Fish the Mokelumne by reach—not by river name
The Mokelumne changes from Sierra trout water to a regulated hydropower canyon, then to the salmon-and-steelhead river below Camanche Dam and finally into Delta-influenced water. Your legal season, fish limit and access plan can change simply by crossing a bridge or dam.
Where should you fish the Mokelumne River?
The Highway 49–Pardee reach supports wild rainbow and brown trout, with kokanee also documented near the Electra/Pardee reach.
EBMUD’s free Day Use Area has trails, picnic sites, ADA facilities and a fishing pier.
California restored a fuller Central Valley salmon season in 2026, but exact dates depend on the Mokelumne segment.
Anyone fishing for steelhead in inland anadromous water needs the CDFW Steelhead Report Card.
Woodbridge Irrigation District Dam to Lower Sacramento Road bridge is closed to all fishing all year.
One river, six very different fishing decisions
Which Mokelumne reach are you actually fishing?
Pick the closest regulatory segment. This tool summarizes the main trip decision; the current CDFW regulation still controls.
Start by choosing your river segment
If you cannot identify the correct regulatory boundary yet, do not decide what fish to keep. Use the access table and map below first.
Chinook fishing returned with a fuller Mokelumne season in 2026
The California Fish and Game Commission adopted new Central Valley sport fishing regulations in May 2026. The approved regulation became effective July 15, 2026. CDFW described 2026 as a full-season return on the Mokelumne compared with the shortened 2025 opportunity.
Camanche Dam → Elliott Road
The approved 2026 rule provides a Chinook window running July 16 through October 15.
Current Central Valley tributary Chinook limit: 2 daily, 4 in possession.
Elliott Road → WID Dam
Includes Lodi Lake. The approved 2026 rule provides Chinook fishing July 16 through October 15.
2 daily; 4 in possession.
Lower Sacramento Road → mouth
The lower defined Mokelumne segment carries the longer 2026 Chinook window through December 16.
2 daily; 4 in possession.
Mokelumne River fishing regulations by section
| River section | Main season / rule | Fish to watch | Field action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Above Highway 49 bridge | CDFW’s Mokelumne fishery report describes this upper section as open from the last Saturday in April through November 15. | Rainbow trout, brown trout and upper-river trout fisheries. | Verify the exact tributary/mainstem rule in CDFW’s current Freshwater Regulations Map before fishing. |
| Highway 49 bridge → Pardee Reservoir | CDFW’s river fishery report describes a year-round trout framework with a standard 5-trout daily / 10-trout possession limit. | Wild rainbow trout, brown trout; kokanee documented around the Electra/Pardee reach. | Check PG&E flow information before entering the water near hydropower-influenced reaches. |
| Camanche Dam → Elliott Road | Fishing season at EBMUD’s Day Use Area: Jan. 1–Mar. 31 and fourth Saturday in May–Oct. 15. 2026 Chinook: July 16–Oct. 15. | Hatchery steelhead/trout and fall-run Chinook. | Hatchery trout/steelhead retention is tightly limited; carry a Steelhead Report Card if targeting steelhead. |
| Elliott Road → Woodbridge Irrigation District Dam | Includes Lodi Lake. Current 2026 approved text provides Chinook fishing July 16–Oct. 15. | Hatchery steelhead/trout and Chinook. | Confirm the exact hatchery-fish rule before retaining trout/steelhead. |
| CLOSED ALL YEAR | No fishing. | Move outside the closed reach before casting. | |
| Lower Sacramento Road bridge → mouth | Defined lower Mokelumne reach; 2026 Chinook season extends July 16–Dec. 16. | Chinook, hatchery steelhead/trout and Delta-influenced species. | Verify the precise lower-boundary definition around Highway 160, Highway 12 and tributary sloughs. |
Trout, steelhead & salmon: which Mokelumne are you fishing?
Wild rainbow trout
CDFW fishery work documents wild rainbow trout in the reach below Electra Powerhouse and above Pardee Reservoir.
