Here are two rivers that offer some good stream trouting opportunities in their lower reaches.
There are a few prime runs along this river that are worth trying. The stretch from Camanche Dam to Clements is good. Below the Elektra Powerhouse, the Middle Bar Bridge at the top of Pardee Lake and the North Fork at West Point are also choice locations. You can wade this river or better yet, drift the Mokelumne with a boat when the water is high.
Bait fishing excels. Bank cast, wade or drift live crickets, red salmon eggs or nightcrawlers. Dry fly fishing can also be outstanding in late spring to early summer. Although there are a lot of catchable-sized rainbows planted along the Mokelumne each season, large 16 inch class fish are possible working the quiet, less accessible pools.
This popular river really gets hammered by die summer throngs visiting the Yosemite basin. However, from early spring through May there can be some superb opportunities with limited angling pressure. The stretch from below Crocker -Hoffman Dam down to Merced Palls usually has a solid population of planter-sized ‘bows.
Locals say that the best run is from Redbud to the South Fork. Both dry and wet fly fishing will work, especially if you are wading. Red salmon eggs, crickets and ‘hoppers are preferred baits. The Merced can get very clear and hot in the summer. Better possibilities await the fisherman deeper inside Yosemite Park during this time of year.
Prime flow windows make or break both rivers: the lower Mokelumne fishes best between 700-1,200 CFS for steelhead and 250-600 CFS for trout, while the upper Merced west of El Portal hits stride at 300-700 CFS and the valley reach in Yosemite becomes wadeable below 250 CFS. Above 1,500 CFS on either river, switch to boats only and target soft edges.
On the Mokelumne tailwater below Camanche Dam, 900-1,100 CFS creates perfect walking speed seams; below 300 CFS fish concentrate in the slots, but stealth matters. Merced canyon pocket water downstream of Cedar Lodge fishes safely at 350-500 CFS; at 800+ CFS, stick to boat or bank.
Public access is straightforward at the Mokelumne Day Use Area below Camanche with paved parking and a short gravel trail to riffles. Upstream, access at the North Shore launch and the hatchery footbridge offers quick entry to deep runs without bushwhacking.
Downriver near Lodi, Fish Hatchery Road pullouts provide gravel parking; expect a 5-10 minute walk on levee trails to swing-friendly tailouts. On the Merced, pull into the Highway 140 turnouts at Indian Flat or Savage’s Trading Post, then follow obvious angler paths to shaded pockets.
Yosemite Valley access points like Swinging Bridge and Sentinel Beach have large lots but fill by 9 a.m. in summer, so plan dawn sessions or hike 10-15 minutes upriver from the bridges to quieter mid-river seams. Near El Portal, park at the Motor Inn turnout or the old rail bed lot; short dirt trails drop to prime nymph runs.
Spawning closures dictate timing: Mokelumne from Camanche Dam to Elliot Road often closes Nov 1-Dec 31 for salmon; check current regs and honor redds. Merced upstream of Lake McClure typically closes Nov 1-Sat before Memorial Day to protect rainbows; valley waters follow special Yosemite rules, so verify before wading.
Fall Chinook in the Mokelumne peak in October, with steelhead following November-January; avoid gravel riffles with visible redds and fish deeper drop-offs instead. Merced rainbows spawn March-May in valley stretches; respect side channels and swing deeper lanes.
Drift boats on the Mokelumne thrive at 800-1,200 CFS: set up on inside bends to drop nymph rigs into walking-speed pillows and slide the stern to slow the presentation. On the Merced canyon, row from above the tongue of a rapid, then ferry to the soft inside cushion where trout tuck out of main push.
Read the water by looking for color changes and bubble lines; anchor just above the seam’s head to feed line naturally into the slot. In boulder gardens, keep the bow downstream and back-row to hover, giving anglers time to work each pocket.
Wade safety matters: on the Mokelumne, flows above 900 CFS push hard—use a staff, stay knee-deep, and avoid mid-channel crossings. The Merced’s granite cobbles get slick even at 300 CFS; test every step and exit if water roils above the knee.
