Tailwater · Mixed · Northern California

Lower Stanislaus River

Cold foothill tailwater below Goodwin Dam, which is itself a regulating afterbay for big New Melones up the canyon — so the flow you get at Knights Ferry is whatever the Bureau decides, not what the sky does.

Species

About as good as it gets

Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.

90% confidence in this read
Water temperature for rainbow trout
Ideal
12.2°Cideal 10–18°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for rainbow trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity8518% weight
  • Feeding Time8013% weight
  • Pressure757% weight
  • Insect activity6312% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
12.2°C
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
29°C
Wind
NW 12 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1015 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings only. Trends shown where the gauge supports them.

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
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though insect activity 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 Goodwin/New Melones releases.
Directions
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About this water

Cold foothill tailwater below Goodwin Dam, which is itself a regulating afterbay for big New Melones up the canyon — so the flow you get at Knights Ferry is whatever the Bureau decides, not what the sky does. It holds wild rainbows along with an ESA-listed steelhead run, so those fish get named and left alone. Drift-boat and walk-in water over clean gravel: caddis and PMD through the warm months, blue-wings when it cools, and an egg bite behind the autumn salmon. Check the release before you load the boat, because the river answers to the dam.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 31 December
Other water nearby · 1