Fly Fishing the South Fork Tuolumne River Near Yosemite NP, California

On our way to Yosemite National Park, Katie and I camped Sunday night at Yosemite Lakes Resort, so that I could fly fish the South Fork Tuolumne River for trout. This area is only about 5 miles from the West gate entrance (Big Oak Flat) to Yosemite. This river supports a population of wild brown and rainbow trout in addition to thousands of rainbows stocked annually.

Due to the huge snowpack this winter (much of which still remains in the Sierras), the South Fork Tuolumne River was running very high. This made fly fishing a futile effort. The river was blown out and very turbid.

   

We found a nice trail that followed the river upstream from a bridge where CA SR-120 crosses the river. We walked about a mile or so upriver looking for a couple pockets of water where I might be able to entice a fish to rise to my fly. I ended up only fishing one hole without any luck. The river is just not fishable yet. In another month it should look pretty good.