Tuolumne River Fishing Information

Yosemite

Yosemite National Park is one of the most popular and productive sections of the river for trout fishing. Toulumne Meadows is crowded during the summer months, and experienced anglers avoid fishing in the park until the early fall. Fall is productive for fishing terrestrials and the majority of the fish caught are brown trout from 10 to 14 inches.

Highway 120

The South Fork of the Toulumne River flows along highway 120 outside of Yosemite. The river runs through a deep canyon where it is difficult to access but there are several access points along the highway. The sections close to the road receive heavy fishing pressure, but anglers willing to hike can find good action for trout on flies and lures.

Lower River

The lower river drains for 100 miles to the delta after Don Pedro reservoir. The lower reaches of the river provides fishing for striped bass, shad and largemouth bass. The river also has a healthy run of salmon and steelhead. The lower river has little fishing pressure when compared with the upper sections and is an excellent option for anglers.

Seasons

The upper river is accessible in late spring and fishing begins to taper in late October. June is typically difficult because of runoff, but the summer and early fall are prime fishing months. The lower river provides good fishing in the summer for bass and the fall is ideal for chasing salmon and steelhead.

Regulations

The entire river system requires a current California fishing license. The regulations vary throughout the river and are dependent on the species you are targeting. The upper river has several catch-and-release sections with a single hook, artificial lure or fly regulation. The special regulation waters are marked and current regulations can be found in the Department of Wildlife Handbook.