California Fishing Reports ยท Sierra Region
The Merced flows through Yosemite Valley and down the canyon to El Portal, with wild rainbows and browns below some of the best scenery in the country.
Looking for the latest Merced River report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Merced River โ Yosemite and El Portal.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Merced River fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The Pohono Bridge gauge reads under 30 cfs, very low and clear.
Fish small nymphs in the deeper pools and keep your shadow off the water.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Yosemite and El Portal, bring: Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-18, Zebra Midge #18-20, Parachute Adams #16-18, Elk Hair Caddis #14-16, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Egg #14-16, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Merced River details
| Access | Pullouts in Yosemite Valley and along State Highway 140 toward El Portal. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 2,000 to 4,000 ft |
| Nearest town | El Portal, California |
| Best season | Summer and fall |
| Fish | Wild rainbow and brown trout |
| Regulations | Yosemite National Park has its own fishing rules on top of state rules. Check the California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations for the current rules. A California sport fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 5X to 6X tippet |
| Camping | Yosemite National Park campgrounds |
| Kids | Yes in the valley. |
| Good to know | Park entry fee. Very busy in summer. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Check the season.
Spring
Runoff.
Summer
Dries and caddis.
Fall
Low water.
How to get there
From Merced, take State Highway 140 east to El Portal and Yosemite Valley.