The South Fork Stanislaus River is currently flowing at 13cfs near Strawberry and 13cfs near Fraser Flat, with both gauges remaining nearly unchanged from last week. The forecast calls for a much cooler week, with rain expected midweek and daytime highs in the mid 70s throughout the weekend.

Fishing Conditions & Tactics

The South Fork continues to be an excellent option for a family fishing trip, a quick evening outing after work, or a shorter day on the water. Current flows are extremely wadeable and sit just below the ideal summer range, creating excellent conditions for anglers of all experience levels.

With these lower flows, dry fly fishing has been incredible and should continue to produce as more terrestrial insects become active throughout the summer. Ants, beetles, and other terrestrial patterns are becoming increasingly important food sources, making this a great time to keep a dry fly rigged and ready.

There are still plenty of opportunities to nymph deeper pools, pocket water, and slower runs, particularly when surface activity slows or during the cooler portions of the day. However, with how good the dry fly fishing has been, it can be hard to put the dry rod down.

The cooler weather and expected rain could temporarily change insect activity, so keep an eye on conditions throughout the week and be prepared to adjust your approach.

Overall Outlook

The South Fork continues to fish extremely well and should only get better as we progress through the remainder of summer. The combination of low, approachable flows and excellent dry fly opportunities makes this one of our favorite options for a quick and enjoyable day on the water.

With the cooler weather this week, be sure to pack plenty of layers and rain gear, especially if you're planning to fish around the incoming weather.

Stop by the shop before heading out and we'd be happy to help you select productive fly patterns, get your gear dialed in, and point you toward some of our favorite access points.