The Ecoangler Report – East Fork Carson River

THE ECOANGLER REPORT – EAST FORK CARSON RIVER

I. Overview of the Watershed The Carson River basin encompasses almost 4,000 square miles in California and Nevada. The Carson basin is east of Lake Tahoe and north of the Walker River. The Carson's headwaters are in the Sierra Nevada and flow eastward to drain into the marshes of the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge. Eventually the water terminates into the Carson Sink. Roughly eighty- five percent of the watershed lands are in Nevada. However, some of the prime wild trout water is located near the headwaters in California.

The East Fork drains the north slope of Sonora Peak (11,462 feet) and the east slope of Stanislaus Peak (11,220 feet) in part of the Carson- Iceberg Wilderness (Wolf Creek and Silver King area). The East Fork Carson River flows in a northerly direction for approximately 57 miles to the confluence with the West Fork. This report focuses on the East Fork of the Carson River as a destination for anglers interested in both native and wild trout.

The East Fork of the Carson between Hangman’s Bridge and the California /Nevada state line is included in California's Wild and Scenic River System. This segment is approximately 10 miles long and was designated as a catch and release area by the California Fish and Game (CAF&G) Commission in 1992 and special regulations apply.

Further upstream, near its headwaters, the East Fork from Carson Falls to its confluence with Wolf Creek is part of the original group of Wild Trout Streams designated by CAF&G in 1972. (Note: this group also included the Clavey River.)

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One final special designation by the Pacific Rivers Council in 1998 identified the East Fork as an Aquatic Diversity Area due to the presence of eight native fish species and the mountain yellow legged frog. The East Fork above Carson Falls, Murray Canyon, and Poison Flat Creeks were identified as Critical Refuges for Lahontan cutthroat trout.

II. River Segments of the Upper East Fork Carson For this report, the East Fork of the Carson is organized into four unique segments. Each of these segments is characterized by unique fisheries and access logistics. This report details the trout species and population data within each segment as well as the best access routes. The four unique segments are:

Stateline to Hangman’s Bridge - 10 miles

Hangman’s Bridge to Wolf Creek - 9 miles

Wolf Creek to Carson Falls - 14 mile long roadless segment only access via trail

Above Carson Falls - roadless segment reaching to the headwaters

Stateline to Hangman’s Bridge This segment was designated as a catch and release area by the California Fish and Game Commission in 1992. The 1997 flood severely impacted this segment. Banks were scoured, new channels were formed and old channels were re-established. The floodwaters shifted the reach below the USGS gauging station into a new channel and left the original channel dry. A snorkeling survey combined with personal communication and experience with other anglers confirms the fact that larger trout occupy several of the pools between Hangman’s Bridge and the USGS gauging station. This portion of the river is open to angling all year. Regulations require fishing only artificial lures with barbless hooks and a zero kill / zero bag limit is in place.

Hangman’s Bridge to Wolf Creek This segment is paralleled by Highway 89 and Highway 4 (i.e., extremely easy roadside access). According to CAF&G this is the most visible and heavily fished reach of the entire East Fork. Fisheries in the segment are primarily maintained by stocking catchable-size rainbow trout. Lawsuits filed against the state’s practice of planting hatchery trout are likely to change this practice over time.

Wolf Creek to Carson Falls This segment was in the original group of Wild Trout Streams designated by CAF&G in 1972. Good instream habitat, special fishing regulations, and the watershed’s remote and roadless character all contribute to a healthy population of rainbow trout in this segment. This segment also supports a population of native Lahontan cutthroats.

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Above Carson Falls This segment is accessible by trial upstream from the Soda Springs Guard Station or by dropping down from the Pacific Crest Trail through Golden Canyon. This is a fairly isolated segment and is managed as a refuge for Lahontan cutthroat trout and is closed to angling. The Lahontan population is one of the few remaining composed of the original strain of Carson River Lahontans.

III. Trout Species in the East Fork of the Carson River

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Historic distributions of Lahontan cutthroat trout in the Carson basin included most of the drainage downstream from Carson Falls on the East Fork and Faith Valley on the West Fork. Biologists estimated that about 400 miles of cold water stream habitat was occupied by these native cutthroat.

