When it finally came within range of my net, I scooped the big rainbow up, then handed the net to Russell so I could get out my camera for a quick catch-and-release photo. "Welcome to the Carson!" I told him as he held the fish up then lowered it back into the water, where it quickly squirmed from his grip and shot back into the green depths of the pool. We'd been fishing for only an hour on the morning of Saturday, June 26, and this was the second pool we had tried. At the next major pool upstream, my client hooked and brought in two more monster rainbows, and I was able to get photos of both of these fish as well- check out the girth on the biggest one; it's nearly as tall as it is long! Yes friends, it's prime time for fly fishing in Alpine County!

Access: There are many good roadside spots along the river upstream of Hangman's Bridge just outside Markleeville, California, but this stretch has heavy fishing pressure, a five-fish limit, and baitfishing is permitted. For more consistent fly fishing try the roadless wild trout section downstream from Hangman's, where a zero limit regulation is in effect. Here only barbless artificial lures or flies are allowed, and all fish caught must be released. These restrictions, as well as the hike-in-only access, ensure a great population of trout throughout the year.

Conditions: This freestone river has just settled down from the high snowmelt flows of springtime, and is dropping lower daily. Wading into the river and crossing at key points have become reasonable endeavors, and fly fishing techniques require only a weight-forward, floating line.

Safety: The East Carson consists mostly of large canyon pools separated by long stretches of shallow, unproductive riffles. Each deep area holds trout, but most pools have a steep bluff or canyon cliff along one bank. This wall will be along the west side of the river at one spot, then on the east side at the next pool downstream, making frequent crossing of the river necessary to fish each hole effectively and avoid mountain-climbing. Wading boots are a must for proper traction and protection while hiking the streambed and wading; I've been having a great time this season breaking in my new Sims Freestone wading boots, which have felt soles with metal studs.

Please take your time and watch where you place each step here- the round, river rocks make it easy to slip and turn an ankle, and the flows are still high and swift enough in some sections of the river to send unwary waders into the drink. I've had to hold hands (in a manly way) with some of my clients lately to help them ford the swifter stretches, and I'll also wade directly upstream of clients, to break current so they can 'ride my draft' and enjoy easier wading in the considerable eddy formed by my 210-pound frame.

Some of the more cold-impervious guides are already wet-wading, but at this time I'm still protecting the family jewels with waders, and after ten years sweating away in neoprene, I finally moved up to top-of-the-line Sims G3 waterproof/breathable waders. I feel like I'm fishing in silk pajamas! As the river drops lower and the heat of summer sets in over the next few weeks though, I'll start wet wading in just the boots and a pair of quick-drying nylon shorts.

This brings me to another important safety concern in this high-desert canyon, rattlesnakes! I had heard the stories from other anglers, but up until last week, I never experienced a close-up encounter here. My client and I left the river bank to hike around a cliff to the next hole, and as I walked by a clump of sagebrush, I was greeted by a large rattler that was simultaneously warning me with its tail-maraca and coiling for a strike. I quickly stumbled backward (my new waders are tough, but maybe not THAT tough), and the snake darted into a crevice in the rocks. There are many such rock and brush piles along the banks here; if a shadowy spot looks like it could conceal a snake, assume it does, just in case.

Finally, remember that the farther you hike into the canyon, the farther you are from civilization and medical attention if needed. Bring a fishing buddy for your first trip here, slather on the sunscreen, carry plenty of drinking water, consider a small first-aid kit, and feel free to bring your cell-phone, but expect only a false sense of security from your high-tech gadget as there is no phone reception in the canyon.

Equipment: I've mentioned waders and wading boots, sunscreen and water, so lets move on to fishing gear. A nine-foot, five-weight fly rod will serve most of your needs here; a lighter rod is fun for fishing dry flies when the wind is down, but for punching through the gusty canyon breezes or chucking weighted flies and strike indicators, you need a little power. Others may have their own productive formula for leaders, but I prefer a nine-foot, tapered 3X or 4X leader with an additional three feet of 4X or 5X tippet, whether fishing dry or wet flies.

Flies and Techniques: In the morning, sparse, mixed hatches of caddis and mayflies come off, but not too many fish rise up for them. At this time of day I find that bumping bottom with nymphs under strike-indicators produces both numbers and quality fish. The three large rainbows pictured in this article all hit flies fished along the bottom. Two came on my size- sixteen Chartreuse Marabou Caddis nymph (not available in stores, but if you book a trip with me, I'll give you a few), and the largest one hit a size-eight Egg-Sucking Conehead Peacock Bugger (also one of custom patterns, and considered a mortal insult in many parts of the world- "Why you egg-sucking, conehead..."). Most fish will be taken on a dead drift with this method, but don't forget to swing your fly in the current and twitch it once or twice at the end of the drift before casting back upstream- this can bring some vicious strikes, especially on woolly buggers and caddis imitations.

By mid-afternoon, watch for consistent surface hatches of caddis, along with a variety of mayflies, from small Pale Morning Duns to large Green Drakes and March Browns. On a July 1 trip with client Colin Hintergardt, we caught fish on my Marabou Caddis nymph all morning, then switched to a size-sixteen, olive-bodied E.C. Caddis dry fly for some good surface action in the afternoon. None of these fish were exceptionally large, but my good friend Aaron Fox from Backwater Charters just emailed me photos of a big East Carson brown trout he took right before dark last week on a well-presented dry fly. He fished small caddis and mayfly imitations, but look for some huge trout to come up for finger-length stonefly patterns fished on the surface over the next few weeks as well!

Bonus Report: The nearby West Carson River, a much smaller stream with easier access, is also fishing very well for fly anglers at this time. I worked with novice fly angler Randall Haragan on the West Fork last week, and he had at least forty fish crash his dry fly, a black foam beetle. Connecting with each strike proved to be the challenge of the morning, but he managed to bring over a dozen trout to my net. These were mostly hatchery fish, not big, wild bruisers like those on the East Fork, but such fast action is a great way to boost an angler's skill and confidence.

Until Next Time!
Mark (Never Stand In A Canoe) Wiza
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More Articles & Reports by Mark Wiza

Note:
For information on a guided trip, email me or call Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters at (530) 541-8208. This summer in addition to river fly fishing trips, I'm offering combination spin/fly trips, canoe trolling on the high lakes (Red Lake has been red hot!), and my ever-popular on-the-water clinic, where I accompany an angler aboard his boat to teach the secrets of Sierra trout fishing. I offer this clinic on Tahoe, Fallen Leaf, Silver and a few other lakes, and not only are these trips highly educational, but you WILL hook fish.