North Fork or Middle Fork Stan recommendations for kids?

windknots · Senior Member

North Fork or Middle Fork Stan recommendations for kids?

shon42073 · Senior Member

I'd highly recomend the north fork stan. at sourgrass, theres a great campground right on the river with bathrooms and water, Its called Waka luu hep yoo campground I think, Just search stanislaus national forest campgrounds and you'll see it. There another campground up the road a bit at boardscrossing buts its primitive without any bathrooms I think. The fishing at sourgrass is good and theres lots of relativly easy access up river for quit aways. Last time out there I could walk down to the river right at the campground every evening and catch tons of fish on dry's. Shoot me a message if this is were you plan to go I can give ya more details on the river. You didn't say wich part of the middle stan. you were looking at ? I only fish the stretch from below beardsly to sandbar flat, And i wouldn't say thats a good kids fishing spot, To much tough hiking.

windknots · Senior Member

Thanks Shaun, that's exactly the type of info I was looking for! Last time I brought them down to Sand Bar Flats, they had a great time but the fish weren't cooperative as they had been for me in the past. PM sent...

Flying Dutchman · Senior Member

Beardsley is still spilling. http://www.tridamproject.com/graphs.aspx?r=0&t=3

NF would be a better option, flows last time checked appear to be coming down--with three kids, you might also look into Beaver Creek, too. Do you have tubes or a john boat?

windknots · Senior Member

Thanks for the headsup on the spillway at Beardsley, I have a kick boat but didn't think it would be useful up at the NF which is the current plan. I've fished Beaver Creek a couple times and was thinking of taking one of the kids there on the way back (schedule is staggered because of all the sports clubs these kids are on, it's taking 3 adults and 3 cars to handle taking 4 kids camping for a couple days... so one kid gets to fish for an extra day on Saturday).

dumbpig · Veteran Member

In the very back spaces of that campground, there are trails that lead down to the river and some pretty exceptional holes for learning to throw a fly. Mostly planters, but fish willing to take on surface and subsurface. On the other side of the bridge on boards crossing out of the day camp, there is a relatively flat 4X4 trail that leads upstream a few miles. some good pocket water not to mention a hike to tire out the kids! Great place for a walk, lunch and fish

windknots · Senior Member

Thanks Patrick! This is looking like a good choice, appreciate all the tips I've been getting.

shon42073 · Senior Member

Beardsly is no longer spilling over. Actually good flows now at 178 cfs. My ideal would be around 120 cfs. But i'd still recomend the north fork for the youngsters. Middle fork is more technical.

Flying Dutchman · Senior Member

Check those flows again-- http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryDaily?BRD

Windknots-Yes, tubes wouldn't be very useful on the NF...dumb of me to leave out the part about taking the kids to a lake. From experiences with my son, a change of scenery helps. Just more options, but more packing, too! Send me a PM if interested in some stillwater options.

shon42073 · Senior Member

I don't think those flows are correct Dutchman, Tridam project.com has em listed at 178. The ca.gov. site says the flows were over 1,000 when I was there last, No way man they were at 148 last visit. Probably won't be up there again till late july or august, Then its a clark fork trip.

windknots · Senior Member

Thanks FD, pm sent! I'll be taking off in a few hours, hopefully the rain holds off...

dumbpig · Veteran Member

My buddy just got back from the boards crossing. Said he had good action on big bead-head golden stones. Said he was throwing of top water flies, lots of looks, some takes but not that serious. Once he started the stone nymph, first cast was an 18", then a 20". This was just in the first big pool above the bridge. His kid also learned how to fish entirely on his own this trip. Said the water has about 8' clarity right now, and nobody was in the campground. Just got back yesterday. Enjoy.

windknots · Senior Member

Got back on Saturday, Sourgrass was great for family camping, very clean and well kept. Lots of small fish kept the kids busy, the farther away from the campground the bigger the fish got. I've got the 12 year old hooked on fly fishing and he caught his biggest yet, a wild rainbow, on a barbless stimulator. Most fish were 4-10", landed one 14", lost a few more the same size and hooked one very nice fish in the 18-20" but he came unbuttoned.

They planted while we were up there so I was able to show them the difference between wild vs hatchery first hand, they agreed rock hopping from pool to pool chasing natives in their typical holds and reading water was a lot more interesting than chasing planters by bridges. Thanks for all the tips, the kids had a great time, mission accomplished!

Flying Dutchman · Senior Member

Glad to read! Looking forward to spending time with my son there, too!

shaun · Member

Great to here it worked out for ya ! I find if you wanna keep a kid interested in fishing they gotta catch fish even 6 inchers are fun, Hell I'm 36 and 6 inchers are still fun smile

. I'm hoping to get up there sometime this summer.

dumbpig · Veteran Member

Anyone had much success on Beaver Creek? Im talking the one on the east side of Boards Crossing. I have only fished it once right in the area you first drive up to it. I was also with a couple of people who were not into exploring as much so we did not have much luck. It's a beautiful little creek and I have heard it is a good spring fishery. Just curious to hear about it.