Fly Fishing California. Ken Hanley
particularly during first and last light. Night fishing for crappie can be extremely productive.
The shoreline winds approximately 60 miles around the lake. Bank angling is best around the south and north shores. Camanche provides you with 7,500 surface acres to explore, so a boat of some kind is helpful. Expect significant boat traffic during the summer months, as Camanche is also a popular water-skiing destination.
Fortunately for the fly fishing community, the better angling takes place during the cooler weather of spring, and the place is busting with game fish at this time! To catch the warmwater species, try crayfish patterns with hints of red, brown, blue, and orange. Anything that slithers or crawls through bassy cover is sure to draw interest. For the stocked trout or kokanee, fish down around 10 to 20 feet, or try to find the 50F to 55F temperature zone.
If topwater is your game, fish in the early morning and evening. When the heat hits the water, most of the game fish go deep. Deep-water tactics with heavy sinking lines and streamers will keep you in the game.
Camanche is about 30 miles east of the Central Valley city of Stockton. Drive east on Highway 88 through Clements. Turn off on Highway 12 to reach the south shore region. Or stay on Highway 88 to Liberty Road (east) for north shore access.
Camanche shoreline. Photo by Brian Sak.
Types of Fish
Rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, smallmouth, largemouth, spotted bass, crappie, and panfish.
Known Hatches & Baitfish
Trout: Callibaetis mayflies, tan or yellow caddis, damselfly nymphs, and shad streamers.
Bass: Threadfin shad, bluegill, game fish fry, crayfish, leeches, and frogs.
Panfish: Small jigs, nymphs, and sponge spiders.
Equipment to Use
Rods: 5–7 weight, 8½–10 feet in length.
Reels: Palm or mechanical drag.
Lines: Intermediate, sink tip type-4, modified sink tips of 130 to 200 grains, or shooting heads type-4 or type-6.
Leaders: 1X to 6X, 6–12 feet in length.
Wading: Felt-soled boots, hip boots, or chest waders are okay, but the reservoir is best worked from a boat or inflatable if possible.
Flies to Use
Nymphs: Putnam’s & Bug Eye Damselfly, Black AP #12, Kaufman’s Dragonfly #8, Poxyback Callibaetis #16, Black Ant, Prince #14, Gold Bead Prince #10–16.
Streamers: Sea Habit Bucktail #1/0, Flashtail Clouser #1/0–2, Purple Eelworm #6, Burk’s V-Worm #10, Hot Flash Minnow, Whitlock’s Near Nuff Sculpin, Purple Eelworm, Bullet Head, Whitlock Near Nuff Sculpin #6, Poxybou Crayfish #4–8, Black Woolly Bugger #4, Blanton’s Flash Tail series #6–8.
Topwater & Subsurface: Gurgler #2, Swimming Frog, Loudmouth Shad #6, Gaines Bluegill Popper #12, Sponge Spider #10–12, Bett’s Micro Popper #8–10, Elk Hair Caddis #10–14.
When to Fish
Trout & Kokanee: November through April; prime months are January through April.
Bass: March through November; prime months are April to May and October to November.
Panfish: All year, prime times are spring and fall.
Seasons & Limits
Fish all year and plan on general state regulations and limits. Check at a fly shop or the Camanche store, or consult the California Department of Fish & Game regulation booklet for more exact information.
Accommodations & Services
Camping, public launches, a marina, boat rentals, a store, and supplies are available at the lake.
Rating
I really enjoy this lake and the great boating opportunities. Overall at least a 6.5.
Carson River East Fork
by Dave Stanley
This is a classic freestone stream with lots of riffles, rapids, deep runs, and pools. These conditions create excellent habitat for stoneflies, caddisflies, and some species of mayflies, all found throughout the Carson drainage. The upper river provides many different experiences, access being one. Above Wolf Creek the narrow, fast-flowing waters are accessible by a rough 4WD trail, on horseback, or by foot.
As is typical on this type of water, nymph and wet-fly fishing methods produce fish throughout the season. Usually late on summer evenings there is excellent dry-fly fishing. The large numbers of baitfish also mean success is likely for skilled streamer anglers.
The river from Wolf Creek down to Hangman’s Bridge (just outside of Markleeville) has several inflow tributaries that make the river grow dramatically. Here, less adventuresome anglers have relatively easy access off Highway 89 and Highway 4.
Hangman’s Bridge to the Nevada state line is a special regulation river section, accessible only by 4WD, on foot, or in good water years, by raft or pontoon boat. Large fish are consistently taken in this stretch.
The river remains a viable trout fishery where it enters Nevada and passes through the Gardnerville area. The river then changes primarily to a warmwater fishery as it flows toward Lahontan Reservoir, although trout can still be found here and there.
To get to the East Fork of the Carson from the California side, take Interstate 50 past Lake Tahoe to Highway 89 south. After about 12 miles Highways 88 and 89 merge; follow the signs to Markleeville. The river parallels the highway.
From Reno, take U.S. Route 395 south to Minden, Nevada. Take Highway 88 west to Woodfords, California, and the junction of Highways 88, 89, and 4.
Angler below riffles on the East Fork of the Carson River. Photo by Don Vachini.
Types of Fish
Rainbow, cutthroat, and brown trout, and mountain whitefish. Brook trout in tributaries.
Known Hatches
Like the Truckee and Walker rivers, caddis are prolific here. Mayflies appear in March, hatching sporadically through late September and early October. Golden stones hatch in March and April prior to or just at the beginning of runoff, and little yellow stones appear from June through August.
Equipment to Use
Rods: 5–6 weight, 9 feet in length.
Reels: Standard trout reels are fine.
Lines: Floating, occasionally sink tips for deep water.
Leaders: 3X to 6X, 7½–10 feet in length.
Wading: Felt-soled boots, or chest-high neoprene or breathable waders.
Flies to Use
Dries: Elk Hair Caddis, Adams, Humpy, Royal Wulff, Parachute Hare’s Ear, other parachute patterns in various colors, Little Yellow Stones, Stimulators, Ants, and Hoppers.
Nymphs: Bird’s Nest, Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear, Prince, Zug Bug, or any of these with beadhead. Green Rockworm, Golden Stone, Little Yellow