The Middle Fork of the San Joaquin below Devils Postpile is freestone pocket water full of wild rainbows, browns and brook trout, most of them 6 to 10 inches and eager to eat a dry fly. Access depends on the Reds Meadow Road, which usually runs from early summer into fall. General stream rules apply: the last Saturday in April to November 15, five trout.
- Water type
- Freestone pocket water
- Fish
- Wild rainbows, browns and brookies
- Best months
- Aug, Sep
- Drive from the chalet
- About 50 minutes
- Regulations
- General stream season, last Sat. in April to Nov. 15. Access follows the Reds Meadow Road.
- The one thing
- High-stick the pockets with a short line. Hit every seam behind every rock, then move.
The river
Over the Minaret Summit from Mammoth, the Middle Fork tumbles through the forest below the basalt columns of Devils Postpile: plunge pools, boulders, short runs and pocket water. The trout are wild and not very large, and there are a lot of them. Days of 10 to 30 fish are normal. It is the most fun you can have with a 3-weight.
Getting there
The Reds Meadow Road is the only way in, and it is a summer road. Since 2000 it has opened between late May and late July and closed between early September and early November. In the main season, day visitors usually ride the shuttle from the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center. Road reconstruction can add delays, so check the Devils Postpile conditions page the night before.
From the stops along the valley floor, walk up or down the river. The farther you walk from a trailhead, the better it gets.
Flies and technique
| Flies | |
|---|---|
| Dries | Royal Wulff 14, parachute Adams 16, elk hair caddis 14, stimulator 12 to 14 |
| Droppers | Flashback hare’s ear 14, pheasant tail 16, prince 14 |
| When nothing rises | A small bugger swung through the tailouts |
Keep the line short, the rod high, and the fly in the seams behind rocks. Two good drifts per pocket, then move. Late summer and early fall are the most pleasant: lower, clearer water and fewer mosquitoes. Bring spray anyway, and a sense of humor for the shuttle line.
The one thing
Move. The fish are in every pocket and none of them stays fooled for long. Cover water.
Common questions
When can I fish the Middle Fork San Joaquin at Reds Meadow?
When the Reds Meadow Road is open, usually from early summer into fall. Since 2000 it has opened between May 22 and July 21 and closed between September 7 and November 5.
Do I need to take the shuttle to Reds Meadow?
Usually, in the main summer season. Check the Reds Meadow shuttle and Devils Postpile conditions pages before you go, since road work and the shuttle schedule change year to year.
What flies work on the Middle Fork?
Bushy dries and dry-droppers. Royal Wulff, parachute Adams, elk hair caddis and stimulators in sizes 14 to 16, with a flashback hare’s ear, pheasant tail or prince nymph below.