The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Hey All. The Moke needs your help. There are some pending meetings, maybe in a town near you. Check out FOR's Save the Moke page to get more details and you can even see me fishing (not catching) the Moke (no, the video isn't really that interesting, but the info on the page is).

Help save the Moke.

www.friendsoftheriver.org/savethemoke

B-

Hey Bjorn-

I am new to the forum. I usually fish the lower Stani but was looking in to trying the lower Moke this weekend. What stretch of water is that video on the friendsoftheriver site? Looks to be the middle or upper? How far of a drive is that past Comanche?

Any info would be great regarding wading access points. Thanks in advance!

Ryan

Hi Ryan, I don't know too much about fishing it, really... That is me in the video and you see all the fish I caught that day (I only had about 45 minutes). That bit is just below HW 49. The bit that is fishable is below 49, although, technically, I understand that it might be trespassing to be on the shore there, but there are lots of fisherman's trails all up and down that bit of river.

Don't go down to Middle Bar Bridge, as the reservoir is full and the river is a ways up from the bridge.

Can't really tell you more than that... I simply don't KNOW it. Good fishing.

B-

Bjorn, you were very likely trespassing if you were below 49. That area has been locked up by the landowners and the power company for years. Don't even think of touching the ground down by Middle Bar. I remember the kayackers putting up a good fight to get more accesses down in that area. Not sure of the results. That area is watched closely and the fines are big. I use to fish off the bridge when I bait fished. It was not uncommon to see F&G or the sheriff down there every day. I stopped going when some of the crowd there got a little questionable. When you start to fear for your safety it's time to quit. I have fished above 49 but not with any success.

If you're thinking of fishing the Lower Moke, please check the DFG website for the where they've found NZMS. (Basically it's from Woodbridge Dam in Lodi upstream to the Mackville Bridge.) I've never fished it but there's a very tempting stretch of the Lower Moke that I've crossed on Highway 88 on the way to other destinations. But I've held off because it's just upstream from the upper end of the reported NZMS range.

Bjorn I hope you get a good response and turnout for the hearing. Nice footage on the FOR site (although I was expecting Bjornian numbers).

Wild Bill