Ward's Ferry Bridge 18 miles later. [22] The Lyell Glacier is the second largest in the Sierra Nevada, after Palisade Glacier at the headwaters of Big Pine Creek a tributary of the Owens River. Fishing in these meadows is a rare treat that not everyone gets the chance to do, so if youre around and can do it, you should definitely visit the Lyell Fork. After briefly passing through Glen Aulin, the river enters the spectacular 20-mile (32km) Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, where it forms three more major waterfalls California, LeConte and Waterwheel Falls. Check regulations for gear and seasons. Today, average annual river flows reach a maximum in the short stretch between Don Pedro Dam and La Grange Dam, about 50 miles (80km) above the mouth, before the start of large irrigation diversions. [81], As it became apparent that the Central Valley's seasonal rainfall patterns made it unsuitable for dryland farming, farmers organized to build irrigation infrastructure along the Tuolumne River. Last, but certainly not least, is Illihouette Creek. The embankment was topped out on May 28, 1970, and the project was formally dedicated on May 22, 1971, after four years of construction and a total cost of over $110 million. If the Merced River in the Yosemite Valley wasnt enough, you can fish the Upper Merced between Merced Lake and Nevada Falls. If you need fishing tackle, or are looking for a fishing guide or fishing charter please visit Tackle, Guides, Charters [46] The primary land use in the lower Tuolumne River watershed is agriculture, but there are also significant urbanized areas. Tenaya Creek is a tributary to the Merced, and dumps into the river right by the North Pines Campground. [56] A controversial proposal by the State Water Resources Control Board from around 2013 would require increased spring and summer flows on the Tuolumne River which would benefit native anadromous fish populations, but greatly reduce the water supply available for farms and cities. Everywhere that you can see, theres likely fish in this creek. Rafting on the Tuolumne River has evolved from a humble beginning. Anglers who are familiar with Middle Tuolumne River and want to make a suggestion to the information provided are asked to use the suggest changes button below on this page. All you need is a little bait, maybe a boat, and a love of the great outdoors to fish for trout, crappies, bluegills, catfish, kokanee, salmon, or bass. While theres plenty of the Merced to fish, the section thats easily the most beautiful is located smack in the middle of Yosemite Valley. As well dam for water-tanks the peoples' cathedrals and churches, for no holier temple has ever been consecrated by the heart of man. [61] This would also increase the prevalence of grasses and ferns, attracting game animals such as deer, and made the landscape more easily navigable. Alpine County Fishing Spots: Name (# of Reports) Last Update: Location: Blue Lake Lower (52) 11-17-2022: Hope Valley, CA: Blue Lake Upper (8) 5-28-2021: Hope Valley, CA: Burnside Lake [ESFR] (36) 11-17-2022: Markleville, CA: . You can get a great view of the canyon from the aptly-named Rim of the World Vista off Hwy 120. Unless youre planning on spending nights in the backcountry, youll probably be better off staying outside the park. You are trying to access a feature that requires a Fishidy account. Cherry Creek is dammed at the Cherry Valley Dam, which creates 274,000-acre-foot (338,000,000m3) Cherry Lake. Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | About | Contact | The Team | Advertise with Guide Recommended, Disclosure: "This site is owned and operated by River Traditions LLC, a limited liability company headquartered in Michigan, USA. 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