Fly fishing report · West

Tuolumne River

Tuolumne River planning with RiverReports flow, official agency sources, NWS weather, access notes, hatch timing, fly picks, and practical safety guidance.

Check flow & weather

Today's river scoreHigh source confidence

Good

Best option: Wade.

Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.

Updated Jul 13, 11:17 PM UTCUsually refreshes about every 45 minutes

Recommended approachWade

Mode scores adjust the river-wide score for the risks of wading, bank fishing, or floating.

Wade · Best fit82/100

Wading is in play only where your chosen access has clear footing, legal entry, and no forced crossings.

Bank / edgeCheck

This report does not describe this as a primary mode. Verify legal access, depth, launches, and retreat options before planning around it.

Float82/100

A float is in play where this report supports boat access and wind, releases, and shuttle logistics are manageable.

Confirm before you leave

Flow and weather right now.

Use the flow trend to confirm the score before you leave. Weather can change the safest and most productive fishing window.

River strategy

Treat this as a Sierra freestone or canyon-water day.

Tuolumne River should be planned around flow, legal access, and the specific reach you intend to fish. The best plan is built around safe flow, legal access, water temperature, and short realistic reaches instead of trying to cover the whole drainage.

Use RiverReports for a quick chart and USGS 11274790 for official flow context.
Yosemite fishing rules, road and trail status, USGS flow, and water temperature
NPS Yosemite fishing rules and Tuolumne/Hetch Hetchy access information should drive the trip before fly choice or mileage goals.
Cold snowmelt, granite falls, remote trails, high elevation weather, and limited exits

Why this score moved

Short-term weatherUse caution

The forecast has storm or heavy-precipitation risk, so timing and access matter more than the score alone.

FlowHelps score

USGS shows 137 cfs with a stable over about 6 hours trend. same-date USGS history (2007-2025, 19 readings) puts the normal middle range around 107 cfs-1,270 cfs. Flow is inside the same-date normal range, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.

SeasonHelps score

Summer: Best dry-dropper and attractor window, especially early and late before canyon heat builds.

Water temperatureHelps score

USGS water temperature is about 67F, with no heat stop triggered.

Public alertsHelps score

No active NWS alert was returned for this forecast point.

Read the water

What changes the plan.

Best windows come with stable flow, cool water, and access that does not require unsafe crossings. Skip the trip when the gauge rises fast, roads are uncertain, or water is too warm.

Post-snowmelt stable flow

Best for dry-dropper fishing and careful pocket-water travel.

High cold runoff

Unsafe around falls, crossings, and granite channels.

Warm late summer afternoons

Fish early, carry a thermometer, and stop if water is too warm.

Trail-limited access

Choose a short legal reach instead of overcommitting.

Field plan

Fish it with intention.

Best flows

Stable, clear, cool water with safe crossings and enough depth to hold trout in pockets.

When to skip

Skip during sharp rises, hot low water, unsafe crossings, or road and trail uncertainty.

Local plan

Tuolumne Meadows, Hetch Hetchy, or Groveland approach is the practical base. Check yosemite fishing rules, road and trail status, usgs flow, and water temperature, then pick a short legal access plan instead of trying to cover the whole river.

Backup water

Check nearby BlueStreamFly reports if the gauge, rules, or weather do not fit the plan.

Hatches & flies

Bring a flexible box.

TimingWhat to watchUseful flies

SpringLittle stones, BWOs, caddis, and runoff-edge nymph movementStonefly nymph, BWO emerger, hare's ear, caddis pupa

Reviewed family · report says “Stonefly nymph”Stonefly Nymph PatternsStonefly nymph patterns generally emphasize two tails, a broad thorax, segmented abdomen, and bottom contact; rubber legs, biots, beads, and jig hooks define different exact forms.See family guide

Reviewed family · report says “BWO emerger”Blue-Winged Olive PatternsBWO describes a hatch group, not one fly. Nymph, emerger, dry, cripple, and spinner profiles must stay separate because they occupy different parts of the water column.See family guide + 2 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

Early summerCaddis, PMDs, yellow sallies, and attractor dry-fly windowsElk hair caddis, PMD emerger, yellow stimulator, perdigon

Reviewed pattern · report says “Elk hair caddis”Elk Hair CaddisLook for a tented elk- or deer-hair wing, clipped hair head, dubbed body, rib, and hackle palmered along the body. The body color should be labeled because tiers often match different natural caddis colors.See photos & how to fish it

Reviewed family · report says “PMD emerger”Pale Morning Dun PatternsPMD names an insect group, not one fly. Pale nymphs, trailing-shuck emergers, upright or low-riding duns, cripples, and spent-wing spinners stay visibly separate.See family guide + 2 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

Late summerTerrestrials, ants, beetles, hoppers, and evening caddisFoam ant, beetle, hopper, X-caddis, parachute Adams

Reviewed family · report says “Foam ant”Ant PatternsAnt patterns can be foam, fur-bodied, winged, or sunken. The narrow waist and paired body lobes matter more than one material recipe.See family guide

Reviewed family · report says “beetle”Beetle PatternsBeetle flies range from simple foam shells to hair-bodied and sunken forms. A rounded back and compact profile distinguish the family from ants and hoppers.See family guide + 3 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

FallBWOs, midges, October caddis, and small streamer windowsBWO emerger, zebra midge, October caddis pupa, olive bugger

Reviewed pattern · report says “zebra midge”Zebra MidgeLook for a very slim tapered thread body, evenly spaced contrasting wire rib, a small bead, and no tail or wing. The reviewed classic is black with silver wire and a silver bead. Red, olive, brown, glass-bead, jig-hook, resin-coated, or tailed forms must remain labeled variations rather than replacing the classic identity.See photos & how to fish it + 2 more reviewed guides in the Fly Box

Start with a dry-dropper in broken water before adding weight.

Fish near-bank pockets first; canyon trout often hold closer than expected.

Use small streamers in deeper buckets or slightly colored water.

Move often and avoid wasting the best daylight on unsafe crossings.

Access & responsibility

Know the entry. Know the exit.

Check current CDFW inland trout regulations plus park, forest, or BLM notices before fishing. Rules can vary by reach and season.

Tuolumne Meadows and upper river

Check seasonal road, trail, and park fishing rules before planning.

Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne

Remote canyon water with serious trail and safety demands.

Hetch Hetchy watershed context

Use NPS rules around reservoir and downstream restrictions.

Transparent sources

Check the facts behind the plan.

Last material review: 2026-05-31

flowRiverReports: Tuolumne River above Hetch Hetchy flowUSGS monitoring location: Tuolumne River above Hetch Hetchy safetyNWS forecast point near Tuolumne River regulationCDFW inland fishing information regulationYosemite National Park fishing accessYosemite National Park Hetch Hetchy accessBLM Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River backgroundGenerated regional Tuolumne River planning image

Common questions

Before you leave.

Is Tuolumne River usually open for fly fishing?+

Check current CDFW rules and land-management notices first. This page gives planning context, but legal status comes from current rules.

Should I wade or float?+

Wade-and-move is the baseline. Float only where you have whitewater skill, legal access, and a safe takeout.

Which flow source should I use?+

Use the RiverReports chart for a fast read and USGS 11274790 as the official flow source or context source.