At 1,200+ CFS, both rivers demand bank or boat tactics; never chase rising fish across tongues. After snowmelt spikes, wait for a 2-3 day drop and clearing green tint before re-entering.
Fly tactics beyond dries pay off: euro-nymph with 2.8-3.5 mm tungsten perdigons on the Mokelumne to cut swift columns, pairing with a soft hackle dropper. On the Merced, tight-line stonefly nymphs early, then switch to size 16-18 baetis and caddis emergers as sun hits the water.
Streamers shine in off-color flows: throw olive or black sculpin patterns on short sink-tips into bank cuts, stripping two fast pulls then pausing. Wet-fly swings at dusk with soft hackles in size 12-14 nail caddis movers in both rivers.
Advanced drift boat rigs include a three-shot spread with the heaviest split 18 inches above the point fly to prevent hinging in heavy seams. Run 1x-2x fluorocarbon for streamers to turn over articulated patterns without twist.
Yosemite tourism crowds the Merced from May-September; fish first light before shuttle traffic, or drive to Foresta Road pullouts and hike away from beaches. Target shoulder seasons midweek and step downstream 200-400 yards from iconic bridges where casual visitors stop.
If crowds build, switch to pocket-water euro tactics that work in short, overlooked slots behind boulders near Cathedral Beach or Housekeeping Camp. Evening caddis emergences often go untouched once day-trippers leave.
Early season (March-May) sees cold flows: on the Mokelumne, start mid-morning with black rubberlegs and eggs for drop-back steelhead, then downsize to baetis midges by noon. On the Merced, fish stonefly nymphs tight to banks as snowmelt rises, then shift to swung soft hackles when water hits 400-500 CFS.
Watch for warming trends: three sunny days push midges and BWOs; be ready with size 18-20 emergers under a tiny yarn indicator. Strip small olive buggers in slower backeddies during afternoon snowmelt peaks.
Trophy trout (16+ inches) on the Mokelumne sit below hatchery outflows and in the first deep bend downstream of the Day Use launch; present weighted leeches under an indicator set two feet above depth. Merced brutes hold in canyon plunge pools near Cedar Lodge and below Savage’s; sink-tip streamers swung broadside draw reaction strikes.
Target low-light windows for large fish, especially during slight stain after a minor storm when big trout slide shallow. Keep drifts short and controlled—quality fish hug the first soft seam off heavy current.
Camping near the Mokelumne is easy at Camanche North Shore Campground, a five-minute drive to the tailwater, with RV sites and shore access trails. For the Merced, Indian Flat RV Park and Campground on Highway 140 sits central to canyon water, while Yosemite Valley campgrounds require reservations months out.
Budget lodgers can base in Mariposa or El Portal motels and hit dawn and dusk bites without valley parking hassles. Lodi offers quick hotel options for lower Mokelumne day trips.
Local intel matters: Sweeney’s Sports in Napa and Fisherman’s Warehouse in Manteca post Mokelumne flows and hatch reports. The Trout Spot in Arnold and Yosemite Fly Fishing Guide Service provide current Merced conditions and bug lists.
Hire rowers who know the tongues and hazards: delta-area guides often focus on stripers, so choose those advertising Mokelumne steelhead drifts or Merced canyon trout. Call ahead to confirm flows they’re comfortable running.
Catch-and-release ethics keep wild trout healthy: fight fish on firm tippet to reduce exhaustion, keep them submerged, and unhook with hemostats. Wet hands, cradle fish facing upstream, and release once they kick; avoid bank photos on hot days.
Barbless hooks and rubber nets minimize damage; skip fishing when temps exceed 68°F, common in late summer on the lower Mokelumne. Move upstream or fish early if water warms.
Weather and runoff dictate timing: after big winter storms, wait for a half-foot drop and green clarity before committing a trip. Spring snowmelt spikes midday on the Merced—fish mornings for stable flows, then switch to banks as color rises.
