New to the Board

Flying Dutchman · Senior Member

New to the Board

Matt R · Senior Member

Hey Flying Dutchman, cool of you to say that. I know there's alot of people who are just learning from this board. Welcome aboard and share your info on that sierra fishing.� There's some of us here who get up to the mtns. on a regular basis.� Which waters do you typically fish?�

Flying Dutchman · Senior Member

Matt,

I wish I had more time to fish--family, 2 small boys, etc.. Sounds like the same story for many. Typically, explore Hwy. 4 corridor and family trips to Stan. Middle Fork around Clarks Fork and Dardanelle. This is my fourth year of fly fishing--father-in-law purchased a rod/reel combo for Christmas, provided a few lessons, then proceeded to move to Carson City. Love visiting him for a few days of fishing...

My older son, now six years old, enjoys his time in the mountains, too! So, I must spread the time between cookie-cutters and chasing wilds. White Pines and Mosquito Lakes are often visited by the two of us. Easy access. I worry my wife when packing/hiking a day trip away from the crowds by myself.

What drew me to this board, besides all of the positive comments, were the reports of Hwy. 108. Often the reports in other boards (which are fantastic, too!) are of water further north, or just one or two lines of information on the Lower Stan.

Thanks again for welcoming me to the board. I hope any information might be useful.

windknots · Senior Member

Hi DF, I'm not an authority on the area but I found some good water above the bridge on North Fork at Big trees, if you hike about 300 yards the trail completely disappears and you'll pretty much have the place to yourself.� Nothing big for me that day but a very enjoyable spot with lots of wild rainbow.

On Middle Fork Stan you should also try below Beardsley, the afterbay itself has fish and is very flat-waterish.� The stretch between the afterbay and Sand Bar Flats is a beautiful stretch of river, the upper part is managed as a wild trout fishery.� Nice write up at:

http://members.tripod.com/stevenojai/mfstanis.htm

shon42073 · Senior Member

Welcome aboard flydutchmen. I love fishing the hwy. 108 corridor. Its an awesome place. I had a great trip a few months ago to the clarks fork, Lots and lots of brookies in that river. The one time I stayed at dardenelle it was to early in the year and the river was still blown out. Hey, windknots, shhhhhhhhhh, That stretch of the middle fork around sand bar flat is an awesome spot, Dont go tellin everyone about it biggrin

. Only spots I have fished along hwy. 4 is mosquito lakes wich was alot of fun one day and nothing the next, Those lakes are so picture perfect its like a scene from disneyland, I also tried the north fork moklumne once around hermits valley, was pretty good spot.

Flying Dutchman · Senior Member

Hi Windknot. I, too, am not an authority...still gaining with each trip. I know the water in both spots. I've had many productive days at both. If you go below the bridge, teenagers tend to take over with rafts, swimming, etc. I had planned a trip earlier this week to Beardsley afterbay--fell through. Would like to go next week with my tube before weather/ice closes road...One last trip...

Have you been to either recently?

The link to Steven Ojai is a marvelous reference.

JT · Senior Member

Welcome aboard, Flying Dutchman.� I wish I could make it up to the Sierras more often.� Between school and work I'm stuck here fishing Putah every week.� I guess I can't complain too much.� I only have to drive 20 minutes, and there are some really nice fish in the creek.

Flying Dutchman · Senior Member

Captain, your reports changed my fishing plans earlier this summer. Even though I did make one trip to Merced (inside Yosemite-Yes, I will do this trip again--worth every step, view, and fish taken), the Tuolumne was put on hold (maybe next year) after reading your 25 plus fish days around Clarks Fork...I took your advice, hammered every bit of holding water, enjoying the best day of the season (fish count), then proceeded to carelessly fall and break the only rod I brought--this was all before 2:00 in the afternoon!!! So, I did what any possessed fly fisherman would do -- Attempt to fish with a shattered rod...Didn't work so well. I've since learned from that mistake! When you fished around Hermit Valley, did you turn off and make the dirt road to Highland Lakes. Beautiful place, tons of colorful flowers (ooops, not suppose to mention), strong wind. I have yet to fish. I heard the best way is to let the wind do all the work for you, then walk back around lake. Curious?!

JT, thanks for the welcome! The pictures and reports show very clearly Putah has quite a few excellent fish. I understand how work and school can dictate your fishing schedule. Presently, I have some vacation time. Yet, my family and son's school activities (wife is highly involved in PTA) have kept me at bay. Even being roughly 40 minutes away from the lower Stan. I still have not had a chance this past week to sneak away for a quick morning or afternoon trip. Like I posted earlier, Tuesday was planned....Hope for next week!