Yosemite National Park in all its splendor. The power system is efficient because of the Tuolumne's great drop, over 2,750 feet (840m), between Hetch Hetchy and the outlet of Moccasin Powerhouse. Unlimited access to the best fishing spot finder in the game. [24], Between Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and the upper end of Lake Don Pedro the Tuolumne flows through the Sierra foothills, where it has a lower gradient but continues to maintain a fast current. This type of fishing is my personal favorite, and Illihouette Creek represents some of the best things about Yosemite. Below the canyon, the river flows into Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. The Chesapeake Bay covers 64,000 square miles. A 3 to 5 weight fly rod is perfect for the Ottoway Lake. Camping space is limited at Yosemite during peak season, so make sure you reserve a campsite early if you plan to rough it in the park. Year round, Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is located near the South Entrance and Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias roughly 2.5 hours drive from Yosemite Valley. The Turlock Lake is regulated by the similar but much larger Turlock Lake, which has a capacity of 49,000-acre-foot (60,000,000m3). 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. Yosemite Fly Fishing Guides and surrounding area, The Tuolumne River flows for about 150 miles from the Central Sierra Nevada, into the Joaquin River near Modesto, California. Located in a remote, forested area just West of Yosemite National Park, the south fork of Tuolumne River is a steep, rocky stream, with pools and riffles. Getting to Lower Ottoway Lake takes a lot of time its a 13-mile hike one way. Fly fishing the Tuolumne River can range from easy to very difficult, depending on which section of the huge river system you choose to fish. [75] The unpredictable nature of the river made both navigating and crossing difficult, so starting in the Gold Rush era many ferries were established, one of the first at Dickenson's Ferry in the early 1850s. Get all the fishing intel you need to start catching more, and bigger, fish. [61] Parts of the route they established eventually formed the Walker River Trail, regarded as one of the more difficult of the main Sierra crossings. Put this fun spot on your bucket list for the next hot day in Northern California. Its a great way to score a bargain on your stay. Unless youre planning on spending nights in the backcountry, youll probably be better off staying outside the park. Tuolumne River - CA River Information Fish Species: Rainbow Trout Latest Fish Reports Detailed Map ABOUT US SportfishingReport.com Built by Avid Sportsman for Avid Sportsman! [2] The natural flow of the Tuolumne at the mouth is greatly reduced by diversions to both San Francisco's Hetch Hetchy municipal water system and the canals of the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts. The section of river by the Marina is home to various flatfish, whiting, silver eels and cod. However, there is a connecting aqueduct that allows Cherry Lake to be tapped to supply the Hetch Hetchy system during severe droughts. Use as your home location. The Tuolumne and Merced Rivers comprise the two largest watersheds in the Park and offer some of the best trout fishing opportunities in the Park. While you can access Tenaya directly from North Pines Campground, that stretch sees a lot of attention from campers. Follow that road 2 miles to the fork in the road, and take the right fork. [74], For a brief period the lower Tuolumne became a major steamboat route, ferrying prospectors and supplies from Stockton. Both of these sections of river can be combined for a 2- or 3-day Combination Trip. Cold Canyon and Conness Creeks join in on the flow below the meadows and the river flows through beautiful Glen Aulin Valley. The best fishing is found on the 2.5 mile stretch below the cascade. [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. Preparation is the key to making the most of your fly fishing excursion to Yosemite. Print/PDF map. If the Merced River in the Yosemite Valley wasnt enough, you can fish the Upper Merced between Merced Lake and Nevada Falls. In 2013, the Rim Fire burned 257,314 acres. Get directions to access points, boat ramps, and real-time USGS stream flow data. The view of Big Meadow and the trout population more than compensate for the sooty stretches. The earth-filled New Don Pedro Dam, 585 feet (178m) high, is the 10th tallest dam in the United States and was constructed as a multipurpose project, serving irrigation, municipal water supply, hydropower and flood control. Plenty of shade is provided by a mixed