Small Lahontan populations exist today thanks to transplants into fishless tributaries above natural barriers in the upper East Fork drainage. Genetically pure populations of Lahontans are found in the East Fork drainage above Carson Falls, Murray Canyon Creek, Golden Canyon Creek and Poison Flat Creek. CAF&G planting records for 1939 and 1940 reveal that Murray Canyon Creek and the East Fork Carson River above Carson Falls was planted with hatchery reared fry (fish of Carson River origin produced from eggs collected from transplanted fish in Blue and Heenan lakes) The population in Golden Canyon Creek was planted in 1978 with transplants from Murray Canyon Creek. The exact origin of Lahontan in Poison Flat Creek is unknown. According to Dennis Lee of CAF&G these native cutthroats do reproduce in protected areas when they are the only species present.

US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) reports there are currently six self-sustaining populations with about 17 stream miles or 4.2% of their historical habitat on the Carson River, but lack any potential for a metapopulation. (Metapopulation refers to interconnected and interactive subpopulations which are less vulnerable to extinction from catastrophic events such as long term drought.)

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Paiute Cutthroat Trout Paiute cutthroat trout are thought to have been isolated from Carson River basin Lahontan cutthroat trout within the Silver King basin in post-glacial times, within the last eight to ten thousand years. A series of waterfalls exists within the Silver King Canyon which likely led to the isolation and divergence of Paiute from Lahontan cutthroat trout.

In 1912, Basque sheep herders introduced Paiute cutthroat trout into Silver King Creek above Llewellyn Falls (above their historic range). This early fish planting outside their native range was the salvation of the fish because rainbow, cutthroat, and golden trout were stocked below Llewellyn Falls during the 1920's. These later planted trout interbred, competed with, preyed upon, and quickly displaced the native Paiute cutthroat trout. By the time the Paiute trout were scientifically described in 1933 by J. O. Snyder, they were already completely displaced from their native range. Because Paiute cutthroat trout readily take a fly or lure, and due to concerns of over harvest by anglers, Silver King Creek above Llewellyn Falls was closed to fishing in 1934.

The Paiute cutthroat trout remain at risk as long as non-native trout exist below Llewellyn Falls. California Department of Fish and Game, in cooperation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Humboldt -Toiyabe National Forest, and Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board propose to restore Paiute cutthroat trout below Llewellyn Falls back to their native range. The ultimate goal is to recover the Paiute cutthroat trout to an abundance that will allow it to be delisted as a federally listed threatened species. The proposed project is to chemically treat the stream using rotenone to remove non-native trout from Silver King Creek and associated tributaries between Snodgrass Creek (Silver King Canyon) and Llewellyn Falls.

Rainbow Trout Rainbow trout have been established in the upper East Fork drainage through CAF&G and Alpine County stocking programs. The species was captured at 14 of the 15 sites monitored in the upper East Fork drainage and were present in 17 of 24 tributary streams sampled below Carson and Llewellyn Falls (source CAF&G 2004 publication). The tributary streams not containing rainbows either contained no fish at all or have populations of Lahontan or Paiute cutthroat.

The hook-and-line surveys showed a fairly high proportion of hatchery fish present throughout the entire reach from Hangman’s Bridge downstream to the Nevada State line. It appears that the hatchery rainbow trout stocked near and above Hangman’s Bridge move The EcoAngler Report – East Fork Carson River Page 4

downstream throughout the system. CAF&G’s Wild Trout Policy states that hatchery trout are not to be planted in designated Wild Trout waters. Although stocking occurs at or upstream of the Wild Trout designation (at Hangman’s Bridge), these hatchery fish move downstream and utilize the wild trout habitat.

IV. Stream Populations, Regulations, and Access River Segment Trout Trout per Mile Fishing Access (*) Regulations

Stateline to Brown Unknown All year. Only Highway 89 Bridge Hangman’s (Reference -Appendix artificial lures with (“Hangman’s Bridge Rainbow I for Summary of catch barbless hooks may Bridge”) – best rates, effort, and catch be used parking on South side per unit effort by angler from CDFG of Hangman’s. Hook and Line Survey) Restroom and trail access from this parking area. (1)

Hangman’s Brown Unknown Last Saturday in Multiple access Bridge to Wolf (Note – Both Alpine April to mid- points from Highway Creek Rainbow County and CDFG November 89 (south of stock this section with Hangman’s Bridge) rainbows.) and Highway 4

Wolf Creek to Brook 85 Last Saturday in Roadless segment Carson Falls April to mid- only access via trail. Brown 83 November See (2) below. Lahontan Unknown

Rainbow 418

Above Carson Lahontan 230 Closed to all Roadless segment Falls fishing all year only access via trail. See (2) below.

