[williambuttry]

I have just started fly fishing and would like to make it my number one hobby, however I'm having some trouble finding locations in the central valley. If anybody can help, I'd be in your debt
Will Buttry-fresno fly master

[Dru Lee Parsec]

Originally Posted by williambuttry

I have just started fly fishing and would like to make it my number one hobby, however I'm having some trouble finding locations in the central valley. If anybody can help, I'd be in your debtWill Buttry-fresno fly master

Will:

Where in the central valley are you? I'm just inland from Auburn on the 80 about halfway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. In this area we have:

In the valley: The Sacramento river where I've heard there are salmon this time of year.

Further up the hill there's the north, middle and south forks of the American River.

The Bear river is suppose to have some small browns in it and it's only 2 miles from my house

The Yuba River has some incredible trout fishing. Just follow highway 49 past Grass Valley and Nevada City and the road runs right next to the river. I just picked up a local guide book a few weeks ago that list a lot of the best spots on the Yuba.

The Truckee River runs right next to Highway 80 and is suppose to be very good.

There is a fly fishing store in Rocklin, just east of Sacramento called Fly Fishing Specialties. http://www.flyfishingspecialties.com/ They have classes and guided days out. Their beginner class (Basic casting and so on) is held in a park on the 2nd Saturday of every month and is only $50. My wife and I are going to try to take the February class together. They then have full day guided intermediate classes on the river throughout the year at several of the rivers I listed above. You may want to look into that basic class as well.

I'm also a total newbie who just got a fly rod for Christmas and can't wait for the season to open up. If you're in the same area as I am and would like to get in touch all my contact information is on my web site at www.gbguitars.com

[Dru Lee Parsec]

Oh wait, I see you're in Fresno. That's about 250 miles south of me. Hmmm, I don't know that area at all. Also, maybe the moderators could move this thread to the "Western US" sub-topic. We may get more responses over there.

[Dru Lee Parsec]

William:

I was in Barnes & Nobel yesterday and I saw a book called The Definitive Guide to Fishing Central California by Chris Shaffer. It had a section on fishing locations around Fresno. If they had it up here near Sacramento then I bet a B&N would have it down near you as well.

[williambuttry]

That's funny i just picked up that book today before I checked my messages. I went this weekend to the kings river down here, but no luck. It might have been just to cold as my reel was frozen half the time. Thank you for your help. I heard about the sac river, and I have a business meeting the second sat in feb, I know weekend business trips are always the best. It would be great if you could tell me how it went, that sounds like something that could be interesting.
Will Buttry

[Frank Whiton]

Hi Will,Where on the King's were you fishing. The tail water below the dam should be a good spot. Probably best fished with a boat. Above the Dam there is a camp ground on Trimmer Springs Road called Kirch Flat, just before the bridge over the Kings. There are smallmouth in this stretch of the river. You can fish by the campground or cross over the bridge and turn right. There is parking there and is a good spot to get to the Smallmouth. There use to be trout but I am not sure how good it is these days. Shaver Lake can be good for trout early in the season. You need a boat and troll. You will also catch some Kokanee along with the trout. If you can back pack then the South Fork of the San Joaquin use to be good. In the same area is Bear Creek diversion dam. You need 4WD to reach the diversion dam or you can hike it in a couple of hours. The falls is a half days hike from the Dam. If you pack up the creek to the falls you can catch Golden Trout above the falls. Hybrids below the falls. On up the road (Kaiser Pass road) is Mono Creek. Years ago I use to catch trout in the San Joaquin river below Friant Dam. I don't think the release as much water now and the fishing may not be very good. If you are interested I will tell you where to go. You have to trespass.
Frank