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.

Steelhead fishing is tough. The catch rate is somewhere around 0.1 fish per angler per hour. Any technique and fly can yield fish, but luck and persistence really makes the difference. Access is easiest at Garland Regional Park, Carmel River State Beach and at any of the bridges that cross the river from Rosie’s Bridge on down. Carmel Valley Rd., which intersects Highway 1, parallels the river most of the way. Rancho San Carlos Rd., Schulte Rd., Robinson Canyon Rd., Boronda Rd., Paso Hondo Rd. and Robles del Rio/Esquiline Rd. all offer easy access to the river.

Area or Body of Water	Open Season	Bag Limit
Carmel River main stem below the bridge at Robles Del Rio/Esquiline Roads (Rosie’s Bridge).	Dec. 1– March 7, but only on Sat., Sun., Wed., legal holidays and the opening and closing days. Only artificial hook with barbless hooks may be used. The Carmel River shall be close to all fishing when the flow is less than 80 cfs. The stream flow will be checked Tuesday and Friday of each week. Call 831-649-2886 for flow information.	0 (Zero)

Steelhead fishing is tough. The catch rate is somewhere around 0.1 fish per angler per hour. Any technique and fly can yield fish, but luck and persistence really makes the difference. Access is easiest at Garland Regional Park, Carmel River State Beach and at any of the bridges that cross the river from Rosie’s Bridge on down. Carmel Valley Rd., which intersects Highway 1, parallels the river most of the way. Rancho San Carlos Rd., Schulte Rd., Robinson Canyon Rd., Boronda Rd., Paso Hondo Rd. and Robles del Rio/Esquiline Rd. all offer easy access to the river.

Area or Body of Water	Open Season	Bag Limit
Carmel River main stem below the bridge at Robles Del Rio/Esquiline Roads (Rosie’s Bridge).	Dec. 1– March 7, but only on Sat., Sun., Wed., legal holidays and the opening and closing days. Only artificial hook with barbless hooks may be used. The Carmel River shall be close to all fishing when the flow is less than 80 cfs. The stream flow will be checked Tuesday and Friday of each week. Cal 831-649-2886 for flow information.	0 (zero)

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