This is not a “freshly stocked roadside trout stream” plan. CDFW’s fish files cited in its Mokelumne report indicate historic planting through 2008, with no CDFW recreational stocking in the river after that point in the reviewed record.
Brown trout
Brown trout are also documented in the Electra-to-Pardee system, making the upper canyon a fundamentally different trip from the hatchery-supported lower river.
Think reach selection, river flow and access first—not hatchery truck timing.
Steelhead trout
The Mokelumne River Hatchery raises steelhead for release into the river below Camanche Reservoir.
Wild/adipose-intact fish and hatchery fish are not interchangeable under anadromous regulations. Learn fish identification before retention.
Chinook salmon
Mokelumne River Hatchery raises fall-run Chinook. CDFW says adult Central Valley fall-run fish generally migrate upstream from summer into late fall, with stream-specific timing.
2026 retention dates are reach-specific and shown above.
Kokanee
EBMUD fisheries material documents kokanee associated with Pardee, with evidence of fish ascending the Mokelumne above Pardee to spawn near the Electra Powerhouse area.
Warmwater & migratory species
OEHHA’s lower-river advisory includes species such as American shad, black bass, catfish, striped bass, Chinook and steelhead, showing why the lower Mokelumne is not simply a “trout river.”
Camanche Dam Day Use Area fishing calendar
EBMUD keeps the recreation area itself open sunrise to sunset year-round, but fishing within this lower-river area follows a narrower season.
Fish
Fish
Fish
Closed*
4th Sat+
Fish
Fish
Fish
Fish
to 15
Closed
Closed
*Fishing is closed after March 31 until the fourth Saturday in May. The park remains a recreation area even while fishing is closed.
Useful Mokelumne River access points
Mokelumne River Day Use Area
At the base of Camanche Dam, about 15 miles east of Lodi off Highway 12.
Most practical lower-river starting point for visitors who want facilities and a clearly managed access area.
Lower Middle Bar BTAF
Middle Bar Road, Mokelumne Hill, CA 95252.
Useful for anglers planning the Highway 49 / Middle Bar portion of the upper river.
Big Bar River Access
Big Bar Road, Mokelumne Hill, CA 95252.
Highway 49 is also an important fishing-regulation boundary, so know which side of the bridge you are fishing.
Devils Nose Put-in
Salt Springs Reservoir Road, West Point, CA 95255.
This is a more consequential flow-planning location than an easy family fishing stop.
Mokelumne River Hatchery: understand the fishery before you fish it
Visitor information
When fish are easiest to observe
CDFW lists approximately mid-October through late December for Chinook spawning activity and December through March for steelhead spawning.
Calling first is sensible if the purpose of your visit is to watch active spawning operations rather than simply tour the facility.
Electra is a fishing reach and a hydropower reach
PG&E manages hydroelectric facilities in the Mokelumne system. Its 2026 recreation notice specifically warns that Electra flows can vary with generation and that flow forecasts are not guaranteed.
209-602-7728
Check the flow before wading—not after you reach mid-channel. A recreational flow release, generation change or rain/snowmelt condition can make yesterday’s crossing plan irrelevant.
What paperwork do you need on the Mokelumne?
A California sport fishing license is generally required for anyone age 16 or older fishing the river unless a specific exemption applies.
California’s 365-day licenses run for 365 days from purchase rather than expiring on a universal December 31 date.
CDFW’s 2026 resident 365-day sport fishing license fee.
Required for every person fishing for steelhead in inland anadromous waters—even anglers who otherwise do not need a base license.
Steelhead-card field routine
- Before fishing: record the month, day and CDFW location code on the report card.
- If a hatchery steelhead is retained: record it immediately as required.
- When you stop or change location codes: record released wild/hatchery steelhead and hours fished.
- Return/report the card: CDFW requires reporting even if you did not catch a steelhead.
The full reporting workflow, replacement rules and deadlines are explained in this site’s California fishing report card guide .
