The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Hey, are there fish in the Consumnes? I drove down there the other day, just to take a look at the place since it is just over the hill to the South. It is a pretty little river, but I'm guessing it gets pretty warm come August. I tried looking for some info on the web about fishing it, but didn't see much and all my fishing books are in a box somewhere in the garage...

So... anyone fish the Consumnes, and if so, for what and when? I'm curious.

I also saw something on the web about floating the Mokulumne near Lodi for trout... I'd be interested in hearing more about that too!

B-

The Consumnes does indeed get very warm and low in the summer. I've never actually encountered a trout in it, though if you're looking for tons of overpopulated, undergrown smallies it could be your spot. Access is generally pretty limited in the lower reaches.

I haven't, hoever, explored the uppermost reaches much.

Bjorn
Opening day until mid-June for rainbows and browns...Outingdale or off Mt Aukum road...that's 20 mi east of Hwy 49.

Oh wait...that was in 1954~ nothing in there since the mid 60's.

I think there must be a steelhead run if you can find access down below 49.

Harry in Hawaii

Consumnes or Cosumnes?

my bad.

Saw some nice-looking water by Diamond Springs but the friends we were visiting said it's more of a bass fishery than trout. But I was wondering with heavy rains whether salmon/steelies make it up there in the fall/winter.

Of all our "umne" rivers, it's the hardest to pronounce.

Wild Bill

See, I'm not opposed to bass... in fact, that would open up a new type of fishing that I'm not familiar with and expanding my game couldn't hurt...

The problem I encountered wasn't necessarily that there were bass, just that they really seem to have over-populated the river to such an extent that all those I encountered were pretty darn small. As in too small for me to justify time on Consumes instead of the upper A drainage (which I'll be snooping around on this weekend).

The steelhead/salmon comments are interesting, as I'm pretty sure the Consumnes is the only (semi)large Sierra river with no major dams on it. I could be wrong. If that is the case one would think that they could actually get pretty far up there, unlike virtually every other run in the Valley.

I just checked the new regs and it says it is open Jan 1 to Oct. 15 from HW 99 to Latrobe... but it actually doesn't seem to mention any other section of the river as far as regulations go... which I find odd... does not seem to be exactly a blue ribon fishery, but it is close and seems fairly pretty and now I'm just curious.

Easy access at Latrobe Road, though there are "no parking signs" aplenty(I just park as far off the road as possible). I spent a nice day last summer on that stretch catching tons of tiny bass on dries. I'm uncertain as to the property rights up and downstream, but its pretty easy going on the way up. Fairly brush banks in spots, but easily wadeable.

Thanks for the info there... I called DFG and the rest of the river is on normal season regs, last Sat. in April to Nov. 15, but that section below Latrobe is open Jan. 1 to Oct. 15. I drop my daughter off at daycare on Latrobe, so one day I may just continue down that road and see what I can see...

B-