WATER FLOWS /CLARITY East Fork Carson River, BELOW Hangman's Bridge

Water level, and the clarity of the water heavily influence the fishability of this river. When the river runs high and muddy, you might as well head for a tailwater stream (East Walker River, Little Truckee River), or fish a lake (Indian Creek Reservoir). The river normally varies from a high of 4,000 cfs (flood stage) to a low of around 50 cfs (barely a trickle during droughts). You can obtain the current water level from the USGS by clicking here, but before you do, here's what you need to understand:

WATER LEVELS IN CFS (Cubic Ft/Sec):

Water Level >1000 cfs

Unsafe! Do not attempt to wade; leave the river to the kayakers and rafters! It's basically unfishable at this level anyway, since the water will be muddy. If you must fish, use heavily weighted Black Wooly Buggers in the slack waters near shore, and keep your life insurance policy paid up!

Water Level >500 cfs, <1000 cfs:

Wade very carefully, wear a wading belt and fish with a buddy.The water will run from murky to clearing. Heavily weighted nymphs or Olive Buggers work, but the dry fly action will be sporadic.

Water Level >150 cfs, <500 cfs:

Normal level after Spring runoff, unless thunderstorms temporarily raise the level. This is where wading is easier and fishing gets good, with a variety of nymphs and dry flies.

Water Level >60 cfs, <150 cfs:

This is becoming "Low water", which means that the water is very clear and the fish are spooky. We see these levels in the Fall, and I usually don't wear waders when it's this low, preferring to stay out of the water so as not to spook the fish. Fish with small nymphs (#16-#20), #18 Adams or small midge emergers (#18-#22), and don't use tippets larger than 6X.

Water Level <60 cfs:

Extreme low water conditions. Time to consider the ethics of stressing fish (if you don't spook them first) under these exposed, low-food, low-oxygen conditions.

WATER CLARITY
This area was mined extensively for silver in the 1800s, so tailings piles and disturbed soils still muddy the waters after a thundershower. The andesite lava rock also degrades to a powdery substance which creates a fine clay silt in the river, reducing visibility. When the river "runs muddy" (regardless of level), it fishes poorly. A change in clarity for the worse can happen in a matter of hours, sometimes taking three or more days to clear up. The only way to know is to ask someone! (Please don't email me, since I live 30 miles from the river and can't see it). But here are some possibilities:

Tahoe FlyFishing Outfitters: (530) 541-8208 (So. Lake Tahoe)
Jim Crouse Guide Service: (530) 542-0759 (So. Lake Tahoe)
Carson River Resort: (530) 694-2229 (on the Upper East Carson River)
Alpine County Chamber of Commerce: (530) 694-2475 (in Markleeville)