Good beginner's water not too far from the bay area??

seabass · Member

Good beginner's water not too far from the bay area??

AbelBoy · Senior Member

Hi Seabass,
I have a friend who drives up the highway 108 corridor just past Modesto and Oakdale. The Lower Stanislaus is accessible for decent trout fishing a few miles past Oakdale up to the Lake Tulloch Dam. I don't know where you are, but from the South Bay, it's roughly a 2 hour drive (maybe less). This time of year, a very predictable caddis hatch happens in the last two hours of daylight.

If you feel like making a weekend out of it, drive further up the corridor into the mountains. The South Fork of the Stanislaus and its tribs are good waters. Up the corridor you can find campgrounds to stay overnight.

AbelBoy

seabass · Member

alright, looked on google maps, and looks pretty good. So, after I pass oakdale, where do i want to roughly go? This will be my first time fly fishing on a river. Thanks a lot for the info!!

Emerger · Senior Member

The turn off for the dam is only another 10-15 minutes past Oakdale. Here is a google map for where you'll want to park:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Oakdale,+Stanislaus,+California,+United+States&ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&hl=en&cd=1&geocode=0,37.768400,-120.848220&ll=37.858727,-120.632871&spn=0.002075,0.003321&t=h&z=18

seabass · Member

alright, so i park around there and then walk to the river right. On the mapp you put it has like a star on the main road, maybe around 5 or 6 blocks away from the river; is that the right spot? ?? where can i know is a good spot on the river, or do turn towards the dam 10 or 15 mns after oakdale and park there and then explore or? since this will be my first time on the river, what do you suggest I bring and what types of flies would be good, some specific ones if you know.
Thanks again!!!

-- Edited by seabass at 15:01, 2008-07-27

Emerger · Senior Member

Sorry Seabass, I gave you the wrong link. This link is the correct URL to use:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=&daddr=37.858731,-120.632785&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=18&sll=37.858731,-120.632747&sspn=0.002075,0.003321&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=18

Expand upon the view on the google map I linked to above to see where the river is. Any of the water in that area is fishable, have at it.

seabass · Member

thanks a lot for th info!!! its been very helpful!! one more thing, so parking is where u put the little sign right, the little sand area right? And do I want to be fishing below the dam or in the actual "lake-like" thing above the dam? Oh and what can i expect to catch there if anything, and what are some good basic flies that normally work well there?
Thanks for the help!

-- Edited by seabass at 01:24, 2008-07-28

Emerger · Senior Member

Stick to fishing anywhere below the dam. I had some fun a couple of weeks ago with a tan fox poopah with a serendipity dropper. Good luck!

seabass · Member

alright. Also since im so new, i only have some really basic ones that i got online, which look pretty good; to name a few, I have, and if you would let me know if they could work there plz : ) copper johns, fbpt, pt, fbhe, he, cdc caddis, wd40... and more.. i'll look in my fly box when i get home and let u know what else I have. Btw, what kind of fish can be expected to be caught there. Oh and abuot what size on average is good for flies at stanislaus??
Thanks!!

-- Edited by seabass at 12:22, 2008-07-29

Emerger · Senior Member

Those flies should work just fine. Best way to learn is to get out there and fish!

Matt R · Senior Member

Emerger wrote:

Best way to learn is to get out there and fish!

�� Very well said Emerger

-- Edited by Matt R at 13:20, 2008-07-29

seabass · Member

alright. thanks again for all of your guys' help. I will let you guys know how it is when i do make it up there. One last thing haha. What kind of setup do I need; all I have is a five weight rod and floating line and flies of course, and a net I'll bring. Hopefully I will have waders by then but if not, can you fish off shore there easily? Would it be good to have a 1 or mutliple fly setup, and iff multiple, what would be good there, floater on top and sinker on bottom or??
Thanks!!!!

JT · Senior Member

seabass wrote:

Hopefully I will have waders by then but if not, can you fish off shore there easily?

It's summer time--just wet wade.�

shon42073 · Senior Member

I haven't put on a pair of waders in probably 2 months man, No need for em, wading boots and some neoprene socks. You know it's time to get out and walk around when you start loosing coordination in your legs.

seabass · Member

alright thanks. just so i know, what is wet wading? haha
Thanks

Matt R · Senior Member

wet wading is when your fishing in the rain. you'll have to wait now.

AC22 · Senior Member

haha wet wading is wading without waders just using wading shoes or sandals and neoprene socks like shon said.....or even just sneakers work fien too if it the rocks arent too slimy