Fishing INCREDIBLE Streams in Yosemite National Park! (Tenkara Fly Fishing)

In this video I fish two of the most popular streams in the infamously beautiful Yosemite National Park.
DATE FILMED: Late June 2021
LOCATION: California
GEAR USED
** SEE MORE INFO ABOUT MY FLIES AND GEAR HERE: tenkaraaddict....
** ROD: Daiwa Sagiri 45 MC
** LINES: 13-foot level line (#3.5) with a few feet of tippet
** FLY: Size 12 black and gold kebari and Idaho killer kebari
** NET: Medium Measure Net with rubberized net bag
OTHER LINKS
** Instagram (@TenkaraAddict): / tenkaraaddict​​​​​​
** My main KZbin channel (SUVRVing): / suvrving​​​​​​
** My other store: KamchatkaGear.com​​​​​​
#tenkara​​​​​​ #fishing​​​​​​ #flyfishing

[@TenkaraAddict]

Thanks for watching! Be sure to follow me on Instagram if you haven't already: instagram.com/TenkaraAddict/ -Tristan

[@harleyeckles]

Your video brought back many great memories of fishing Yosemite for over 60 years. I am now a quadriplegic, so no more fly fishing. My biggest trout ever was a 7 1/2 pound brown trout taken from the Merced in the valley in around 1995. I'm not sure of the year, because we went 2 or 3 times a year. There was a huge submerged tree trunk in a bend in the river on its side, making a great place for it to hide. I wasted many years fishing, but rarely catching, using spinners. That changed when I watched two young military men with fly rigs get their limits in about an hour after I had spent a few hours using spinners unsuccessfully.

[@imoqtz3332]

What flies are good out there? I'm 14 and just started fly fishing , would make my year if I could hook a big brown.

[@harleyeckles]

That was many years ago. i only remember I used floating line and flies. The flies I used had a little bit of red in the wing feathers. There was a store in Curry Village that had fly fishing equipment. One of the guys working in the store gave me good advice on which flies to purchase for the season and weather..they did work. He was very secretive about where HE fished. Although I caught the big brown trout near the upper part of the Merced in the valley, I caught the most fish at the west part of the valley.

[@wyofishing1912]

@@imoqtz3332 I'm not from around there I'm from wyoming but from my experience big streamers or nymphing in deep plunge pool or log jams in rivers you know have big fish should do ok do research on local rivers and a youtube channel I would recommend is new fly fisher they have all the basics you would need hophly this was helpful to you

[@free_by_night2872]

What area you from in California? You not too far from Twain harte?

[@bssaassin1900]

Small panther martins are successful trout lures but they only catch the most aggressive fish and from personal experience you only get so many chances in a pool to fool one on a spinner before they loose interest. Flies and natural baits will keep them interested but in some cases a panther martin catches me the biggest trout of the day while other times it is a fly.

[@nostrilnick]

I haven't been to Yosemite for about 25 years. It is probably the most breathtaking piece of mother earth I have ever seen.

[@jklep523]

I’ve done backpacking and fishing in Yosemite, awesome, tons of fun. Rattlesnakes ALL over the place, especially on sunny rocks by those quiet pools.I’d be wearing gaiters in that situation.

[@elbertgarrett9909]

A little slice of paradise for sure, I would never tire of fishing those beautiful little pools...

[@TheKrisg50]

Yosemite is my favorite place I’ve been. Your video really brought it to life. Thanks.

[@TenkaraAddict]

It's a fantastic place, for sure. Thanks for watching.

[@farnorthpicker56]

-40C here this morning in northern Canada and we have 8’ snow banks in our yard. It sure was great to watch your videos and try to remember what a trout stream looks like! Thanks for taking us along😊👍

[@jameswebb9738]

This sure brings back memories for me. I lived and worked there for 6 years and lived on the meadow and when I opened my front door Half Dome was my view. I used to fish all the time during the summer when I was there. When the road opens to the east side my favorite lake was Saddlebag and I always caught 10-30 every time. Catch and release unless someone from the valley asked me to bring them some. It’s only a few months window to fish the high country lakes and streams and I took full advantage of it. Thank you for sharing!!

[@RT-gv6us]

Brings back great memories of when I lived in CA. In this video you called catching the three trout species the "trifecta". Next time you are in CA if you have time to hike into the John Muir Wilderness you can try your luck at what is called the "Grand Slam" of the Sierras (Rainbow, Brook, Brown, and Golden). I backpacked a LOT of miles in the John Muir and caught all 4 species, but never from the same creek or lake (although I know guys who were better fishermen than me that did). I don't miss much about CA but I do miss the Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains. A true national treasure.

[@jimpyle560]

Really enjoyed the scenery and beautiful fish.

[@TenkaraAddict]

Thanks Jim, I'm glad you liked it.

