14.8.11
Flyfishing rod
Built this 4 piece 5-6 wt fly rod a couple of months ago.
This was the first fishing rod that I built.
Steelhead rod
15.7.11
Caples Lake
Directions: From Jackson at junction of Highways 49-88, take Highway 88 East and go 50 miles to Silver Lake or 62 miles (past Silver Lake and Kirkwood) to Caples Lake on right.
Caples Creek: A tributary stream of the Silver Fork of the American River with small pools, runs, and pocket water. Caples Creek contains wild Rainbows (7-10 inches) in the upper portions and Browns (8-12 inches) at the confluence of the Silver Fork. The creek is rather brushy near the dam of Caples Lake but is more open where the Caples Creek Trail provides access. Take the Silver Fork Trail from Martin Meadows off Hwy 88.
Notes:Caples Lake (ele:7900 feet) is about 600 acres in size. It can be float tubed near the two dams and the inlet at the eastern end of the lake but is primarily fished by boat due to the size and nature of the lake. Often there are winds which can make flyfishing difficult. Ice-out during the late Spring brings the fish into the shallower areas. Best fishing time is early morning or late afternoon. Try streamers such as Olive Woolly Buggers and Matukus with a full-sinking line. Mackinaw Trout inhabit the lake but can only be found deep in the lake by trollers.
Silver Lake (ele:7,200 feet) is similar to Caples Lake in size and in that it contains Mackinaws and large Browns. It is also a trolling-type lake but does offer some float tubing possibilities around the boat ramp areas and the inlet stream near Treasure Island. Crystal Woolly Buggers are popular. Caples Creek: A tributary stream of the Silver Fork of the American River with small pools, runs, and pocket water. Caples Creek contains wild Rainbows (7-10 inches) in the upper portions and Browns (8-12 inches) at the confluence of the Silver Fork. The creek is rather brushy near the dam of Caples Lake but is more open where the Caples Creek Trail provides access. Take the Silver Fork Trail from Martin Meadows off Hwy 88.
23.5.11
Middle and South Fork Stanislaus River
Directions:
South Fork Stanislaus: Hwy 108 out of Sonora is the main route taking you to both the South and Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River. The South Fork can be reached from Lyons Reservoir off Lyons Reservoir Road at Sierra Village. A trail extends along the north side of the river upstream from the Reservoir. Further along Hwy 108, you can reach another section of the SF Stanislaus at Fraser Flat Campground from Spring Gap Road south of the village of Cold Springs. The last access to the SF Stan is where Hwy 108 crosses the SF just below Pinecrest Lake.
Middle Fork Stanislaus: The Middle Fork can be reached via Spring Gap Road continuing onto Sand Bar Flat or upriver to Spring Gap, 3 miles below Beardsley Reservoir. Another route is to take Road 52 from Strawberry to the Beardsley Afterbay. Continuing past the Afterbay, a trail will take you down to Spring Gap Footbridge.
Hwy 108 continues past Strawberry to Donnell Reservoir. From that point , the Highway 108 follows the river up to it's headwaters at Kennedy Meadows.
Notes:
The Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River has been building a reputation over the years as having some of the best fishable waters westside of the Sierras. Most of this reputation has come form the nutrient-laden waters below Beardslet Reservoir resulting in excellent aquatic insect populations of stoneflies, caddis, mayflies, and midges. A 17 mile section from Beardsley Afterbay to the confluence of the North Fork Stanislaus is designated by the State of California as a Wild Trout Fishery. At Beardsley Afterbay, you can fish year-round with a two-trout limit of 14 inches and must use barbless flies or lures. It can be fished by float tubes during low flows or along the banks. Beyond the Afterbay to Spring Gap Bridge, a distance of 3 miles, it is still barbless flies or lures but the season is the last Saturday of April to Nov. 15th. These areas consist of both Rainbows and Browns up to 17", with some trophy-sizes available. The remainder of the Middle Fork Stanislaus is open to all types of fishing, bait or fly. A foot trail is available for access along the river from Spring Gap Bridge to Sand Bar Flat, a distance of 4 miles. Downstream of Sand Bar Flat, the trail fades quickly and you enter the rugged canyon reach, only lightly fished because of its difficult access, as the river comes down to its confluence with the North Fork, 10 miles further.The river is characterized by large boulders and deep pools with scattered pocket water sections. Best fishing starts in Mid-June after the Reservoir slows its releases to less than 200 cfs.
