Spot Check continued from page 41
These days, most of the steelhead released into the Moke are not the “catchable” size rainbows you associate with the typical stocking truck throwing into streams in the Sierra. Most of the fish released into the Mokelumne are very small juveniles. They are intended to make the journey to the ocean and then return to the river anywhere from a year to three or four years later at a more catchable size. Any fish that has been to the ocean will act much more like a wild fish then a typical stocker trout. And, of course, there are plenty of actual wild fish in the mix too, as well as resident trout that never leave the river and still grow to decent size. The Moke’s fish typically are on the smaller size and range from 15-20 inches. Though sometimes larger fish are possible. The system has connectivity to all the other Sacramento River tribs and occasionally some bigger steelhead like the Eel River strain from the nearby American do stray into the river and get caught.
As far as fly fishing for steelhead goes, it’s really only viable from below Camanche Dam to above Lodi Lake and most people concentrate on fishing up higher from around Hwy 88 up to the dam. Although, I have heard stories of guys catching salmon and steelhead all the way down into the Delta area on conventional gear and even flies while fishing for striper in the fall. There is a lot of private land along the lower river so the majority of the fishing is centered around the public access below the hatchery which extends for about a mile. There is no fishing within 500 feet of the hatchery itself. The steelhead season opens in January 1st and continues through March 31st. There is also a resident trout season from the 4th Saturday in May to Oct 15. By the time the steelhead get that far up into the system they are typically pretty “trouty” and will take most well-presented nymphs and streamers. Of course, egg patterns and beads work good too. Especially when there’s still salmon around. I typically stick to more buggy patters like poxy back stones, caddis pupa and pheasant tails. Mokelumne fish are also usually pretty eager to grab a swung fly. I like to fish most of that water with a 4wt switch rod and a short sink tip and swing and strip olive sculpin patterns.
Michael Wier
Craig's Corner continued from page 37
The Lost Cabin mine, of course was never found. The miners, testy at the lack of gold, threatened to lynch Mountain Joe and Miller. The tribes, infuriated by the lack of silver, the color of salmon upon which their families depended, Burned De Bloney out.
With the arrival of the Central Pacific Railway crews in the 1880's, Indian villages and holy places were desecrated, blasted and buried during construction of the railroad grade. Salmon were blown up by sticks of dynamite by construction camp cooks to feed the workers.
This tale is recounted on most Sierrian streams and rivers throughout the era. Protecting and restoring these streams has always been an upstream wade. But the silver rivers still run. And the old adage, those who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat it, still rings true.
Don't look for big fish here, except in the lower reaches when brown trout of Florence Lake make their way upstream to spawn during the autumn.
The South Fork of the San Joaquin offers an easy introduction to the many streams found within the range, along with off the chart scenery.
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