Directions
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 throught the town of Markleeville. Proceed six miles and the river will come into view below the road and to the right. Access from the highway and just pass the first bridge that crosses the river (called Hangman's Bridge and pictured to the right).
From Stockton Take Highway 4 east over Ebbetts Pass (Warning: this stretch is long, narrow, and curvy) to the juntion with Highway 89. Turn left. The river will be in view to the left. Plently of direct access is available along Highway 89.
The Carson River
The Carson River basin encompasses almost 4,000 square miles in California and Nevada. The Carson basin is south 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 trout water is located near the headwaters in California.
Wild and Scenic - the East Fork
A portion of the east fork, from the town of Markleeville downstream to the state line, is included in California's wild and scenic river system. Some of the upper segments (e.g., below Hangman's bridge) are designated as wild-trout waters and special regulations apply. Please refer to California DFG's Regulations for further details. As with other high elevation streams, it's important to know the current and prior flows when fishing the East Fork of the Carson River.
Trout Species
The East Fork is primarily stocked with rainbow trout in the 8 to 12 inch class. Over the past three to five years, the hold overs from the earlier plants have grown nicely with several rainbows holding in larger pools over 20 inches.
