Your videos make my day and inspire me to get out more. The locations are awesome and just show there are so many places to go. Agree with earlier post that info in rig is really interesting and helpful. Good luck and please keep posting.
Thanks! Agree--California is very underrated for trout fishing. It isn't Montana/Idaho, but probably comes the closest to quality outside of Big Sky country in the lower 48.
I need to fish more on the West slope. It's just a much easier trek for me to go up the East side or farther North. That place looks like it could be fun if you don't mind hiking down in a few places. The hike in never bothers me, but after a long day the hike back up can be a bit rough. I definitely would want an ice cold beer after coming back up haha! Keep having fun and sharing your days out there.
Yes, that hike back that day was brutal, especially after wading around the tough riverbank all day nearly breaking an ankle. A beer or two after the hike though makes it memorable and worthwhile!
Also, the gnats along the trail were insane! Almost like New Zealand sand flies though not nearly as aggressive. They were constantly in my face and all around my head no matter how fast I walked.
@@purpledrakefishing I'm not sure what I hate more. Gnats or horse flies. The gnats can be annoying, but the horse flies usually hurt when they bite. Only good thing about horse flies is they are easy to kill haha.
@@mattstewart2750 I have only encountered horse flies once and that was while fishing the Provo River in Utah--what a terrible insect! Never had a bug try to slice off a piece of flesh from my arm before.
Great to see you finally made it to the Middle Fork Stan. What a great fishery!. I am always amazed how the fish there always leap so high out of the water. What sections did you fish? Thanks for sharing, great video.
@@purpledrakefishing I have hiked down about a mile in a half, from China Flat day use area. It's a commitment, especially all the way to the bridge. There is another way to access the middle canyon area, via logging road of the main dirt road to Sandpoint Campground. I may try to go in that why this fall. Last I check the road was closed. Keep up the great work and stay safe.
@@flowflyfishing2131 I hiked up from Sandbar Flat Campground about a month ago, there was some logging opererations on the road in but it was passible. There was a campground host with a large setup and maybe one other camper.
@@georgecrawford6536 Thanks for the update. I was thinking about going there this weekend, but feel that the Creek fire is a little close, plus I heard the Stanislaus forest is closed, due to the fires. I may go to the eastside instead. It seems that the fires are dictating my fishing plans. How was the fishing?
@@purpledrakefishing your killing me but still I can’t stop watching. Did you drive down from Strawberry or have to take the long hard drive in from the north side.
From Hwy 108--the road to the lake was open when I was there but the boat ramp/lake recreation area was closed. I was able to drive to China Flat no problem.
The road to the damn is seasonally closed, also when the flows are big they can close the road from the dam to the fore bay, lots of rattlers in that area too so be careful
Local waters . A couple years ago a went down by way of Sand Flat. Spring time and winter was epic. The flow was torrential. Dangerous . This is more like it!
Flows that day were perfect, as well as the water temps which were upper 50's to low 60's. Can't imagine trying to fish that canyon with the higher winter/spring flows!
Always an adventure between SF and The lake, first of all getting there as google maps is kinda useless, second rattlesnakes, bald face hornets, and underground Yellowjacket nests...oh my! It’s too bad the otters have decimated the fore bay.
Will do, thanks for the suggestion. Recently I starting using a thin Euro Nymphing line from Rio that enables me to use a much shorter leader. Basically it is 4' 10lb Maxima Chameleon -- 18" Rio 3x sighter material -- 5' 5x Rio Fluoro tippet. I have a two nymph setup with a 4-6" dropper tied off of a surgeon's knot, and a 18-24" of tippet below that to the second fly. The indicator I use is a Leeland EZ Trout Float which makes it very convenient to take on and off fast.
Your videos make my day and inspire me to get out more. The locations are awesome and just show there are so many places to go. Agree with earlier post that info in rig is really interesting and helpful. Good luck and please keep posting.
Thanks! Agree--California is very underrated for trout fishing. It isn't Montana/Idaho, but probably comes the closest to quality outside of Big Sky country in the lower 48.
Very nice trip! Been meaning to head down that way for a long time. Hope you are well🍻
Ahhh… love those native trout…. Browns and Bows….
