Merced River Fishing Report

Merced River Fishing Report

It finally feels like fall with rain showers, leaves turning colors, and shorter days. The fishing has been getting good and it will only get better until the first big storms come.

Fish are looking up in the riffles for dry flies, but nymphing has been most productive both with indicator and euro setups.

Fish the foam lines and fast currents with structure. Remember, “Foam is Home.”

In the evenings there has been a good PMD hatch in the gorge and the dry fly action turns on.

On my trips, we have been consistently catching rainbow trout on dries, dry/droppers, and nymphing set-ups.

Dry Flies:

Kaufmann’s Stimulator Sizes 10-14

Elk Hare Caddis Size 14

Peacock Caddis Size 14

Sparkle Flag PMD Size 18

Dropper Flies:

Kaufmann’s Caddis Emergers Size 14

Kaufmann’s Hare’s Ear Size 16

Frenchie Nymphs Size 16

Merced River Rainbow

Nymphs:

Walker Stalker Size 10

PMD Perdigon Size 16

Frenchie Nymph Size 16

Black Stone Size 12

Walker Stalker Black/Orange Size 10

The October Caddis should begin to hatch any day now and it is always one of my favorite hatches of the season. If you happen to experience this hatch, it can be memorable. Size 10 Orange Stimulators Dead drift and skate them!

Orange Stimulator Size 10

October Caddis Pupa