Lower Mokelumne and Lodi Lake have specific OEHHA fish advisories
Legal-to-keep and recommended-to-eat are separate questions. California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has site-specific guidance for the Lower Mokelumne River and Mokelumne River at Lodi Lake.
Lodi Lake example
OEHHA’s current Lodi Lake page includes separate advice for rainbow trout, Chinook salmon, steelhead, black bass, striped bass, sturgeon and other fish.
Advice differs for women ages 18–49/children ages 1–17 and for women 50+/adult men.
Do not transfer the advice upstream
A Lodi Lake or Lower Mokelumne advisory should not automatically be treated as the consumption rule for an upper Sierra trout reach. Match the advisory to the exact waterbody and population group.
Three practical Mokelumne fishing plans
1. Wild-trout canyon day
Focus on the Highway 49–Pardee / Electra system. Check the exact freshwater regulation, river access and PG&E flow before choosing a wading route.
- Target: rainbow/brown trout
- Priority: flow + access
- Avoid assuming recent stocking
- Carry offline regulation screenshot
2. Easy Camanche lower-river day
Start at EBMUD’s Mokelumne River Day Use Area for the clearest facilities and orientation.
- Free day use
- Sunrise–sunset
- ADA fishing pier
- Hatchery immediately nearby
- Seasonal fishing closure still applies
3. 2026 Chinook plan
Identify the lower-river regulation segment first, then check the current CDFW rule immediately before departure.
- Camanche→Elliott: through Oct. 15
- Elliott→WID Dam: through Oct. 15
- Closed middle section: no fishing
- Lower Sac Rd→mouth: through Dec. 16
If you’re comparing Central Valley river salmon/steelhead rules, this Sacramento River salmon and trout field guide is useful for understanding how California uses bridge-to-bridge regulation sections on another major Central Valley system.
Start with Camanche Dam, then match the rule to your downstream or upstream reach
Watch the Mokelumne salmon story before fishing below Camanche
This EBMUD video follows the Chinook salmon life cycle and Mokelumne River Hatchery. It is relevant because the hatchery and lower-river fishery are directly connected to the Camanche Dam access area discussed above.
Video: “Meet Your Watershed: Mokelumne River Salmon Story” • EBMUD • published February 16, 2021.
Mokelumne River trip checklist
- Name your exact reach. Highway 49, Pardee, Camanche Dam, Elliott Road, WID Dam, Lower Sacramento Road and the mouth are not interchangeable.
- Verify today’s CDFW rule. Check the current freshwater map/regulation after reading this guide.
- Carry the right license. Anglers 16+ generally need a California sport fishing license.
- Add the Steelhead Report Card if steelhead is the target. This requirement applies even to anglers otherwise exempt from the base license.
- Check PG&E flow before wading the upper hydropower reaches. Call 209-602-7728 for current Mokelumne flow information.
- Confirm access status. Public access does not guarantee every adjacent road, trail or bank is open.
- Save the rule offline. Cell coverage can be inconsistent in canyon reaches.
- If keeping fish, check OEHHA. Match consumption guidance to the exact lower-river/Lodi location.
How to verify the Mokelumne River rule before you cast
- Open CDFW’s Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations. Use the current booklet or interactive regulation map—not an old screenshot.
- Search “Mokelumne River.” Do not stop at the first result.
- Match both boundaries. Example: “Camanche Dam to Elliott Road” rather than simply “lower river.”
- Separate salmon from trout/steelhead. They can have different open dates and retention limits on the same reach.
- Check current regulatory notices. Confirm there has not been a later emergency or in-season action.
- Save the final rule. Keep an offline copy for the specific reach you plan to fish.
Mokelumne errors that can ruin an otherwise legal trip
WID Dam to Lower Sacramento Road bridge is not an open transit-style fishing segment.
Upper lower-river sections close Oct. 15 while the defined downstream reach extends later in 2026.
The card is separate from the base fishing license.
That card applies to Smith/Klamath/Trinity systems, not general Central Valley salmon.
CDFW’s river fishery material documents wild trout and says historic catchable-trout planting in the reviewed river record ended in 2008.
