Mammoth

Spots

Mammoth Lakes

Sherwin Creek

Duck Pass

Crystal Lake

Rainbow Falls

Agnew Meadows

Red's Meadow

Upper Middle Fork San Joaquin River

  • Upper Middle Fork San Joaquin River Maps

  • Upper Section

    • Location: Upper Section Location

    • From Agnew Meadows to Upper Soda Springs Campground

    • This section is also within a dense forest with areas of swamps and high rock cliffs, so it takes some time to fish this section. Most of this water is good for dry flies, switching to nymphs for the deeper pools or early in the season when flows are up. There are two bridges that cross the river, one from below Agnew Meadows and the other at Upper Soda Springs Campground.

  • Middle Section

    • Location: Middle Section Location

      • from Upper Soda Springs to Minaret Falls

      • Fishing just above Upper Soda Springs will give you the best chance at a Grand Slam from one location

      • A dry fly with nymph dropper is the preferred method through this section

    • Lower Section

    • Location: Lower Section Location

    • From Minaret Falls to Rainbow Falls

    • Mostly a nymphing areas selecting spots behind rocks but becomes a very good dry fly section in the late summer, early fall.

  • Rainbow Falls

    • Location: Rainbow Falls Location

    • Below Rainbow Falls is a small section of water containing small falls and pools with rainbows in the 10-12 inch class

  • Sotcher Lake

    • Location: Sotcher Lake Location

    • Trailhead: Red's Meadow Trailhead

    • AllTrails Map: Sotcher Lake AllTrail Map

    • Lake is accessible just north of Red's Meadow

    • A deep nymphing set-up with midges, damsel and callibaetis patterns are productive in the early morning and evening hours and fishing from a float tube or kayak will be most effective in order to target deeper water

    • Streamers and wooly buggers can be successful with active fish.

  • Starkweather Lake

Upper Middle Fork San Joaquin River Tips

  • Hatch

    • The Upper MF San Joaquin contains numerous hatches

    • In June through early July, Midges will start and hatch all season

      • Golden Stones will show up and a PMD hatch comes off in the early evening hours

      • Caddis will show up in the late afternoon during much of the Summer

    • BWO’s emerge in the Spring through July when the air temperature warms but tend to be more prolific in October

    • During late September and through October, the October Caddis appears as well as the Grannom Caddis

    • Trico’s will show up near late October

  • Campgrounds/Spots

    • Campgrounds get lots of pressure but not hiking a bit

    • Shuttle from Mammoth Mountain Main lodge is a good way to fish the river

    • The section near Devil's Postpile fishes well

    • Hike above Soda Springs Campground

    • Look for deep pools with shade protection from rocks

    • Panorama Campground fishes well so does near the pack station

      • Park at the parking lot, and head down the trail. Make your first right and walk to the river - Reds Meadow pack station=

    • Starkweather or Sotcher lakes

Flies

Mammoth Lakes Flies

Mammoth Backcountry Flies

Upper Middle Fork San Joaquin River Flies

Resources

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