Markleeville Creek - Markleeville, CA

Markleeville Creek, traversing the eponymous town of Markleeville, California, is a significant and highly accessible small-stream trout fishery. This lotic system, characterized by a diverse morphology of pocket water, riffles, and plunge pools, supports populations of stocked Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and naturally reproducing wild Brown Trout (Salmo trutta). The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) regularly augments Rainbow Trout populations to ensure a consistent put-and-take fishery, while the more discerning wild Brown Trout necessitate a refined angling approach.

Angling methodologies are comprehensive. Conventional bait presentations and spin casting with diminutive lures are consistently efficacious for stocked trout. Fly fishing, however, is particularly effective, emphasizing precise, short-range presentations. Nymphing with imitative patterns (e.g., caddis, small mayfly) is consistently productive in turbulent and interstitial flows. Opportunistic dry fly presentations during active entomological hatches (e.g., Parachute Adams, Elk Hair Caddis) demand accurate, drag-free drifts in confined spaces. Optimal fishing periods span from late spring through autumn, aligning with the official trout season. Accessibility is excellent, facilitated by its urban location with numerous riparian access points. Anglers are unequivocally mandated to consult current CDFW regulations concerning bag limits and any area-specific gear restrictions, ensuring adherence to established conservation protocols for this Eastern Sierra trout resource.