Best Dry Fly fishing in Cal is where?

[steveg137]

Fall River ?
Almanor hex?
Hat creek?

Interested in your views, not asking anyone to divulge off the beaten path locations.

My limited experience would say Fall River, manzanita but based oh limited years here.

Thanks
Steve

[cyama]

During various years and certain times of the year dry fly fishing for big wild trout on the Lower Yuba can be great. Some years the Skwala hatch is sparse, but other big and small mayflies may be hatching. If you are talking numbers the planted sections of Upper Sac in Dunsmuir and East Carson above and below the Hangmans Bridge are usually best. If you just want to catch a ton of fish that are really small the easiest place to do that is the North Fork of the Yuba. If you only dry fly fish you have to move around the state depending on water temps and water flows. Hat Creek, East Walker, Hot Creek, Fall River and Stanislaus can be very good. I and some of my buddies hang out at a lake in the upper parts of the sierra where there are some hungry trout. Lake is somewhere between Eureka and San Diego.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

In the Spring most rivers and shallow weedy lake will get some dry fly activity.

The secret is to be there during the right time of day and the 1 to 4 week window.

We have extreme diversity in Nor Cal.

Early season on freestone rivers in the afternoons can be the salmon fly hatch.



Most go to Idaho/Montana in July/Aug/Sept for good dry fly fishing.

[Bob Loblaw]

If you want to catch a fish every other cast on a dry fly, the Dana or Lyell Forks of the Tuolumne River will scratch your itch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vYmM5CEx0M

[cdevine]

The Little Truckee can be very good for surface action, although not easy.

Hot Creek is excellent and has come back after a tough drought. Lots of eager 10-12 inch fish in that system now.

Lots of Eastern and Western creeks above 7-8k feet are filled with trout.

Throw any sort of terrestrial pattern or Parachute Adams later in the year and you will catch fish.

NFYR and feeder creeks.

endless options.

[steveg137]

Great perspective
As for that lake, believe you mean the shoal on east shore right ?!
Steve

[PV_Premier]

Time it right and the Upper Sac can be tough to beat for numbers of fish as well as a few decent sized ones.

[hwchubb]

Had an epic afternoon on Goldens in the Rock Creek drainage during a Whitney trip 2 weeks ago. Only 15 miles, one 12,300’ pass and a 2500 foot descent that you have to make back up getting out (our route out included Whitney, which takes you past several other untouched waters). We were the only fishermen we saw, not surprisingly. Oh, and Cottonwood Lakes are the most overrated fishery in the state.

Second the Lyell Fork for every cast grabs that is more accessible. Also some bigger fish in the lower meadow.