Fished the Eastern Sierra's a few weeks back, and hit the Merced near El Portal on the way back. Had a good day, 15 plus, all but one on dry flies, average in the 12" with 3 in the 15-16". Lot's of fun. Anyway, saw some big boys in there 5-6 of em, big hook jaws, 10 lbs-plus, monsters. Figured maybe they were steelie holdovers but was not sure as I was pretty high up in the river system. I know there are some big browns in there as well. Unfortunately I did not have my sinking line as one was pretty curious and flashed at the muddler on the floating line. Last time I leave that in the truck. Anyone know about this water as a steelhead fishery , I have been finding some contradictory information and little about it that high up in the system. Anyway, it's a nice fishery that appeared to have little pressure this late in the year. Figured I'd hit it in a few weeks unless the coastal streams start flowing.
Hi Dumbpig, What you might have seen are Rainbow Trout that are progeny of Steelhead from many generations before the dam went up at Lake McClure. Sometimes when dams get built, the hatchlings get landlocked in the lake on their downstream migrations. These fish will mature in the lake thinking its the ocean. When instincts kick in for time to spawn, they will head upstream since the are genetically programmed to do so. The same thing happened with Lake Sonoma.
Another thing that you may have witnessed were some spawning Brown Trout if you didn't get a clear view of the fish. Browns are fall spawners, and they should be on their redds by now.
I'm not sure what the fishing is like below the dam at McClure. The Central Valley Steelhead runs have been small over the years. You might want to talk to Bob Nakagawa at Sierra Anglers in Modesto. That man has a wealth of information.
Those big boys are possibly from the 2007 Merced FFC and DFG plants. Some believed they might eventually swim down to McClure or, even worse, become a dust-collector on a wall...If memory serves me, the Kings received the same program the previous year.
Yes, AbelBoy, Bob is a wealth of info! 209-572-2212 Great avatar--did you create at Simpsons?
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There's no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm...
I lived in Modesto in the late 90s. When I decided to get back into fly fishing, I decided to go straight to a specialist rather than a generalist. Bob got me on the right track, so I recommend him and his shop whenever I can.
The avatar is of Bleeding Gums Murphy. I just copied the picture from the Simpsons website.
Only compliments to Bob! Not once has he pushed a product or piece of equipment that I didn't need--even to the point of telling me to put something back on the shelf.
He gave me another great deal today on a Galvan for my new 5 weight.
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There's no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm...
Honestly Flying Dutchman, I don't know that my gear would have handled them, but it would have certainly been fun trying. Nice part was I saw them throughout the river in a few different spots, certainly there are more. Kind of refreshing to see them still in water at the end of a summer.
DP-Made it up to El Portal and the Gorge a few days back. I just about bought the farm scrambling/jumping granite boulders in the Gorge...Mainly healthy, colorful foot long rainbows taken on PT/S&M dropper. Surprised not to land a brown...I did bring along my big gun just in case!
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There's no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm...
How was the weather? Any hatches coming off right now? I figure I'll be there in 3 weeks so things will change a lot anyway, and streamers will be on the menu. Fortunately, in the mean time, I'll be on the Provo River, Utah. Thanks.
Dutchman-As for the Gorge you referred to, is this well below El Portal after the highway turns from the river. This was the first time I had ever fished the river, not too sure?
Overcast, in the 50/60's--yet, little bug activity. They were happily gobbling up size 16 & 18 nymphs! By mid-afternoon, the dry would draw them to the top, followed by a lazy refusal, then a "better get something for the effort" settling of the dropper. They weren't slamming the dry probably like a few weeks back...I did try smaller dry sizes and tippet--they just wouldn't accept the offer.
The Gorge is above El Portal until Hwy. 140 reaches Yosemite Valley, basically inside the park boundary. I believe this portion of the river closes in a few days. Large rocks, some extremely slick, and lots of clambering over and around boulders.
El Portal section is open all year.
Enjoy UT!
-- Edited by Flying Dutchman at 02:12, 2008-11-15
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There's no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm...
, I have been finding some contradictory information and little about it that high up in the system. Anyway, it's a nice fishery that appeared to have little pressure this late in the year. Figured I'd hit it in a few weeks unless the coastal streams start flowing. 
