Arroyo Seco River (Monterey County)

Although steelhead fishing is allowed on this river, the habitat in the lower sections is so degraded that it’s really not worth anyone’s time. 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
Below the waterfall located 3.5 miles upstream from the bridge at the U. S. Forest Service Ranger Station.	Dec. 1– March 7, but only on Sat., Sun., Wed., legal holidays and the opening and closing days. Fishing shall be closed when the department determines that the flows are impeding fish passage (call 831-649-2886 for flow info.). Only barbless hooks may be used.	0 (Zero)

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)

Steelhead fishing is allowed downstream of the Highway 1 bridge to the mouth. Any steelhead angling technique and fly can yield results. The most important thing is to cover water and be in the right place at the right time. Like with all steelhead fishing along the central coast, persistence pays off.

Area or Body of Water	Open Season	Bag Limit
Big Sur River below the bridge at Highway 1.	Dec. 1– March 7, but only on Sat., Sun., Wed., legal holidays and the opening and closing days. The Big Sur R. west of Highway 1, all of Limekiln Creek, and the portions of all other Big Sur Coast streams west of Highway 1 in Monterey Co., from Granite Ck. south to Salmon Ck., shall be closed to all fishing when the department determines that the flow at the USGS gauging station on the Big Sur R. is less than 40 cfs (call 831-649-2886 for flow info). Only barbless hooks may be used.	0 (zero)

Carmel River (Monterey County)
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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)

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. Cal 831-649-2886 for flow information.	0 (zero)

Coyote Reservoir (Santa Clara County)
http://www.parkhere.org/site/0,4760,sid=12761,00.html

Fort Hunter Liggett
http://www.liggett.army.mil/

This military installation is a gold mine for those who wish to chase bass and sunfish. There are a variety of small lakes and ponds to choose from, but some are difficult to locate and almost require four-wheel drive to get to. Early Spring through mid-summer is the best time to go. Be sure to call ahead (831/386-3310) to see if the base is open and which reservoirs are open.

Lake Nacimiento
http://www.nacimientoresort.com/

To fish this Nacimiento effectively, you have to have a motorboat. Once you’ve overcome that obstacle, you can chase the white bass or the other species found in its waters.

Lake San Antonio
http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/parks/sanantonio.htm

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.

Loch Lomond Reservoir (Santa Cruz County)
http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/wt/llra/llra.html#fishing

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

Pinto Lake (Santa Cruz County)
http://www.pintolake.com/

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

San Justo Reservoir (San Benito County)
http://www.sbcpw.com/san_justo.htm

San Lorenzo River (Santa Cruz County)

This river, plus the Big Sur and Carmel Rivers, makes up “the big 3” steelhead rivers in the area. Located about one hour north of the shop, the San Lorenzo gets more pressure than any other local stream, probably due to its proximity to the Silicon Valley. From the south, take Highway 1 to Santa Cruz, then catch Highway 9, which follows the river most of the way.

Area or Body of Water	Open Season	Bag Limit
San Lorenzo River from the mouth to the Lomond Street bridge in the town of Boulder Creek.	Dec. 1– March 7, but only on Sat., Sun., Wed., legal holidays and the opening and closing days. The San Lorenzo R., its tributaries, as well as all anadromous reaches of coastal streams normally open for fishing in Santa Cruz Co. from the San Lorenzo R. on North through Wadell Ck., shall be closed to all fishing when the department determines that the San Lorenzo R. flows are impeding fish passage (call 831-649-2886 for flow info.). Only barbless hooks may be used.	0 (Zero)

San Luis Reservoir and the ONeil Forebay (Merced County)
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=558
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This can be a world-class fishery if you timing is good. Stripers range from about 18 inches to over 30 pounds. Floating lines with poppers and sinking lines with various minnow patterns work well. Motorboats, pontoon boats and float tubes are almost a must unless you want to wade for fish in the shallows (which can be a blast). Fishing can be good throughout the year, but spring and fall are typically the best.

Scott Creek (Santa Cruz County)

Area or Body of Water	Open Season	Bag Limit
From the mouth to the confluence with Big Creek.	Dec. 1– March 7, but only on Sat., Sun., Wed., legal holidays and the opening and closing days. Scott Ck., as well as all other anadromous reaches of coastal streams normally open for fishing in Santa Cruz Co. from San Lorenzo R. on north through Wadell Ck., shall be closed to all fishing when the department determines that the San Lorenzo R. flows are impeding fish passage (call 831-649-2886 for flow info.). Only barbless hooks may be used.	0 (Zero)

Soquel Creek (Santa Cruz County)

Area or Body of Water	Open Season	Bag Limit
From the mouth to the confluence of the East and West branch.	Dec. 1– March 1, but only on Sat., Sun., Wed., legal holidays and the opening and closing days. Aptos and Soquel Cks. shall be closed to all fishing when the department determines that the Soquel Ck. flows impede fish passage (call 831-649-2886 for flow info.). Only barbless hooks may be used.	0 (Zero)

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