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Tuolumne River

Should I go fishing?

Go with caution.

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

Rating updatedRiver local time:

Why this recommendation?

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

Available live dataHighHow much of the live flow, weather, and alert data came back.
Confidence in this recommendationHighCurrent flow, weather, alerts, and trip-critical signals support this decision.
Usually checks again about every 45 minutes

If you go

Check first
Use RiverReports for a quick chart and USGS 11274790 for official flow context.
Try
Start with a dry-dropper in broken water before adding weight.
Leave when
Skip during sharp rises, hot low water, unsafe crossings, or road and trail uncertainty.

Flow and weather

Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
Flow
12 cfs
From the latest stored river check. Open the official source for the newest reading.Water 54.3°F · 24h high 54.9°F · USGS provisional
Air forecast
55°F
Next 24h high
60.0°F

NWS air forecast near

Rain chance
98%
Latest stored weather check

Showers And Thunderstorms

Wind
5 mph
Weather checked
More forecast and source details

Showers And Thunderstorms

National Weather Service

Tuolumne River forecast point

The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.

Live data

Where these readings come from

RiverReports gauge: Tuolumne River above Hetch Hetchy

Water 54.3°F · provisional · 24h high 54.9°F provisionalWater observed · high observed
Official USGS station Opens in a new tab.RiverReports gauge Opens in a new tab.Official NWS forecast Opens in a new tab.

Flies for this time of year

Seasonal starting points, not a live hatch report. Match what you see on the water.

See flies for every season
SeasonWhat to look forFlies to try

Each fly name opens its matching Fly Box guide.

More fishing tips

Methods, fish species and trip notes

How to fish Tuolumne River today.

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.

Wading, bank fishing or floating?
Best access methodFloating

These scores compare the risks of wading, bank fishing, and floating.

Wading48/100

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

Bank fishingNot recommended

This report does not recommend bank fishing on this reach.

Floating · Best fit50/100

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

Full river report

Is Tuolumne River worth the trip today? Check flow, weather, hatches, access, and rules for California before you go.

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.

Fishing words used on this page
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gauge
A USGS gauge is an official river station that measures flow or water height.
Cubic feet per second (cfs)
Cubic feet per second, or cfs, shows how much water passes the gauge each second.
Nymph
A nymph is a young water insect. Anglers also use the word for a fly that copies it.
Attractor fly
An attractor fly is bright or bold. It draws a strike without copying one exact insect.
Blue-winged olive (BWO)
Blue-winged olives, or BWOs, are small mayflies that often hatch in cool or cloudy weather.
Caddis
Caddis are small water insects. The adults look a little like tiny moths.
Dry-dropper
A dry-dropper rig has a floating fly with an underwater fly tied below it.
Emerger
An emerger copies an insect as it rises from below the water toward the surface.
Midge
Midges are tiny flies and a common trout food, especially in cold water.
Pale morning dun (PMD)
Pale morning duns, or PMDs, are light-colored mayflies that often hatch in warmer months.
Why this call

Why this score

Short-term weatherUse caution

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

Public alertUse caution

An active public alert is in effect near this forecast point, so the score is capped at caution until conditions are checked. NWS alert: Winter Weather Advisory issued October 22 at 10:28AM PDT until October 22 at 5:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA.

Best mode nowUse caution

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

FlowHelps

USGS shows 12 cfs. The flow has been rising about 28% over about 6 hours. USGS marks this reading provisional and may revise it. USGS records for this date (2007-2025, 19 readings) show a typical middle range of 10 cfs to 98 cfs. Flow is within the typical range for this date, so weather, temperature, and access become the next checks.

SeasonHelps

Fall: Cooler nights, lower pressure, and stable water can create the cleanest trout fishing.

Trip notes

Check these before you choose a reach.

Best flows

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

When to leave

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.

Tuolumne River access and rules.

Use these places as starting points. Open the access link below and check posted signs before you park or enter.

Before you go

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

Where to access the river

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.

  • NPS Yosemite fishing rules and Tuolumne/Hetch Hetchy access information should drive the trip before fly choice or mileage goals.
  • Confirm parking, land ownership, launch status, and current agency notices before relying on any access point.
  • Cold snowmelt, granite falls, remote trails, high elevation weather, and limited exits

If this water does not fit the day, check another report before you start the drive.

CaliforniaTuolumne River above Kirkwood Bridge fishing reportA more specific Tuolumne reach with separate flow chart.CaliforniaTuolumne River below Hetch Hetchy fishing reportDownstream Hetch Hetchy planning.CaliforniaStanislaus River fishing reportA lower valley and park-access contrast.
See all California fly fishing reports

Sources and report details

Official agencies and primary river operators come first. Secondary tools are labeled so you know what carries the most weight.

Rules and closures

Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.

Flow and weather

Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.

Access and land

Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.

More helpful links

Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.

See all 8 checked sources

Rules and closures

Check what is allowed, where the rule applies, and whether the river is open.

Flow and weather

Check the latest river reading and forecast before you leave.

Access and land

Check public entry points, land rules, and seasonal access changes.

More helpful links

Use these links for stocking, safety, and other local details.

Source check is old. Last checked . Open the official links now and check for changes.

See something wrong? Report a source problem. Please do not send private spots or private access notes.

How this report was checked

How this report was checked

Trip guidance checked

What was checked: This report uses official regulation, flow, weather, access, and public-source material first, then adds practical angler planning guidance without replacing current rules.

Live measurements and forecasts keep their provider timestamps. Rules, access, and trip guidance use the source-review date shown here. BlueStreamFly planning advice is editorial interpretation, not an agency notice.

First-hand experience: BlueStreamFly does not claim a first-hand visit or local field test for this report unless a real contributor is explicitly named and linked.

Quick questions

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.