Copyright 2009 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 which are completely different
from the others. The San Joaquin River is overall 330
miles long and has several large tributaries. 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.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies
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 which are completely different
from the others. The San Joaquin River is overall 330
miles long and has several large tributaries. 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.
Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies
| 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 Hatch Chart Perfect Fly Hatch Chart (Coming) Fly Fishing Gear, Tackle and Flies |
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Photo Courtesy of Stephen Lamb
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San Joaquin River
California
California
Photo Courtesy Steven Lamb
| Options For Selecting Flies: 1. Email us 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. Call or email us with a budget for flies and we will select them and get them to you in time for your trip. Shipping is free in the U. S. Orders over $50 are shipped Priority Mail. |