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Historical April 2017 view of the Tuolumne River below La Grange Dam at USGS gage 11289650, with dam spillways and green foothills.
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Tuolumne River Below La Grange Dam Fishing Report

Photo: Owen Baynham / U.S. Geological Survey Opens in a new tab. · Public domain USGS work; historical photograph, not today's conditions; converted to WebP Opens in a new tab.

Should I go fishing?

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Check the official notice before fishing.

We cannot confirm the current official status. Fishing tips stay hidden until you check the agency link.

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Restrictions and advisories

Check Tuolumne River below La Grange Dam before fishing.

These notices match this river report. No notice here does not mean the river is open. Always check the agency before you fish.

Last known active — check nowOfficial restrictionAccess restriction

Basso Bridge river access temporarily closed

Area
Basso Bridge river access within La Grange Regional Park
Link checked
Link status
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What to know about this notice

This status closes the named Basso Bridge access; it is not a fishing closure for the entire lower Tuolumne River.

The county page does not establish when Basso Bridge will reopen.

The notice does not prove that Fox Grove or another public access is open, legal, safe, or suitable; anglers must verify the exact alternative access separately.

USGS 11289650 measures below-dam water conditions and cannot confirm access, clarity, local depth, footing, or safe wading farther downstream.

Open the official notice: Stanislaus County Parks community facilities Opens in a new tab.

Flow and weather

Showing server-checked river conditions while current readings refresh.
Flow
179 cfs
Stable over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this readingWater 56.1°F · 24h high 56.1°F · USGS provisional
Air forecast
98°F
Next 24h high
99.0°F

NWS air forecast near

Rain chance
0%
7-day U.S. Geological Survey chart

USGS 11289650 below La Grange Dam · La Grange Dam to Hickman Bridge · discharge in cfs

Discharge

179 cfs179 cfs
Sep 2Sep 9

Latest reading: 179 cfs. Stable over about 6 hours. Chart covers Sep 2 through Sep 9; readings are provisional and may be revised.

7-day U.S. Geological Survey chart

Tuolumne River below La Grange Dam · USGS 11289650 · 7-day water temperature in °F

Water temperature · °F

56.3 °F53.6 °F
Sep 2Sep 9

Latest reading: 56.1 °F. Rising over about 6 hours. Chart covers Sep 2 through Sep 9; readings are provisional and may be revised.

This is the below-dam gauge temperature, not a reading at every downstream access. USGS readings are provisional and may be revised.

Latest stored weather check

Sunny

Wind
12 mph
Weather checked
More forecast and source details

Sunny

National Weather Service

Tuolumne River immediately below La Grange Dam

The National Weather Service forecast is temporarily unavailable.

Live data

Where these readings come from

Current U.S. Geological Survey gauge: Tuolumne River below La Grange Dam

Stable over about 6 hoursU.S. Geological Survey may revise this readingObserved
Water 56.1°F · provisional · 24h high 56.1°F provisionalWater observed · high observed
Official U.S. Geological Survey station Opens in a new tab.Official NWS forecast Opens in a new tab.

Fly choices are paused.

Check the current warning, restriction, or advisory before choosing flies or tactics.

Seasonal fly and tactic guidance stays hidden while this stop or unverified notice applies.

More fishing tips

Methods, fish species and trip notes

Fishing advice is paused.

Use the official notice and current conditions instead of fishing advice.

We cannot confirm the current official status. Fishing tips stay hidden until you check the agency link.

Lower Tuolumne access status

Open the official status for the exact place before driving. A gauge, bridge, park listing, or boat ramp description does not prove that the site is open or that the water is safe.

Before you go

Under the reviewed 2026 CDFW rule, the Tuolumne River from La Grange Dam downstream to Hickman Bridge is open January 1 through October 31 with artificial lures and barbless hooks only. The daily limit is two hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead and the possession limit is four. A hatchery fish has a healed adipose-fin clip. Unless another rule provides otherwise, all other trout and steelhead must be released immediately. The reach is closed to all fishing November 1 through December 31. Recheck CDFW's current booklet and updates before fishing or keeping a fish.

Rules by reach

Rules by reach: fishing rules by reach and season
River section and seasonFishing rules
La Grange Dam to Hickman BridgeJanuary 1–October 31

Open to fishing with artificial lures and barbless hooks only. The daily limit is two hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead, with four in possession.

Official rule
Wild trout and steelheadimmediate release

CDFW defines hatchery fish by a healed adipose-fin clip. Unless another rule provides otherwise, trout or steelhead with the adipose fin present must be released immediately.

Official rule
November 1–December 31closed

The named La Grange Dam-to-Hickman Bridge reach is closed to all fishing. The closure is reflected in the seasonal calendar and no-fly row.

Official rule
Hickman Bridge downstreamseparate rule

Do not carry this report's artificial-lure rule, access statements, or score below Hickman Bridge. CDFW publishes a separate Tuolumne rule for Hickman Bridge to the mouth.

Official rule

Where to access the river

Basso Bridge · temporarily closed at review

Stanislaus County listed the river access temporarily closed on September 1, 2026. Do not use its parking, restroom, informal launch, beach, or bank until the county removes the closure.

Site details

Fox Grove Recreation and Fishing Access · verify today

The county lists parking, restrooms, one mile of river frontage, a boat ramp, and fishing at Geer Road. Recheck the page and inspect the ramp, bank, current, and posted signs before use.

Site details

Turlock Lake SRA · closed at review

California State Parks listed the recreation area closed on September 1, 2026 and said it may reopen as soon as summer 2027. Do not treat historic facility descriptions as current access.

Site details

Hickman Bridge · rule boundary only

This review uses Hickman Bridge to end the report reach. It did not verify public parking, bank entry, or launch access at the bridge.

Site details
  • Basso Bridge and Turlock Lake SRA were closed at the September 1 review. A future reopening requires a new official check.
  • Fox Grove is a named public planning anchor, not automatic clearance for its ramp, every bank, safe wading, or a float takeout.
  • Hickman Bridge is the rule boundary for this report, not verified public entry. Stay within clearly public land and posted terms.

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

CaliforniaTuolumne River fishing reportUse the main Tuolumne page for a broader watershed view.CaliforniaTuolumne River below Hetch Hetchy fishing reportA very different upper-canyon flow and access plan.CaliforniaStanislaus River fishing reportAnother regulated Central Valley option with separate flows and access.
See all California fly fishing reports

Sources and report details

USGS, CDFW, Stanislaus County, California State Parks, Turlock Irrigation District, CDEC, RiverReports, and National Weather Service sources were checked September 1, 2026. No field visit, live hatch, current bite, clarity reading, safe-wading inspection, launch clearance, or private-bank permission is claimed.

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 9 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.

Recently checked. Last checked . Conditions and rules can still change, so open decision-critical links before fishing.

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: Official sources support the exact USGS station, legal reach and season, barbless artificial-lure rule, hatchery limit, wild-fish release, Basso and Turlock Lake closures, Fox Grove listing, dam context, and weather. Flies are editorial planning suggestions. No field visit, live hatch, current bite, access permission beyond published public listings, safe-wading clearance, clarity reading, or launch clearance is claimed.

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.

Check the official notice first.

Fishing tips stay hidden until the official notice is clear.