[@philipcallicoat3801]

I have been blessed to have spent time there... Besides the natural beauty, the water in the river was freezing cold in July....🌹

[@John-ve3gg]

What an amazingly beautiful place to fish and especially when the catching is so good and all different species of trout! Amazing! Thank you for sharing your adventures!

[@artvandely7159]

Spent a week camping and fly fishing in Yosemite a couple years ago and it was amazing. Caught 30 Brookes in several hours working Wolf Creek by the closed campground that shares its name. First day there I got a Yosemite grand slam, brownie, Brooke, rainbow and a bear that came up to me while I was fishing a little pool. Luckily he was on the other side of the small stream but he could smell all the fish on me from my great day. In the altitude you won't find much size but some of the most colorful trout. I am dreaming of when I can make it back.

[@rick91443]

55 years ago in those same rivers...Thanks for the memories....cheers...rr Normandy, France

[@stevewalcott9546]

What a beautiful river! Love those large spotted darker rainbows!

[@TenkaraAddict]

Me too, those were beautiful fish. Thanks Steve.

[@Ingvaaar1]

What a gorgeous river in an unbelivable beautyful scenery

[@mikeroll9868]

Beautiful fishing. I just got into fly fishing after visiting the Kern River. It is pretty nice especially the wild section on the upper end.

[@imjuslooking7270]

Great video and yes, beautiful trout in the Sierras. Reminds me I need to go fishing soon.

[@kimandrew3095]

You’ve made me realize that I’ve have been limiting my possibilities by passing up what I would consider questionable spots.Trifecta fishing with the Tenkara 👍🏻🐟

[@jeffkwak2190]

When I was a kid I would see a puddle of water and think, "I bet I could catch a bluegill in there" 😁

[@kimandrew3095]

@@jeffkwak2190 I was a weird little kid who actually fished in my neighborhood gutter substituting leaves for fish 😁 I have always loved fishing and don’t get to enough. Your videos allow me a diversion to reality.

[@peters7025]

I am so envious. What a fantastic place to fish.

[@TenkaraAddict]

It really was. Thanks for watching.

[@connorhurley9652]

Bought my first tenkara rod today because of you. All the way from australia

[@TenkaraAddict]

Awesome! Have fun with it 👍

[@ReversePeople]

Great vid. Thanks so much for taking the time to share.

[@TenkaraAddict]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaelsmith7193]

What beautiful rivers and fish! The Sagiri looks like it was the ideal rod for that setting. Once again, thank you for sharing these wonderful outings!

[@TenkaraAddict]

It was a perfect rod for this. Man I love that rod!

[@michaeltichonuk2176]

I've always thought of Yosemite as being packed so never considered it for fishing. Or hiking. You certainly have caused me to pause and rethink it .... Definitely a beautiful stream and great day catch'n!

[@michaeltichonuk2176]

@@fayemarshall2254 no doubt. Still, Tristan has demonstrated repeatedly that within these parks one can still find locations/trails that can provide what I at least seek. Well done Tristan. Again.

[@TenkaraAddict]

No, it wasn't. There are ways to avoid crowds in Yosemite if you know what you're doing.

[@davidmagann6036]

Normally this time of year those streams would be roaring. This year's epic drought and zero snow pack has taken its toll.

[@chikinawk844]

I fished the Merced and Bear Creek where Bear Creek flows into the Merced at Briceburg back in the 1960s. The most awesome fishing back in those days. Thanks for showing this one.

[@hikesteepfishhigh]

i spent two weeks this summer in the yosemite backcountry. i hiked into the merced lake highcamp and base camped. from there you can do day hikes to washburn, babcock, and emeric lakes. the fishing is incredible there. tons of brooks in the lakes especially washburn lake which is the easiest to get too had the most fish and there are wild rainbows in the merced creek between washburn and merced lakes. you can access merced lake via several trail heads but i reccomend starting at tenaya lake and dropping down via echo canyon to merced and then exit via happy isles in yosemite. you can take a shuttle back to your car at tenaya lake.

[@LukeAndersson1]

What a beautiful location! Fish or not, just awesome.

[@robertperman8967]

Beautiful area. Lots of pools!!!

[@bennywikago3705]

your consistency is amazing man. so happy to catch up on your videos

[@TenkaraAddict]

Thanks Benny!

[@johnd5643]

Wow. Just, wow.

[@TenkaraAddict]

Glad you liked it!

[@richmel6245]

What a day...beautiful.

[@nolansfilms3512]

I really liked the big rocks so pretty

[@jackrinderer7916]

I love this video and of course all of the others . If you need an idea for a new video maybe try tanago and other Japanese fishing methods

[@TenkaraAddict]

The problem with tanago is finding a place with fish that small! I'm not opposed to tanago, but keiryu doesn't interest me.

[@williestew68]

Fished the River Coe on the tenkara in Glencoe, Scotland yesterday. It hasn't rained for far too long...but there was enough pockets of water to make it productive 😁 The Coe looks so similar to your video location 😊

[@TenkaraAddict]

Sounds like a great place to fish! Thanks for watching.

