The South Fork of the Stanislaus is currently running at 334cfs in Strawberry and 297cfs near Fraser Flat, marking a notable increase from last week. These higher flows are pushing the river a bit beyond ideal early-season conditions. The weather this week will bring a mix of conditions, starting cooler with a couple days of precipitation, then gradually warming through the 50s and 60s, with highs reaching the upper 70s by next weekend.

Fishing Conditions & Tactics

At current flows, this stretch is a bit higher than ideal, limiting the amount of accessible and fishable water. While there are still a few productive sections, they will be more limited and harder to access. If you do plan to fish here, focus on:

• Softer edges and slower seams
• Areas along the bank where fish can get out of the heavier current

Nymphing will remain the most effective approach, though presentation and depth control will be especially important in these higher flows.

Recommended Flies

• Pat’s Rubber Legs
• Fire Orange Perdigons
• Brassies
• Duracel Nymphs

Overall Outlook

With elevated flows, this stretch is better suited for a short session rather than a full day. It can still be worth checking out for an hour or two, but anglers looking for more consistent fishing would be better off exploring other nearby waters.