I'd like to hear some of your guys's number one favorite rivers or creeks in california to fish, not necasarily the ones were you have caught the most or the biggest trout, But were you really enjoy the overall experience. I am not looking to hone in on anyones secret spots, Be vague if you want to. Mine so far is the McCloud river, Becuse its a bueatiful river, bueatiful area and the fishing is great, only place I have caught rainbows, browns, brookies, and I think cuttbows from one big pool.
My favorite river has to be the Lower McCloud. The area is protected by the Nature Conservancy and it seems like you have dropped into a scene from Jurassic Park. Big browns and rainbows. Favorite lake has to be Milton. It is a lake with a river running through it, and it has a few big fish.
For some reason, I keep going back to the Truckee when I think of this. What a beautiful river, with great hatches and great fish. My favorite spots are further down the river toward Farad, in the Grand Canyon of the Truckee. The other river I just love to fish is the North Fork Yuba. I usually make at least two multi-day runs with buddies up there each year and fish the hell out of it. Another beautiful river, and Downieville and Sierra City are a lot of fun as well. Up top, the river is small with classic plung pools. In the middle, lots of pocket water. Down lower, more open water with spill ins. It's absolutely beautiful in the upper river in fall when all of the aspens go bright yellow and the October Caddis hatch is on.
Upper Sac. probably because I learned to fish on it and have been going there my entire life. I have many fond memories going from my a toddler up to today. All those years and there are still huge stretches I have never fished.
Here's another vote for the Upper Sac. I lived in Dunsmuir as a kid and learned to fish on that river. Love going back there as it brings back great memories and good times on the water. Probably my second favorite river is the Pit. It can be tough getting around, but the rewards (fish) can be worth the extra effort.
All three kick serious butt. Course, the great thing about NorCal and the Sierra is that there are HUNDREDS of streams as good. You just have to go find them.
Upper sac. seems to be a popular choice. I love that river too although only fished it twice with limited sucess its still a very nice river. My best memory of the upper sac. was last spring, After 2 days of not much luck I wondered into ted fayes flyshop and asked for fly's and some advice, The old guy Joe took me aside and preceeded to give me about a 15 min. lecture on pocket water fishing, I will never forget that conversation, That man taught me alot in just those few mins. Later I find out the guys a pocket water fishing legend. I thought that was pretty cool. I am surprised the east walker hasn't had any votes for someones favorite.
putah creek..where else can you have a great day on the water, see naked people rolling around in the bushes and pick up cans and bottles to recycle.I picked up enough to pay for all the flys I lost..
cast my vote for the lower yuba. A lot of people on here probably wont think its the prettiest water or even in their top 3 but to me its the water i grew up on and the fact that it reminds me of home makes it my prime choice. not to mention the hardest fighting trout in cali along with the opportunity to throw a size 8 stone fly, some pretty darn good dry fly fishing...............etc.
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all of a man's addictions end and begin when he learns to fly fish
The Pit River is my favorite Northern California place to fish. The scenery is great down in the canyon, the bugs are thick, the fishing is stellar. It just my type of river: size, depth, & flow. It always treats me well and puts a smile on my face.
The Upper Merced River up behind Half Dome in Yosemite. It's a 5+ mile hike from the valley to camp at Little Yosemite Valley but the river is absolutely beautiful!
Second choice would be the Tuoloume out of Tioga Pass Third would be the Pit
I freely admit that driving back and forth over Tioga Pass I have been tempted to the point of stopping for "15 minutes" (which always seems to morph into a whole hour )to get a quick shot at all that beautiful water running down the West side. But I have never had much luck. Seems like a lot of crystal clear water, but not many fish? I am curious what I'm maybe missing here?
You dug up an old post. After fishing the upper owens I agree, it is by far my favorite river, I don't think alot of people in this area fish it because its a solid 6 hour drive from the bay area but worth every second. That pic. looks like Benton crossing ? Try the headwater section at big springs above the alpers fish ranch. probably the best 1 mile of water I have ever experienced. Sorry McCloud your #2 now
trinity #1, lower yuba #2, south fork american / and surrounding tribs #3, with putah a close #4
-- Edited by brian clemens at 21:28, 2008-09-03
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Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
My favorite spots that I really learned how to fish ( learned being the key word) because they were all hard at first are in the following order:( top 5 ) 1) McCloud ( near adi-na ) 2) Upper sac ( 46 miles all by yourself ) 3) Yuba ( caught my first trout there ) 4) Lower Stan 5) Putah Creek Now I pretty much fish these five along with the Little Truckee(once ) throut the year. i can't wait to retire and see more of them.
Okay, here's some healthy controversy to add to this old thread.
Do you feel that the Upper Owens River is considered "NorCal" water? The original topic, what is "your favorite norcal water" raises a point. Where is the cutoff for geographic determination. Bishop? Bridgeport? Yosemite? Tahoe?
I know the Owens, very well ("shon", yes, Big Springs and the Alpers sections can be simply unbelieveable water!) but, I still think of that area as Central Sierras. Bishop, Mammoth Lakes, June, Lee Vining, Bridgeport, etc. Oops, there goes the "East Walker" vote. Off the NorCal list?
Since moving to "NorCal" (Bay area) several years ago from "down south", I consider above Yosemite or even Tahoe, as the beginning of actual NorCal waters. But, that's just my old "SoCal" point of view. Are the Del Lorme California maps the real signification for NorCal waters?
Curious to what you think?
Then, my #1 answer would have to be the McCloud River (Conservation Section). Now I believe that is "NorCal Water".
Very nice point indeed ifish, the few people i talked to fishing the upper owens were from SoCal. Hmmmmmm, I'd probably have to say from about fresno north is what I'd like to call NorCal. I think that in all honesty my favorite river is the one I am fishing at any given time, There that makes it simple.
I agree. At least north of Yosemite. I would say draw a line due east of about San Jose and everything above that line would be "Norcal". A few exceptions maybe for ease of driving (Stanislaus).
I love the Yuba area, Truckee, and did like the American a bit until my car was vandalized back in March.
I have to go a little further. I say from Lower Sac in Red Bluff on up is northern cali. Yosemite to red bluff is central and everywhere else is south. Or we can cut it at S. lake Tahoe so the southern boys can have the E. carson and walker, Crowley etc.
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