Sierra Fly Fisher

Guided days concentrate on the Merced Gorge, described on the outfitter’s own trip page as roughly eight miles long and paralleled by Highway 140 with very few turnouts, so getting down to the water is the hard part: huge boulders and log jams litter the river bottom. Through this reach the character shifts from long, slow-moving pools into pocket water and deep runs. Hatch notes given for the water include small Blue-Winged Olives on warm days in late January and February, the first Golden Stoneflies appearing in February, a Pale Morning Dun hatch running from June through early October, plus yellow sallies and caddis. Wet-wading comes into its own once snowmelt drops out. Rainbows outnumber browns about three to one. Full days are $600 for one or two anglers, additional rods $150; a four-hour half day is $475 for one, $75 per extra angler, equipment supplied.