Tailwater · Mixed · Northern California

Lower Mokelumne River

Lower Mokelumne River terrain map
Terrain map

Short, cold tailwater below Camanche Dam, run by East Bay MUD rather than the Bureau, and it punches above its weight for wild rainbows holding over clean gravel.

Species

A proper day on the water

Low and clear — careful approach country. Stay small, stay accurate.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for rainbow trout
Cool — slow
9°C est.ideal 10–18°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for rainbow trout
  • Temperature8228% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity8518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure757% weight
  • Insect activity6212% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
9.0°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
31°C
Wind
NW 14 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1013 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Good — water clarity is right today, though time of day could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Western Blue-Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Pale Morning DunHatch
2
3
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Open all year; barbless, with low-flow / steelhead closures — check CDFW
  • ESA-listed steelhead present: handle with care
  • Flow tracks Camanche releases.
Directions
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About this water

Short, cold tailwater below Camanche Dam, run by East Bay MUD rather than the Bureau, and it punches above its weight for wild rainbows holding over clean gravel. It also carries ESA-listed Central Valley steelhead, so those fish get a wide berth and a gentle hand. It's a drift-boat and wade fishery best in the cooler months — blue-wings and midges in winter, caddis as it warms, and the familiar egg bite behind the autumn salmon. Flow is whatever Camanche sends down, so the weather upstream barely enters into it.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 31 December
Other water nearby · 2