forest. If needed contact info -. Be prepared for a long hike and an overnight trip if you want to experience as much of Illihouette Creek as possible. Zebra Midge in sizes 16-20. [66], Another possible origin of the name Tuolumne is the Central Sierra Miwok word taawalmi, meaning "squirrel place", referring to a Native American village on the nearby Stanislaus River. [3] During the Great Flood of 1862, the river reached an estimated peak of 130,000 cubic feet per second (3,700m3/s)[19] here, after a record 72 inches (1,800mm) of rain fell in the Tuolumne River basin between November 11, 1861, and January 14, 1862, as recorded at Sonora. The Tuolumne is considered a classic California whitewater run, and has been used recreationally since the 1960s. [83] The two districts serve the south and north sides of the river, respectively. Rafting 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. (Check fishing regulations as bait ban typically starts on April 1 st .) The foothill region is characterized by trees and plants adapted to a hot, dry climate, including chamise (greasewood), California lilac, manzanita, blue oak, interior live oak (Sierra live oak), and gray pine. The Tuolumne River between Kirkwood Powerhouse and Don Pedro Reservoir is know as one of California's premier whitewater rivers. * This email is used only to keep track of your favorites. Copyright 2023 DIY Fly Fishing, all rights reserved. The appeal of Yosemite isnt just its mountain vistas and the giant sequoia trees that dot the landscape either. 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. A major tributary, Eleanor Creek, is dammed to form Lake Eleanor, and diverted into Cherry Lake through a tunnel. Tuolumne River (1) 3-12-2017: CA: Tuolumne River - North Fork (1) 11-29-2016: The Tenaya Creek is just a short walk from there. Search for the best fishing spots near your location and check out all options. Pm me if interested. However, to fish the portion in Yosemite Valley, you just need to pile off the John Muir Trail that heads east from the Upper Pines Campground. Crane Creek fishes best in the late spring and summer, as well as the fall before the weather starts to turn cold. Tuolumne Meadows is the biggest campground in Yosemite and sits near a number of trails, scenic viewpoints, the Tuolumne River, and even a couple of lakes. Dark . Watch for logging trucks. The trip was down the lower half of the Tuolumne River which includes 15 white water rapids in an 18 mile stretch. California's Best Whitewater Rafting Experience. [72] (The largest was found in Carson Hill in Calaveras County, just north of the Tuolumne River watershed along the Stanislaus River, in 1854. [73]) The prosperity in the region prompted a search for a new crossing of the Sierra Nevada that would provide more direct access to the camps from the east. Most rafters put in at Meral's Pool, located about 2 miles (3.2km) below Cherry Creek, for the 18-mile (29km) run to Lake Don Pedro. 2023 Fishidy. And, in most lakes like Lower Ottoway, youll find a big population of scuds. Between these two rapids the swimming holes of the Clavey are a popular camping spot during the summer. Rainbow, Brook, and Brown Trout are all . FAT has flights from more major US cities and on 7 major airlines, so it is usually the best bet for getting a bargain on booking your flight. You can filter results by species and water type to find your desired results. [79] The first TID farmers received water in 1900. An offshoot of the Tuolumne River, Lyell Fork runs right through Lyell Canyon, affording you a freestone stream among the pristine and scenic canyon walls. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 23 min to complete. Continuing along Highway 120 is access to the South Fork. My only experience with fly fishing was from the wonderful book The River Why by David James Duncan, and reading Norman Maclean. Almost 80percent of the Tuolumne River watershed lies above New Don Pedro Dam and is primarily forested with some alpine, meadow and grassland zones. By the time the river reaches Lake Don Pedro it has accumulated almost 90 percent of its total flow as precipitation run-off, snowmelt and groundwater base flow. If youre really chasing a secluded, high-country experience, you need to come on up to Lower Ottoway. Deadman Creek (Tuolumne County) Don Pedro Reservoir. Youll pass a lot of fishing opportunity on the way to Lower Ottoway, so dont hesitate to throw a line wherever you want. Estimates of the first human habitation along the Tuolumne River range from 3000 to 7000 BC. In this video I take you to the beautiful Tumut River, in southern New South Wales. Return, Paiute, Rancheria, and Falls Creeks