Type of Stream
Freestone/Tailwater
Species
Rainbow Trout (wild)
Brown Trout (wild)
Brook Trout (wild)
Golden Trout (hybrids and native)
Size
Small to Large depending on the
location
Location
Eastern Sierra California
Nearest Towns
Mammoth Lakes
Season
Last Sat. April through Nov. 15
Access:
Good to Fair, depending on the Fork
and location
Non-Resident License
State of California
Weather
National Weather Service Link
USGS Stream Level – blw Friant:
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Options For Selecting Flies:
1. Email us (sales@perfectflystore.com)
with the dates you will be fishing this stream and we will send you a list of our fly suggestions. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response.
2. Call us 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide which flies you need
3. Email us (sales@perfectflystore.com)
with a budget for flies and we will select them to match the budget and get them to you in time for your fly fishing trip.
All orders are shipped free in the
U. S. Orders over $100 are shipped via Priority Mail.
Copyright 2016 James Marsh
Fly Fishing the San Joaquin River California: The San Joaquin River is a huge river system. It consist of three separate drainages – the North Fork, Middle Fork and South Fork. Each of these are completely different from the others. The San Joaquin River is overall 330 miles long and has several largetributaries. Stanislaus River, Tuolumne River, Merced River, Calaveras River and the Mokelumne River are the major ones. The upper San Joaquin system is usually gin clear with deep pools and fast riffles and runs. Much of the freestone areas would be well described as heavy pocket water. The North Fork of the San Joaquin River runs through remote wilderness. It is a great section to fish provided you go to the trouble to get to the water. It doesn’t have any access from a road. It has brook trout in its headwaters and wild rainbow trout in its middle and lower sections. Golden trout exist in its lakes. It begins at almost 13,000 feet and has a very steep gradient. It’s spring runoff last a long time. Its best fly fishing is in the lower elevations. It has all four species of trout.The South Fork of the San Joaquin is larger than the others but it a system of tailwaters. It provides good trout fishing above and below Edison and Florence Lakes. There are eleven miles of good water above Florence Lakes that can be accessed from a trail that follows along the river. The trail is popular for hikers but few anglers fish the river. Below Florence Lakes, the river declines to almost 5,000 feet and merges with the North Fork of the San Joaquin River just above Mammoth Pool Reservoir. The upper San Joaquin River segment includes the main stem of the river above Mammoth Pool Reservoir downstream to the confluence of the Middle and North Forks. The eight mile tailwater section below Mammoth Pool is in a very deep canyon with very little access; however, it’s a great location to catch large trout.The Middle Fork is the most popular fork for fly fishing. It flows from the southern Yosemite area to Kings Canyon National Park. It begins at Thousand Island Lakes at about 10,000 feet elevation. The Ansel Adams Wilderness provides good opportunities with brook, rainbow, brown, golden trout and hybrid golden trout. It can be accessed from the Eastern Sierra area of Mammoth Lakes. The campgrounds in its headwaters provide easy access to about two miles of the Middle Fork but you will have plenty of competition in those locations.The Middle Fork area can be accessed from the Mammoth Ski Area via a bus shuttle to the River Trail. The road to the Devil’s Postpile National Monument also accesses the Middle Fork. The upper area of the Middle Fork ranges from Agnew Meadows to the Upper Soda Springs Campground. From the upper Soda Springs to Minaret Falls, or the middle section, you will find larger sections of water with larger trout but more competition from other anglers. From Minaret Falls to Rainbow Falls, or the lower section, you find mostly brown trout.
Seasons: Last Saturday of April – Sept. 15
Spring: There is little fishing during the Spring other than below some tailwaters in the system. Summer: Sumertime is by far the best time to fish the San Joaquin River. Fall:Only the early Fall season provides good fishing in the upper sections of the river. Fishing can be okay in the lower elevation tailwaters.