Arroyo Seco River (Monterey County)

The trout fishing in the upper section can be very good for those who can make accurate casts and stealthy approaches. This is a tough stream to fish as the canyon gets very gorgy and brushy.

From Highway 101, take the exit for Arroyo Seco and follow the signs to the UFSF campground. From Highway 1, take Carmel Valley Rd. east to Arroyo Seco Rd. Follow the signs to the USFS campground. You’ll have to walk from the campground for about 3.5 miles on a dirt service road upstream to legal fishing water.

Area or Body of Water	Open Season	Bag Limit
Above the waterfall located 3.5 miles upstream from the bridge at the U. S. Forest Service Ranger Station.	Last Saturday in Apr. through Nov. 15.	5

Big Sur River (Monterey County)

The upper section above the state park offers plenty of native rainbows averaging 6 to 10 inches. They’re aggressive and will take any small, well-presented standard dry fly, but they’re spooky so be mindful of your approach. Unless you like the idea of swimming the gorge pool and scaling the boulders at the head of it, hiking for at least 2 hours on the Pine Ridge Trail (a moderate hike) is the only way to get there. Your first access will be Ventana Camp.

Area or Body of Water	Open Season	Bag Limit
Big Sur River and tributaries above the upstream end of the gorge pool at the boundary of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park with the Ventana Wilderness Area	Fourth Saturday in May through Oct. 31. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used.	0 (Zero)

Carmel River (Monterey County)
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The Carmel River used to be a well-known steelhead fishery. Those days are gone but the steelhead population is coming back thanks to the combined efforts of a few sportsmen and the Department of Fish & Game. There are two seasons on the Carmel: trout season and steelhead season. Trout fishing in Los Padres Reservoir can be very good with fish averaging 8 to 16 inches. Float tubing is the only way to effectively fish this water. Fishing streamers with fast sinking lines will yield the best results. The river above the reservoir is best fishing early in the season. Standard fly patterns off a floating line will do the trick. To get to Los Padres Reservoir, take Carmel Valley Rd. past “The Village” to Cachagua Rd. Follow Cachagua Rd. over the ridge into the Cachagua Valley and turn right onto Nason Rd. Travel Nason Rd. to its end. The reservoir is a 20-minute walk on the dirt service road. No fishing is allowed below the dam so don’t get any ideas.

Area or Body of Water	Open Season	Bag Limit
Carmel River and tributaries above Los Padres Dam. This includes Los Padres Reservoir.	Last Saturday in April through Nov. 15. No rainbow trout less than 10 inches or greater than 16 inches total length may be kept. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used.	0 No more than 2 of which may be rainbow trout.

Little Sur River (Monterey County)

Avoid any hassles with property owners and access this stream by traveling to Palo Colorado Rd. from Highway 1 (near Rocky Point Restaurant), about 20 minutes south of the Rio Rd./Highway 1 intersection. Drive to Bottchers Gap Campground and hike the access road for about one hour down to Pico Blanco Boy Scout Camp. Be Careful! The road is steep, unpaved and the loose gravel makes going tough. Like the other coastal streams nearby, the little Sur is loaded with small rainbow trout eager to take any small attractor dry fly. The fishing improves the further away you get from the Boy Scout Camp. The hike back out is a healthy 90 minutes.

Area or Body of Water	Open Season
Little Sur River and tributaries above Coast Road.	Fourth Saturday in May through Oct. 31. Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used.

Nacimiento River and San Antonio River

Area or Body of Water	Open Season	Bag Limit
Salinas River and tributaries upstream of the Arroyo Seco River confluence (includes Nacimiento and San Antonio drainages.	Last Saturday in Apr. through Nov. 15.	5

Salmon Creek
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About a 90-minute ride south on Highway 1 will bring you to this classic coastal creek. Fishing is best above the falls. Like in other coastal streams, the rainbows are aggressive but very spooky. Use concealment to your advantage. Any standard dry fly on floating line will produce fish.

Area or Body of Water	Open Season	Bag Limit
Salmon Creek and tributaries above Highway 1.	Last Saturday in April through Nov. 15	5

Central Coast Fly Fishing 7172 Carmel Valley Road Carmel, CA  93923 (831) 626-6586