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MAP FEATURE:
AMERICAN RIVER MIDDLE FORK
WESTERN OUTDOOR NEWSPublished: Jan 13, 2009
MAP FEATURE BY BUD NEVILLE
For decades, stream trout anglers in the Sierra District were limited to a season that starts the last Saturday of April, and runs through mid-November. While not particularly limiting, the rule definitely cut down on winter fishing options. Then in 2007, the Department of Fish and Game approved allowing certain stream waters in the Sierra District to stay open through the winter for catch and release fishing with artificial lures with barbless hooks. The American River system is one drainage opened up to winter fishing by the new law, and much of Middle Fork of the American is accessible year-round.
Feeding Folsom Lake, the Middle Fork drains the west slope of the Sierra, drawing runoff from such pristine country as the Granite Chief and Desolation Wilderness areas. While access to the river above Oxbow Dam about 10 miles out of Foresthill gets difficult in the winter, there are plenty of places the conservative minded angler can enjoy a chilly, if productive day of catch and release action. In fact, there is also a stretch of the Middle Fork from the Highway 49 Bridge between Cool and Auburn that is considered a part of the Valley District, and so is open to catch and keep fishing with a daily bag limit of five trout.
While the Middle Fork does have decent populations of trout, this section of the American is not planted. Certainly, some of Folsom Lake’s planter ‘bows head upstream and constitute a portion of the trout population, and there are plenty of small native rainbows and browns in the upstream sections to replenish the main branch. What’s best about the Middle Fork is that flows are controlled by powerhouse dams. Cold summer flows are drawn from French Meadows and Hell Hole reservoirs to turn the turbines at Oxbow. Those flows keep the Middle Fork below Oxbow cold during the hottest summer days. Those same dams help control the winter runoff flows, and as a result, the Middle Fork is often fishable above the confluence of the North Fork, which is almost entirely un-dammed with the exception of small Clementine Dam. 
The nature of the Middle Fork is mostly deep pools separated by sections of rapids. Extremely popular with whitewater enthusiasts, the stretch from Oxbow to the confluence is heavily boated in the summer. In the winter, fewer rafts and kayaks are around to compete with the angler for solitude. And while boating is one way to access the entire stretch of stream, there are several roads that come close to the stream to allow shore access. Land on both sides of the river are within the Auburn State Recreation Area, which allows many kinds of recreation including fishing, gold panning, biking, hiking, and of course, rafting. This would also be a good time to mention that winter rafting or drift boating on the American should only be attempted by experienced whitewater anglers.
As for shore access, the first and easiest spot is at the place locals call the twin bridges. This spot is where Highway 49 crosses the Middle Fork south of Auburn, and where the old Foresthill Road crosses the North Fork. Some also call it the confluence, since this is where the North Fork enters the Middle Fork. Plenty of parking is available on all sides of both rivers. A short hike puts the angler on the water, and good trails run up both rivers from these parking areas.
If you were heading to Foresthill from the twin bridges, you would pass the next access, also an off highway vehicle area called Mammoth Bar. Again, there is good access to the river, and trails that allow upstream and downstream access. The old Foresthill Road meets the new Foresthill Road, and a few miles up is another access called Drivers Flat. A gravel and somewhat washboarded road runs from the top of the ridge all the way back down into the canyon. While there is hiking access from a couple spots along the Foresthill Road, the next good road access is reached by taking Mosquito Ridge Road at the town of Foresthill towards French Meadows. That road crosses the North Fork of the Middle Fork, then the Ralston Ridge Road drops down to access Oxbow Lake and the Middle Fork just below Oxbow. Above Oxbow, the river becomes the Rubicon, and access is possible in some spots, but can be blocked by snow in the winter.
As mentioned, the gamefish found in the Middle Fork are rainbow and brown trout. There are also token populations of smallmouth bass, but if you really want to target the smallies, the North Fork is the better choice. This stream is warmer in the summer, and harbors a decent population of mostly small bass, plus some catfish and sunfish.
For fishing during the catch and keep season, not much beats a drifted cricket or nightcrawler. During the catch and release season, nymphs, small streamers and spinners properly equipped with barbless hooks can entice a strike.
Other activities in the area include hunting in the National Forest in the higher elevations, and in the Auburn State Recreation Area during certain times of the year. Non-river fishing is available at Oxbow (trout fishing is pretty tough, the lake hasn’t been planted in years and has a big population of predatory squawfish), Clementine (mostly for bass, sunfish and catfish, with some trout possible), and during the summer and fall months at French Meadows and Hell Hole reservoirs when the snow melts.
Auburn has bait and tackle, fuel, lodging, restaurants, etc., and Foresthill has a handful of small restaurants, tackle at Grant’s Hardware, a couple gas stations and an IGA grocery store.
TRIP FACTS:
SIZE/LOCATION: Winding some 25 miles from Folsom Lake to Oxbow Lake, the Middle Fork American River is on the west slope Sierra just south and east of the town of Auburn, about 45 miles from Sacramento.
GAME & GAMEFISH: The Middle Fork has rainbow and brown trout, with some smallmouth bass, sunfish and catfish. There are hunting opportunities around for deer, bear, quail, turkey and squirrels in the National Forest lands in the higher elevations, and for those species minus bears in the Auburn State Recreation Area.
FACILITIES: Parking and portable toilets are available at most access points described in the text. Camping is allowed at the Drivers Flat access.