Wind funnels through the Merced canyon; use heavier leaders and tuck casts low. On hot valley afternoons, both rivers see shade-driven bites—target east-bank shade lines after 3 p.m.
When flows surge above prime ranges, shift to streamers and big indicators to hold depth; when they settle, return to finer tippet and small bugs. Monitor USGS gauges daily: Mokelumne at Woodbridge and Merced at Pohono Bridge tell you whether to wade or row.
Reading color is crucial: light jade means go, chocolate means scout and wait, and gin-clear demands longer leaders and stealth. Combine gauge data with foot-on-the-ground checks at launches before committing to a float.
Trail details help efficiency: from the Mokelumne hatchery lot, a quarter-mile paved path leads to the lower riffle, with benches marking a good gravel bar access. At Fish Hatchery Road pullouts, follow the levee left for 200 yards to a deep swing run sheltered from wind.
On the Merced, the rail bed trail above El Portal runs level for a mile, giving multiple drop-ins to mid-depth boulder pockets. Down in the valley, the bike path lets you leapfrog between meadow bends without moving the car.
In shoulder seasons, bring cleats for slick granite and a wading staff with a wide tip to avoid wedging. Layer for cold mornings and warm afternoons common in canyon sections.
Boat positioning fine points: set your anchor rope short to prevent swing in pushy water, and clip your dropper weight to the downstream rod holder for quick adjustments. Communicate constant speed cues to the rower; small corrections keep flies in the seam longer than hard pulls.
In backeddies, slide the stern into the swirl and cast upstream, letting the fly drift naturally along the foam line before stripping out. Avoid anchoring in main current tongues—pick eddies or inside edges to prevent rope hazards.
During salmon runs on the Mokelumne, switch to glow bugs and small PTs behind spawning pods but stay off the gravel. On the Merced, egg-and-BWO combos pick up opportunistic rainbows below upstream spawners as long as you avoid redds.
Crowd avoidance in Yosemite peaks with timing: fish rain days when visitors stay in lodges, and use the shuttle only for one-way hikes downstream to fish back to your car. Carry a small pack and wet-wade shoes in summer to slip past beachgoers to mid-river islands.
For evening sessions, focus on the first bend downstream of popular beaches where fish slide shallow after swimmers leave. Use subtle presentations—soft hackles swung tight—to pick off fish without spooking them in clear water.
When snowmelt lingers, heavier euro leaders (15-20 lb butt to 4x tippet) punch through conflicting currents. As flows drop, lengthen to 12-14 foot leaders with 5x for stealth in glassy tailouts.
Stream temperature management: use a thermometer; if readings exceed 66°F, move higher or stop. Nighttime cold snaps often reset Merced temps—dawn patrols reward disciplined anglers.
Keep boats light for Merced canyon boulder dodging; avoid fully rigged coolers that hinder quick pivots. On the Mokelumne, low overhanging branches near bends mean rods should be stowed while rowing tight banks.
Trophy hunters should note dusk midge clouds over slow inside bends; swing soft hackles just below the film. When water stains, large articulated streamers trigger territorial fish—short strip, pause, and hang near structure.
Access etiquette: close ranch gates along lower Mokelumne levee roads and pack out all trash; local landowners watch. In Yosemite, stay on established trails to protect riparian plants and avoid citations.
Plan B lodgings help: if valley campgrounds are full, head to Oakhurst or Midpines motels and fish the South Fork Merced early. For Mokelumne overflow weekends, Jackson or Ione motels keep you within 25 minutes of the tailwater.
Communication with guides: ask for desired flows; many cancel above 1,500 CFS on the Mokelumne or 900 CFS on the Merced. Clarify whether they supply wading staffs, cleats, and barbless flies to match regulations.
Finally, time your day around sun angles—fish shaded banks in the afternoon and sunlit banks in the morning for better visibility and insect activity. Combine flow data, weather forecasts, and crowd patterns, and both rivers reward with consistent action and the chance at wild 16-20 inch trout.
Planning a multi-lake trip or exploring more Gold Country fishing? Check out these resources:
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