Early Season Report, 2014

It's finally here - the 2014 Trout Season! And while the thin Sierra snows of this year may present challenges to us fly casters as it progresses, the opportunities for the early season are greater and more abundant than normal.

With the unusually early opening of major Sierra passes already behind us, we expect the annual deluge of spring high waters to be both far milder and of shorter duration. Many higher elevation streams are already looking beautiful and fishing great.

Just since the season opening, our clients have been treated to some beautiful days in the high country catching, in some cases, their first-ever Trout on a fly, with enough feisty wild Rainbows, Brookies and Browns to make for some exceptionally fun and memorable days!

For fishers of all experience levels hankering for a taste of fly fishing in the midst of high Sierra spring splendor, NOW is the time! Give us a call!

Mid June News

Much to our amazement, many waters are still RISING! Despite this, we are working hard to find the exceptions and are having success. Some fish are even rising (enter winky emoticon here heh heh heh). The ant patterns continue to work well while a smattering of other bug "sightings" are kicking-in. On a recent day out, we even saw this hefty stone.

Jimmie and client Jack had a good volley of days out sleuthing a small stream that was responding well. Thank you Jack for the glowing testimonial as well! The key is persistence.

With 8 feet of snow in upper Yosemite, below normal water temperature east of Oakhurst in the Seirra Nat'l Forest and no hatch to match Jimmie and Bernard found fish and I landed wild trout on dry flies. Remote fishing holes on clear cold water streams with wild trout makes for a great experience. Without a hatch I didn't think dry flies would work. " We'll just make them come to the surface" Enough said. They delivered.

All Over The Place And Loving It

It's late August and the summer has been busy. We have worked the small streams, the bigger rivers and are also doing a lot of exploring. Guide Rick Mazaira was honored to be part of Paul and Melissa's twenty fifth wedding anniversary celebration. Fly Fishing was part of the agenda. Melissa caught her first fish on the fly no less.

 On another session, Rick had Chris Malin get his stoke on the Merced River. This fish offered an unusually acrobatic fight.

Bernard and Jim brought a band of merry men down to the Kings for a session that mixed hiking, fishing and getting dunked. Looking out for everyone's safety was part of the challenge on this day. The crew was invincible and the before and after shots show that sometimes it's the journey (right?).

Before

After

This trip was into a region of the Kings that we rarely service. With a wet year, it is running well and fishable. Normally it is too low and warm by now. It also includes a hike that may or may not be suitable for everyone. Please inquire if you want more detail.

Don't hesitate to ask about the Fall Trout Camp when we intercept migrating browns.  This starts mid-September and runs until mid October. Call us at 559-683-7664 or pop by the Yosemite Rivers fly shop. Details here: http://yosemiterivers.com/

Fall Colors

And that color is BROWN!


Trout camp started with unusually warm weather as well as strange watershed manipulations by the Edison Company. Both have subsided and the fish have begun to behave as they are expected to. Above is Jimmie with a typical fall brown from one of our fave west slope waters. The second specimen came from Bernard's day of scouting solo. Other color variations spice up the fare. See this small hen's amazing display of spots...

Followed below by this bow and this golden to round out the package a bit.


This year a bald eagle has been sighted in the region. The store at Mono Hot Springs is also setting up some fly fishing gear so in case you'd rather just blast out of the office and head straight for the Sierra, you won't be "S.O.L.". We have some gaps in our Trout Camp schedule so contact us immediately if you wish to experience this great place with the creature comforts of the Mono Hot Spring resort.