Hydropower operation can change the river. Check PG&E flow information first.
Who to call when a Mokelumne detail is unclear
Hatchery visits, spawning activity and facility information.
Day Use Area, Sierra foothill recreation and watershed-access questions.
Real-time Mokelumne hydropower/recreation flow information.
Fish-consumption advisory questions.
Official sources used to build this Mokelumne guide
The practical information is already explained above. Use these links as the final verification layer when the trip date, exact reach or regulation matters.
Fishing questions to answer before leaving home
Is the Mokelumne River open for fishing year-round?
Not everywhere. The Highway 49-to-Pardee trout reach is described by CDFW as year-round water, while the river above Highway 49 uses a seasonal trout framework. Below Camanche Dam, seasons vary by regulatory reach. The Woodbridge Irrigation District Dam to Lower Sacramento Road bridge section is closed to all fishing all year.
Can I fish for Chinook salmon in the Mokelumne River in 2026?
Yes, in specified open reaches. The 2026 Central Valley regulations provide Chinook fishing beginning July 16. Camanche Dam to Elliott Road and Elliott Road to Woodbridge Irrigation District Dam run through October 15, while the defined lower reach from Lower Sacramento Road bridge to the mouth extends through December 16.
What is the 2026 Mokelumne River Chinook salmon limit?
The adopted 2026 Central Valley tributary rule establishes a daily Chinook bag limit of two fish and a possession limit of four fish in the applicable open Mokelumne sections. Always recheck the current regulation before fishing.
Where is an easy place to access the lower Mokelumne River?
EBMUD’s Mokelumne River Day Use Area at the base of Camanche Dam is a practical managed access point. It is free, open sunrise to sunset, and has picnic areas, an ADA-accessible restroom, trail and fishing pier. Fishing itself is seasonal.
Where should I fish for trout on the Mokelumne?
CDFW fisheries material documents wild rainbow and brown trout in the upper mainstem between the Electra Powerhouse area and Pardee Reservoir. The correct season depends on whether you are above or below the Highway 49 bridge boundary.
Is the Mokelumne River stocked with trout?
CDFW’s Mokelumne fishery report says the river historically received trout plants from 1930 through 2008 and that the reviewed CDFW fish files showed no recreational river stocking after 2008. The Electra-to-Pardee reach supports wild rainbow and brown trout, so do not plan this trip as if it were a regularly stocked roadside water.
Do I need a Steelhead Report Card on the Mokelumne River?
Yes if you are fishing for steelhead in the anadromous reaches. CDFW requires every steelhead angler to carry the report card, including people who may otherwise be exempt from buying a base sport fishing license.
Do I need a North Coast Salmon Report Card for Mokelumne Chinook?
No. California’s North Coast Salmon Report Card applies to salmon fishing in the Smith River System and Klamath-Trinity River System. It is not a general salmon report card for the Mokelumne River.
Why should I check PG&E flows before fishing the upper Mokelumne?
The upper river is influenced by hydroelectric operations. PG&E notes that flow at reaches including Electra can vary with generation and that forecasts are not guaranteed. Wading conditions can therefore change even when weather at your access point looks stable.
Can I eat trout or salmon caught from the Mokelumne River?
Check the exact location. OEHHA publishes site-specific fish-consumption advice for the Lower Mokelumne River and Mokelumne River at Lodi Lake. Advice varies by fish species and population group. A legal harvest limit is not the same thing as an eating recommendation.
Pick your bridge-to-bridge reach before you pick your bait
- Choose the exact Mokelumne section.
- Check the current CDFW regulation for that section.
- Confirm your license and Steelhead Report Card if applicable.
- Check PG&E flow if fishing the upper hydropower reaches.
- Confirm access before driving.
- Save the rule and map offline.
- Check OEHHA if the fish is going home for dinner.
Reviewed . Fishing regulations can change through Commission action, emergency regulation, in-season action or access closure. Current official rules control.
californiafishinglicense.website is an independent educational website. It does not issue fishing licenses and is not the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.