Dave's Sierra Fishing

Fishing Herring Creek Reservoir

Tuolumne County, California

Herring Creek Reservoir Overview

Herring Creek Reservoir and its drainage, Herring Creek, offer good fishing in Tuolumne County, away from the popular destinations like Pinecrest Lake and Beardsley Reservoir. The open, safe shoreline of Herring Creek Reservoir and the easy access to both the lake and Herring Creek make it a great place to take the whole family for a day of fishing. Open spaces along the shoreline make it enjoyable for spin casting a fly fishing alike.

Herring Creek Reservoir has both rainbow and brook trout. At one time camping was allowed all along the road leading into the reservoir, but now most of the road has been closed and camping is only allowed in a small area far from the lake. As a result, Herring Creek Reservoir has seen a drop in visitors, making it a much more desirable destination for fishing. On my most recent trip to the area (July 7, 2010), no one was camping at the Herring Creek Reservoir Campground, and I had the lake to myself. Fish were rising on the northeastern side of the lake, anxious to take my #16 Adams.

Recommended Books for Fishing Herring Creek

• Fly Fishing the Sierra Nevada, Bill Sunderland. This 148-page book by fly-fishing author Bill Sunderland covers the entire Sierra Nevada, from Lake Almanor in the north to the Kern River drainage in the south, and details hundreds of rivers, streams and lakes that offer good trout fishing throughout the region.
• Sierra Trout Guide, Ralph Cutter. Undoubtedly the most thorough book on selecting the best flies for the various conditions in the Sierra. A great book on fishing techniques, equipment, and selecting the best places to fish.
• Spinner Fishing for Trout, Jeff Deitrich. THE how-to book on fishing for trout with spinners shows you how to find and take trout in all four seasons and all weather conditions and what to look for and how much to spend on rods, reels, spinners, and line.
• Trout: The Complete Guide to Catching Trout with Flies, Artificial Lures and Live Bait, John van Vliet. Here is everything you need to know to successfully choose the right presentation for any situation on the trout stream, including catching trout with flies, artificial lures and live bait.

Approach to Herring Creek Reservoir

Drive up Highway 108 in Tuolumne County 2.5 miles east of Strawberry to the Herring Creek Road turnoff. Herring Creek Road starts out as a good, paved road, but after 4.5 miles turns to dirt. It's somewhat bumpy, but good enough for any vehicle to travel. After going 7 miles from Highway 108, take the right-hand turn down the hill.

In a minute you will see a left-hand turn to Herring Creek Reservoir. Ignore it. Drive another hundred feet or more to the second turn, which is a much better road. Turn left onto that road. It will take you to the Herring Creek Reservoir Campground. Park within the campground. There are no fees.

On foot, follow the road east through the campground to a gate. Continue a little more than half a mile to Herring Creek Reservoir, which will appear on your right. You can fish along Herring Creek on your way into the lake. Parts of the bank have been designated to be restored, but all they ask is that you tred lightly.

In My Creel:

For fishing in Herring Creek I wanted to try my luck with bait, but once I reached Herring Creek Reservoir I switched gear and practiced my fly casting.

Accommodations and Supplies:

If you're looking for a place to stay, you can find lodging at Strawberry or Pinecrest or up the mountain at Dardanelle or Kennedy Meadows Resort. For standard motels you'll have to head down to Twain Harte.

There are two campgrounds close to Herring Creek Reservoir: Herring Creek Reservoir Campground and Herring Creek Campground. Neither facility has piped water. Both have vault toilets. There is no fee charged for either campground. To find Herring Creek Campground continue down the road you were on before you turned off for the reservoir (4N12). Herring Creek Campground is only a quarter mile away. Both campgrounds have attractive sites right next to Herring Creek. Camping is no longer allowed by Herring Creek Reservoir itelf.

For complete information about camping and fishing around Herring Creek and up and down Sonora Pass,
see Sonora Pass Vacations.

I checked through all my fishing gear at home during the off season and went on line with Orvis to order anything I needed. Still, there is always something I think of once I am on the road. Good places to stop for fishing tackle along the way are listed here:

• Rich and Sal's Sport shop, Pinecrest
• The Sportsman, 90 S. Washington, Sonora
• Mountain Liquors, 18711 Tiffeni Dr., Twain Harte
• Strawberry Store, Strawberry
• Dardanelle Store, Dardanelle
• Ken's Sporting Goods, Bridgeport

Sidetrips:

An interesting fishing sidetrip from Herring Creek is to head down to Waterhouse Reservoir. Follow the same road (4N12) 2 miles past Herring Creek Campground. Then turn right onto a side-road, following it about three-quarters of a mile to the trailhead. The hike is along a sometimes unimproved trail down to the lake. You descend almost a thousand feet. You can fish Waterhouse Reservoir for rainbow trout.