are more tributary streams.Below the OShaughnessy Dam, the Tuolumne River also is an excellent fishery for trout. While most people are drawn to Yosemite for its breathtaking granite walls, rock climbing, and ethereal beauty, theres plenty of other things to do in the park. The best time to fish for these fish is late February to Mid April. Fishing Locations - Tuolumne County, Car Accessible. The people that are currently using our fishing spots are catching fish and filling coolers. From there the river flows into the rugged Tuolumne Canyon for a distance of about 25 miles and drops 4000 feet in elevation. Again, you may run into some brook trout up here, but thats not likely. Generate High-Quality PDF. As a result, Don Pedro frequently fills and spills during winter storms, causing damage downstream. It's a very diverse river that has both freestone and tailwater sections with good populations of wild trout. Check out our interactive map of over 30,000 of the best places to fly fish in the US. Return and Piute Creeks join the river from the north within the Tuolumne Canyon. Clavey River. First things first this isnt a destination for the faint of heart. The waters of Yosemite yield catches of rainbow, wild brook trout, cutthroat, brown trout and even the exceptionally rare California Golden Trout if you are lucky. However, it also causes dewatering of significant portions of the Tuolumne River, especially during low water summers when all but a minimal fish release is diverted through the power plants. These projects halved the amount of water flowing from the Tuolumne into the San Joaquin, greatly reducing the once-abundant runs of salmon and steelhead in both rivers. Spencer has also written a bookLearning to Fly. The old gravel mines in the river are to be filled in, salmon spawning grounds (gravel beds) are to be made, habitat is to be restored. Parachute Adams size 12-18. [67] The suffix -umne, which appears in the names of two other California rivers, the Mokelumne and Cosumnes, is thought to have meant "place of" or "people of" in the native language. You dont need much more than what youd take for any trout fishing trip in the Sierra or Rocky Mountains. The river has rainbow, brown, and brook trout. but also camping), and includes links and summaries of the fishing spots we've been to. 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. [101] The Cherry Creek is also run by commercial trips. Length 3.8 miElevation gain 265 ftRoute type Out & back. Personally, I cant leave to fish a trout river without Hares Ears, Frenchies, and a few Parachute Adams in my box. The Tuolumne River system also consist of the South Fork of the Tuolumne River, a fine fly fishing destination itself, and the Middle Fork and North Forks of the Tuolumne River, which also have both wild and stocked trout. The Tuolumne River system also consist of the South Fork of the Tuolumne River, a fine fly fishing destination itself, and the Middle Fork and North Forks of the Tuolumne River, which also have both wild and stocked trout. This has been countered by irrigation districts who maintain that the aforementioned predation, not low flows, are the primary cause of salmon smolt deaths. The high elevation of the meadows, which offers excellent fly fishing opportunities and the two forks limit the season to a very short one. Set includes 40 high quality, hand-tied flies (see list below) and waterproof fly box. There are many streams and rivers where fishing is permitted within the boundaries of Yosemite. [21] Streams are generally high-gradient, clear and rocky, but large alpine meadows provide riparian and wetland habitat, which contribute sediment to the watershed's runoff. A USGS gage recorded an average annual flow of 2,343 cubic feet per second (66.3m3/s) here between 1911 and 1970, with a maximum peak of 60,300 cubic feet per second (1,710m3/s) on January 31, 1911, and a minimum monthly mean of 57.5 cubic feet per second (1.63m3/s) in October 1912. The fish wont be anything to write home about, but theyll keep you entertained for however long you can stand to cast. I decided it was time to have my own A River Runs Through It experience. Many of the landscapes in the Tuolumne River area encountered by the first European explorers were thus not pristine but the result of hundreds of years of management; indeed, the famous meadows of Hetch Hetchy Valley prior to its damming only existed because of the annual burn. And a few Parachute Adams in my box and has been used recreationally since the 1960s ( 60,000,000m3 ),! And water type to find your desired results, all rights reserved mountain vistas the! 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