MORE INFORMATION: Willfish Tackle, (530) 887-0839. Auburn State Recreation Area, (530) 885-4527.
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MAP FEATURE BY BUD NEVILLE For decades, stream trout anglers in the Sierra District were limited to a season that starts the last Saturday of April, and runs through mid-November. While not particularly limiting, the rule definitely cut down on winter fishing options. Then in 2007, the Department of Fish and Game approved allowing certain stream waters in the Sierra District to stay open through the winter for catch and release fishing with artificial lures with barbless hooks. The American River system is one drainage opened up to winter fishing by the new law, and much of Middle Fork of the American is accessible year-round.Feeding Folsom Lake, the Middle Fork drains the west slope of the Sierra, drawing runoff from such pristine country as the Granite Chief and Desolation Wilderness areas. While access to the river above Oxbow Dam about 10 miles out of Foresthill gets difficult in the winter, there are plenty of places the conservative minded angler can enjoy a chilly, if productive day of catch and release action. In fact, there is also a stretch of the Middle Fork from the Highway 49 Bridge between Cool and Auburn that is considered a part of the Valley District, and so is open to catch and keep fishing with a daily bag limit of five trout. While the Middle Fork does have decent populations of trout, this section of the American is not planted. Certainly, some of Folsom Lake’s planter ‘bows head upstream and constitute a portion of the trout population, and there are plenty of small native rainbows and browns in the upstream sections to replenish the main branch. What’s best about the Middle Fork is that flows are controlled by powerhouse dams. Cold summer flows are drawn from French Meadows and Hell Hole reservoirs to turn the turbines at Oxbow. Those flows keep the Middle Fork below Oxbow cold during the hottest summer days. Those same dams help control the winter runoff flows, and as a result, the Middle Fork is often fishable above the confluence of the North Fork, which is almost entirely un-dammed with the exception of small Clementine Dam. The nature of the Middle Fork is mostly deep pools separated by sections of rapids. Extremely popular with whitewater enthusiasts, the stretch from Oxbow to the confluence is heavily boated in the summer. In the winter, fewer rafts and kayaks are around to compete with the angler for solitude. And while boating is one way to access the entire stretch of stream, there are several roads that come close to the stream to allow shore access. Land on both sides of the river are within the Auburn State Recreation Area, which allows many kinds of recreation including fishing, gold panning, biking, hiking, and of course, rafting. This would also be a good time to mention that winter rafting or drift boating on the American should only be attempted by experienced whitewater anglers. As for shore access, the first and easiest spot is at the place locals call the twin bridges. This spot is where Highway 49 crosses the Middle Fork south of Auburn, and where the old Foresthill Road crosses the North Fork. Some also call it the confluence, since this is where the North Fork enters the Middle Fork. Plenty of parking is available on all sides of both rivers. A short hike puts the angler on the water, and good trails run up both rivers from these parking areas. If you were heading to Foresthill from the twin bridges, you would pass the next access, also an off highway vehicle area called Mammoth Bar. Again, there is good access to the river, and trails that allow upstream and downstream access. The old Foresthill Road meets the new Foresthill Road, and a few miles up is another access called Drivers Flat. A gravel and somewhat washboarded road runs from the top of the ridge all the way back down into the canyon. While there is hiking access from a couple spots along the Foresthill Road, the next good road access is reached by taking Mosquito Ridge Road at the town of Foresthill towards French Meadows. That road crosses the North Fork of the Middle Fork, then the Ralston Ridge Road drops down to access Oxbow Lake and the Middle Fork just below Oxbow. Above Oxbow, the river becomes the Rubicon, and access is possible in some spots, but can be blocked by snow in the winter. As mentioned, the gamefish found in the Middle Fork are rainbow and brown trout. There are also token populations of smallmouth bass, but if you really want to target the smallies, the North Fork is the better choice. This stream is warmer in the summer, and harbors a decent population of mostly small bass, plus some catfish and sunfish. For fishing during the catch and keep season, not much beats a drifted cricket or nightcrawler. During the catch and release season, nymphs, small streamers and spinners properly equipped with barbless hooks can entice a strike. Other activities in the area include hunting in the National Forest in the higher elevations, and in the Auburn State Recreation Area during certain times of the year. Non-river fishing is available at Oxbow (trout fishing is pretty tough, the lake hasn’t been planted in years and has a big population of predatory squawfish), Clementine (mostly for bass, sunfish and catfish, with some trout possible), and during the summer and fall months at French Meadows and Hell Hole reservoirs when the snow melts. Auburn has bait and tackle, fuel, lodging, restaurants, etc., and Foresthill has a handful of small restaurants, tackle at Grant’s Hardware, a couple gas stations and an IGA grocery store. TRIP FACTS: SIZE/LOCATION: Winding some 25 miles from Folsom Lake to Oxbow Lake, the Middle Fork American River is on the west slope Sierra just south and east of the town of Auburn, about 45 miles from Sacramento. GAME & GAMEFISH: The Middle Fork has rainbow and brown trout, with some smallmouth bass, sunfish and catfish. There are hunting opportunities around for deer, bear, quail, turkey and squirrels in the National Forest lands in the higher elevations, and for those species minus bears in the Auburn State Recreation Area. FACILITIES: Parking and portable toilets are available at most access points described in the text. Camping is allowed at the Drivers Flat access. MORE INFORMATION: Willfish Tackle, (530) 887-0839. Auburn State Recreation Area, (530) 885-4527. |
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