The South Fork of the Stanislaus above Lyons Reservoir contain some good sized browns. It has good fishable waters up to Pinecrest Lake with trail access along the river. Most of the access points are planted but a sizeable population of wild trout exists not far from each access point. The DFG puts in about 8,000 rainbows annually from Fraser Flat to Strawberry but the stream is so heavily fished that many of these stockers are caught and kept within 4-5 days. Fortunately, there are many wild trout which aren't caught easily by bait and help keep the stream a viable fishery. The Spring run-off makes the stream difficult to fish until late June and, since the South Fork is smaller than the Middle Fork, it is considered to be a better "early-season" trout stream to the end of July
South Fork Stanislaus: Hwy 108 out of Sonora is the main route taking you to both the South and Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River. The South Fork can be reached from Lyons Reservoir off Lyons Reservoir Road at Sierra Village. A trail extends along the north side of the river upstream from the Reservoir. Further along Hwy 108, you can reach another section of the SF Stanislaus at Fraser Flat Campground from Spring Gap Road south of the village of Cold Springs. The last access to the SF Stan is where Hwy 108 crosses the SF just below Pinecrest Lake.
Middle Fork Stanislaus: The Middle Fork can be reached via Spring Gap Road continuing onto Sand Bar Flat or upriver to Spring Gap, 3 miles below Beardsley Reservoir. Another route is to take Road 52 from Strawberry to the Beardsley Afterbay. Continuing past the Afterbay, a trail will take you down to Spring Gap Footbridge.
Hwy 108 continues past Strawberry to Donnell Reservoir. From that point , the Highway 108 follows the river up to it's headwaters at Kennedy Meadows.
Notes:
The Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River has been building a reputation over the years as having some of the best fishable waters westside of the Sierras. Most of this reputation has come form the nutrient-laden waters below Beardslet Reservoir resulting in excellent aquatic insect populations of stoneflies, caddis, mayflies, and midges. A 17 mile section from Beardsley Afterbay to the confluence of the North Fork Stanislaus is designated by the State of California as a Wild Trout Fishery. At Beardsley Afterbay, you can fish year-round with a two-trout limit of 14 inches and must use barbless flies or lures. It can be fished by float tubes during low flows or along the banks. Beyond the Afterbay to Spring Gap Bridge, a distance of 3 miles, it is still barbless flies or lures but the season is the last Saturday of April to Nov. 15th. These areas consist of both Rainbows and Browns up to 17", with some trophy-sizes available. The remainder of the Middle Fork Stanislaus is open to all types of fishing, bait or fly. A foot trail is available for access along the river from Spring Gap Bridge to Sand Bar Flat, a distance of 4 miles. Downstream of Sand Bar Flat, the trail fades quickly and you enter the rugged canyon reach, only lightly fished because of its difficult access, as the river comes down to its confluence with the North Fork, 10 miles further.The river is characterized by large boulders and deep pools with scattered pocket water sections. Best fishing starts in Mid-June after the Reservoir slows its releases to less than 200 cfs.The South Fork of the Stanislaus above Lyons Reservoir contain some good sized browns. It has good fishable waters up to Pinecrest Lake with trail access along the river. Most of the access points are planted but a sizeable population of wild trout exists not far from each access point. The DFG puts in about 8,000 rainbows annually from Fraser Flat to Strawberry but the stream is so heavily fished that many of these stockers are caught and kept within 4-5 days. Fortunately, there are many wild trout which aren't caught easily by bait and help keep the stream a viable fishery. The Spring run-off makes the stream difficult to fish until late June and, since the South Fork is smaller than the Middle Fork, it is considered to be a better "early-season" trout stream to the end of July
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