I need to fish more on the West slope. It's just a much easier trek for me to go up the East side or farther North. That place looks like it could be fun if you don't mind hiking down in a few places. The hike in never bothers me, but after a long day the hike back up can be a bit rough. I definitely would want an ice cold beer after coming back up haha! Keep having fun and sharing your days out there.
Yes, that hike back that day was brutal, especially after wading around the tough riverbank all day nearly breaking an ankle. A beer or two after the hike though makes it memorable and worthwhile!
Also, the gnats along the trail were insane! Almost like New Zealand sand flies though not nearly as aggressive. They were constantly in my face and all around my head no matter how fast I walked.
@@purpledrakefishing I'm not sure what I hate more. Gnats or horse flies. The gnats can be annoying, but the horse flies usually hurt when they bite. Only good thing about horse flies is they are easy to kill haha.
@@mattstewart2750 I have only encountered horse flies once and that was while fishing the Provo River in Utah--what a terrible insect! Never had a bug try to slice off a piece of flesh from my arm before.
Great to see you finally made it to the Middle Fork Stan. What a great fishery!. I am always amazed how the fish there always leap so high out of the water. What sections did you fish? Thanks for sharing, great video.
Thanks Todd! It was below Beardsley a few miles hike down into the canyon.
@@purpledrakefishing I have hiked down about a mile in a half, from China Flat day use area. It's a commitment, especially all the way to the bridge. There is another way to access the middle canyon area, via logging road of the main dirt road to Sandpoint Campground. I may try to go in that why this fall. Last I check the road was closed. Keep up the great work and stay safe.
@@flowflyfishing2131 I hiked up from Sandbar Flat Campground about a month ago, there was some logging opererations on the road in but it was passible. There was a campground host with a large setup and maybe one other camper.
@@georgecrawford6536 Thanks for the update. I was thinking about going there this weekend, but feel that the Creek fire is a little close, plus I heard the Stanislaus forest is closed, due to the fires. I may go to the eastside instead. It seems that the fires are dictating my fishing plans. How was the fishing?
@@purpledrakefishing your killing me but still I can’t stop watching. Did you drive down from Strawberry or have to take the long hard drive in from the north side.
Thanks for sharing. Love your channel. Have you fished the lower Yuba?
Thanks Rick--yes, I fished one day on the lower Yuba last Feb. Didn't spend much time on it but I plan to fish it more next winter
Wow How do I find this spot, I’m always off the 108 at Beardsley and pine crest
New sub here from Oregon. Thanks for sharing.
Looks like they were mostly taking the rubberlegs?
Yes---tons of stonefly shucks on the rocks throughout the river.
Wanted to fish below Beardsley but I was told the road down to the damn was closed. Did you come in off 108 or hwy 4
From Hwy 108--the road to the lake was open when I was there but the boat ramp/lake recreation area was closed. I was able to drive to China Flat no problem.
The road to the damn is seasonally closed, also when the flows are big they can close the road from the dam to the fore bay, lots of rattlers in that area too so be careful
still couldn't find this spot
PD,
How do you go up there?
It is a long drive up in the mts and both above and below donnell lake is good fishing.
Take hwy 108 passed pine crest, lots of places to hike down to fish, Kennedy meadows is also a great spot or dardanelle
Local waters . A couple years ago a went down by way of Sand Flat. Spring time and winter was epic. The flow was torrential. Dangerous . This is more like it!
Flows that day were perfect, as well as the water temps which were upper 50's to low 60's. Can't imagine trying to fish that canyon with the higher winter/spring flows!
Always an adventure between SF and The lake, first of all getting there as google maps is kinda useless, second rattlesnakes, bald face hornets, and underground Yellowjacket nests...oh my! It’s too bad the otters have decimated the fore bay.
@@ArroyoGuitars don't forget the poison oak! Lol
Man can you do a rig video short and go over this setup a bit
Will do, thanks for the suggestion. Recently I starting using a thin Euro Nymphing line from Rio that enables me to use a much shorter leader. Basically it is 4' 10lb Maxima Chameleon -- 18" Rio 3x sighter material -- 5' 5x Rio Fluoro tippet. I have a two nymph setup with a 4-6" dropper tied off of a surgeon's knot, and a 18-24" of tippet below that to the second fly. The indicator I use is a Leeland EZ Trout Float which makes it very convenient to take on and off fast.