* Trout per Mile data is based on CDFG fish surveys with most recent data reported in 2008. Stocking trends have favored rainbow populations, but this data is a good indictor of the species ratios in each segment.

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(1) Directions to reach Hangman’s Bridge (Catch & Release Section):

(2) Directions for Wolf Creek to Carson Falls Segment:

From Sacramento - Drive east on U.S. 50 to the junction with Highway 89. Turn south on Highway 89 and drive over Luther Pass to the junction with Highway 88. Turn left and drive to Woodfords and Highway 89. Turn right onto Highway 89 and drive through the town of Markleeville. Continue past Markleeville to the junction with Hwy 4. Continue straight on Hwy 4 for 3 miles to Wolf Creek Rd. Turn left and cross Silver Creek bridge. Proceed up hill and the road will transition from paved to dirt. Before driving past the meadows proper you will see a sign on the left side of the road for E. Carson River Trail and High Trail Trailhead. Turn left and follow this road around the north end of the meadows and then over a ridge on the east side. You will see a sign at the fork in the road, after you cross over the ridge, which will direct you to the trailhead parking.

From Trailhead – The East Carson River Trail leads into the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness from this trailhead. The High Trail is also available from this starting point. The East Carson River Trail is an easier hike while slightly longer than the High Trail. There is a sign post at the first fork showing the East Carson River Trail to the left, the High Trail to the right. Continue along this clearly visible trail past Wolf Creek Lake. Stay right at the next fork to remain on the East Carson River Trail. This leg will bring you into the river segment below Carson Falls. This trail continues to follow the East Fork of the Carson River to Soda Springs guard station, Falls Meadow, Carson Falls and Golden Canyon.

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V. Area Map

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VI. High Trail Map – Trailhead to Carson Falls

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VII. Fishing Tackle

Gear requirements: • 4 wt. or 5wt. rod.

• 9 ft. leader in the 5X to 6X range. (3X for casting bigger streamers through pools)

• Floating line / Strike Indictor if nymphing

Fly Patterns:

Carson Falls downstream to Hangman’s Bridge • Elk Hair Caddis (tan / brown / size 14 to 18)

• Griffiths Gnat ( gray / size 18 to 20 )

• Parachute Adams (gray / size 16 to 20)

• Royal Wulff (size 16 to 18)

• Stimulator (yellow / orange / rust / size 12 to 16 )

• Bead Head Wire Wrapped Golden Stone (brown body / yellow wire / size 12 to 16 )

• Hare’s Ear Nymph (tan / brown / size 14 to 18)

• Bead Head Dark Lord (black body / gold ribbing / size 16 to 18)

Hangman’s Bridge to Stateline Each of the patterns listed above are affective along with the following:

• Copper John (red / size 18 to 20)

• Form Hoppers – fished mid to late Summer (yellow / tan / size 10 to 14)

• Pale Morning Dun patterns – if present (size 16 to 18)

• Pheasant Tail Nymph (green / size 20 to 22)

• Trico Dun and Spinner patterns – if present (size 22)

• Wooly Buggers - fish in deep pools ideally on sink tip line (black / brown / green / size 8 to 12)

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Appendix I On July 3, 2008, CDFG conducted a Hook and Line Survey as part of an initial reconnaissance of the East Fork Carson River below Hangman’s Bridge. Two anglers each fished for nine hours and caught a combined total of 36 coastal rainbow trout and three brown trout. This small sample comes to an average catch rate of 2.2 fish per hour.

Of these fish, 36 percent of the coastal rainbow trout and 100 percent of the brown trout were of wild origin. Of the 23 hatchery rainbow trout captured, all were 11 inches in length. The wild rainbow trout ranged in size from 6 to 15 inches in length.

During the August survey effort, CDFG anglers captured a total of 101 coastal rainbow trout, and four brown trout with an average catch per unit effort of 2.4 fish per hour.

The bar chart below breaks down the size (in length) of the trout caught during the Hook and Line Survey. The green bars represent wild trout whereas the blue bars represent hatchery trout. The data suggests that the hatchery trout represent the bulk of the trout larger than 10 inches.

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