The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Hi - I will be headed to the Yosemite area this weekend (Groveland on Saturday & Oakhurst on Sunday). I imagine the Tualomne would be way to high to be fishable this time of year - maybe Moccasin Creek would be OK? I was thinking maybe the Stan would be OK as well? I've never been to Oakhurst - any suggestions there? Any guidance is much appreciated. My fishing before has been limited to inside the park in Tuolumne Meadows/ Glen Aulin and Little Yosemite Valley while backpacking but I have no real ideas about outside the park.

Thanks

Paul

Hi Paul,

You could try the S. fork of the Tuolumne, above Rainbow Pool. Drive up past Buck Meadows, and just before you cross the big high bridge over the S. Fork, there is a road to the right that leads to a parking area for Rainbow Pool. Hike upstream and give it a shot.

If the water there is fishable, you could also hit the S. Fork higher up, off of Evergreen Rd., which turns off of 120 about 1 mi. outside the Yosemite Park entrance. Attractor dries and standard nymphs are effective.

That being said, if you happen to be staying in Pine Mountain Lake, the fishing there for Bass, Bluegill, and Crappie can be quite good this time of year.
Buggers of all types and colors, and double nymph setups work well.

Have a good time, and post a report when you get back!


Buzz

Thanks! I'll post a report.

Paul

Hey Buzz - I checked out the area above rainbow pool/ buck meadows. When my wife & I got there there were kids in the parking lot getting busted for beer & pot - not a great sign . I hiked up the river - it was pretty high - no pun intended - & pretty much each decent spot contained a family or some inebriated teens/twenty somethings swimming - it did look like a really good stretch though - I'll just avoid it and Yosemite for Memorial Day weekend & try it on an off weekend. No fish to hand but I met a guy who said he caught a couple one above & one below the falls.

I did also try Big Creek past Fish Camp near Wawona & managed a few small ones - the fish are super spooky at least where I was fishing - it was super clear/ spring creek action where everything had to be perfect/ the fly line floating in their line of sight spooked them so I could only show them the leader.

We bought a year pass to the park though so looking forward to the Merced in Little Yoesmite Valley.

There are a number of less visited spots that I can share with you when the time comes. When you get ready to go and know the general area you are visiting, shoot me a PM.


Buzz