Hey Fellas, I have been all over this site and I haven't seen a whole lot of posts on the Lower Stan? I thought about fishing it when the season opens next year and started doing my homework when I noticed that. Any reason why? This is part of finding local water that I can drive to from the East Bay for small day trips.
Terrible...awful...not worth the drive...save your money!!!
Weekends are often a three-ring circus. If you can plan a midweek trip, that's the time to hit Goodwin. Maybe Dr. Bombay will share his parking experience?!?! Don't leave anything in your car of value either...
Small and smaller in olive or black. Give Bob at Sierra Anglers a call, 209-572-2212, or stop by his shop on McHenry in Modesto. He's a stand-up guy that will point you in the right direction.
Feel free to PM as the time nears--I'll be out there, too!
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There's no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm...
This is one of my favorite places to fish. It's actually the first river in California I ever fished - my grandmother used to drive me out to two mile bar and sit on the bank while I made sloppy casts to water too shallow to hold fish. There are some nice strong fish in there though. The Mother Lode Fly Shop used to be a great place to pick up Lower Stan advice, but it closed a while back.
If you need a buddy when it opens up, Davis is sort of on the way
Thanks for the info Dutch! Yeah, I'm planning on the weekdays. I try to avoid weekends anyway. I will take you up on the pm when the time gets closer. Thanks again.
The lower stan. is overall a rather pathetic fisherie. It's rarely worth the drive ! I'd highly recomend you spend your time elswhere. Its crowded too.
The lower stan. is overall a rather pathetic fisherie. It's rarely worth the drive ! I'd highly recomend you spend your time elswhere. Its crowded too.
Shaun, you're starting to sound like some of the griping locals!!! When did you move into the neighborhood?!
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There's no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm...
Thanks for the info Dutch! Yeah, I'm planning on the weekdays. I try to avoid weekends anyway. I will take you up on the pm when the time gets closer. Thanks again.
Hey Packrat, I'm in Brentwood. East, COCO.
Both myself and the good Dr. Bombay are not far from you at all....Martinez.
Hey Vince! Sorry I missed yer post! Nice to meet you brutha! I'll keep you in mind if I decide to fish Stanislaus. Let me know next time you hit Putah as well. Maybe I'll join ya.
Hello Caddis Ninja, Everything previously said about the Lower Stan is true for the most part. Auto vandalism and potential tow away if not parked completely off the black top is a real danger. Weekends can be crowded. As in any tailwater, changing flows have a lot to do with what kind of mood the fish are in. One of the best times of the year is in mid February to late April. When the flows are down to about 550cfs or less at Orange Blossom consistantly for a week or so the bugs and fish start to cooperate. I've had lots of 20 + catch days and have come away skunked. The best advice I can offer is to check the flows before you go, go midweek, park as off the road as you can get, don't leave a thing visible inside your car that might tempt the tweakers. I also live in Brentwood and if you don't mind pre-dawn departure times, you're welcome to join me sometime. See you, Viking
Hey Viking, I appreciate the info and invite. I too am a pre dawn traveler and living in the same town is even better. I will pm you when we get closer to the season.
Hey Fellas, I have been all over this site and I haven't seen a whole lot of posts on the Lower Stan? I thought about fishing it when the season opens next year and started doing my homework when I noticed that. Any reason why? This is part of finding local water that I can drive to from the East Bay for small day trips.
Thanks, Brett
The Lower Stan is a great river. It is often overlooked. It used to be what I fished the most. I still love it, but nowadays prefer something bigger When I'm in the mood for a smaller river, this is where I go.
If you go midweek- no crowds. Never had a problem with vandalism or breakins (knock on wood), but that stuff happens everywhere. One day you may get skunked, the next you may catch 30 fish. Be ready for anything.
Lots of little fish (under 17 inches), but a few larger ones. My biggest trout in this river was 22". However most seem to be in the 15 inch area. A decent run of steelhead and salmon make things more interesting.
Most people fish smaller flies. But as someone who likes to go against the grain, I can tell you that they'll take larger swinging steelhead patterns. My average fly size is a 10. Many times go as big as a 4. If I'm catching too many small guys, I'll often scale up to try and dissuade them.
-- Edited by FlyMonkey on Saturday 21st of November 2009 08:50:34 AM
Hey Monkey, Thanks for the info! My situation is going to keep me out of the sierras for the time being so I appreciate the response. I got some contact info from the fly shop up there too. Big thanks to all the responses guys.
Don't leave anything in your car of value either...
When did you move into the neighborhood?!
