There are several great campsites and day-use areas dotting the Middle and South Forks of the Stanislaus river as it winds alongside Highway 108 up Sonora Pass. These sites are all situated right alongside the river and ...
69°F
Feels like 67°F, clear sky
9 mph NE
1016 hPa
Full Moon
47cfs
The Middle Fork of the Stanislaus is currently running at 51cfs near Kennedy Meadows, marking a significant drop from last week’s flows. While this is a notable shift, it actually improves access and makes this stretch even better for dry dropper and dry fly fishing.
Expect slightly warmer weather this week with daytime highs in the low to mid 70s and overnight lows in the upper 40s to low 50s. These cooler nights are critical for keeping water temps down, especially with the recent drop in flows.
Lower flows don’t mean poor fishing—they just require a shift in approach. From now through the end of summer, we highly recommend fishing a dry dropper rig, which capitalizes on the abundance of terrestrials while still covering subsurface action with a nymph. These rigs are simple to set up, and we have a handy how-to diagram at the bottom of the Tactics Page on our website to walk you through it.
Recommended Fly Patterns:
Despite the decrease in flow, the fishing remains excellent, and the weather couldn’t be better. These conditions are prime for exploring this stretch of river, and we don’t see things slowing down anytime soon.
Now is the time to get out and enjoy what’s left of summer before winter starts creeping in. As always, don’t forget your sun protection.
The Middle Fork of the Stanislaus is currently running at 51cfs near Kennedy Meadows, marking a significant drop from last week’s flows. While this is a notable shift, it actually improves access and makes this stretch e...