[@hopehealsinternationalmini4291]

What a beautiful place. Thanks for inspiring me to try Tenkara!

[@TenkaraAddict]

Thanks for watching!

[@jjboyd01]

That place is amazing.

[@reggiebald2830]

Last year, but welcome back to the Sierras & Yosemite! Congrats on your trifecta, too! Perfect name for you btw, "Idaho Killer"! At least while you're still in Idaho & Tenkara fishing!

[@tenkaragenki]

Yosemite is a special place! Looks like you found a great spot! Beautiful video!

[@TenkaraAddict]

Yep, I had a great time. Thanks for watching!

[@markgunnell2149]

Beautiful, and grest fishing. Thanks for sharing type of fly and color and size each video. Thanks

[@leemowers9395]

Beautiful area, nice fishing, trifecta complete, thanks Tristan for sharing.

[@frankkawasaki3082]

Tristan: Isn't it nice and a pleasure to flyfish/Tenkara an "open area" non-brushy area for a change?

[@mr.smithgnrsmith7808]

Dude that’s one of my dreams to fish in that park. Awesome man, thanks for the content, God bless

[@komonoturi]

Oh, my God! Wonderful.👍👍

[@TenkaraAddict]

It really was! Thanks for watching.

[@chikinawk844]

We used to call it TROUT HUNTING because of the clarity of the water and the boulders made it fairly difficult. The fish could see you as you approach a hole.

[@Mountainjock4ever]

I'm very familiar with the Merced River where you were initially fishing in the beginning. Where was the other stream you were fishing towards the end of the video?

[@lucasmontjoy2700]

I’ve been to Yosemite before and if you go to one of the rivers that feed from a waterfall than you can scoop up water and it will be as clear if not clearer than water you would buy from a store

[@fload46d]

My kind of guy. I love fishing those small streams but the best is the lakes in CA and CO.

[@friendlyfff2155]

Welcome to Yosemite - beautiful High Country, crystal-clear streams - and some pretty nice fish !! :-)

[@carlstritzinger6724]

I have packed into many of the lakes in Yosemite. The best was in an area called Pleasant Valley. It takes a good day of hard hiking to get there and there are several excellent lakes there. One on the top of a mountain has the remains of a WWII bomber scattered across the mountain and the lake did not show on my map. The fishing there was absolutely fantastic and I could catch 20--30 fish with no problem. One warning is that along the river and rocky outcrops there are many diamond back rattlers. The river has formed many bathside holes in the rocks and makes it very nice for a place to get cleaned up and soap awhile. The Touleme River also has some nice fish but mostly in the 6-10" size.

[@TenkaraAddict]

Sounds like a great place to fish!

[@superduper9420]

Beautiful Creek.

[@cynthiafritzsupport3990]

Beautiful place to visit and get relaxed

[@kc195556]

Exhilaratingly gorgeous

[@bassbumchannel3351]

Nice video! Someday I hope I fish trout there with Tenkara.

[@tnfishing9089]

Such a freaking cool video bro! I subbed!

[@davidsubiaruiz1904]

I've fished wawonna streams while camping and nailed it in Brooks all day on stoneflies natural live native bait

[@mikewilson8646]

I'm surprised you caught brookies there. I usually only find them around 7k feet and above in that general area. That's a good sign of a healthy stream.

[@richmon9159]

Nice video👍🏻 You need to fish the Stanislaus and Tuolumne Rivers… Basically, the same area 😃

[@briancook4248]

The advantages of tenkara are pretty cool even tho I don’t prefer it. You picked that shallow water apart like a surgeon nice work

[@tomfowler8389]

Awesome video!

[@DylanWOWilliams]

Tenkara… you got me again! It’s been at least a year and a half since I accidentally clicked.

[@jameseldridge4185]

for native brooktrout fish the Sournahunk stream in Baxter State Park in Maine - same granite bedrock with clear, pure cold water

[@jeffkwak2190]

I just got this video in my recommendations and was thinking, "Damb, that dude looks just like the guy from SUV RVing" 🤔😁 Good to know you are a fisherman too. 😁👍 I'm subscribed 😃

[@unclearthur9192]

G'Day, Always enjoy your videos. Beautiful water. Such crystal clear water. Some of those large spotted rainbows were interesting. I've caught similar looking trout here in OZ and wondered if they have been rainbow/brown trout hybrids. Whatever trout get up to in the privacy of their own stream is their own business! Glad to see that you are free to get out and fish. Here in Victoria, OZ the streams are closed for trout fishing until early September and we have had another strict lockdown imposed on us--hopefully it will be lifted before the start of the new season. If not, I'll continue to enjoy your fishing. Thanks for that. Cheers, Steve.

[@kylereive3670]

Beautiful place, great video. Thanks for this!

[@Pwrcritter]

Pretty place. Must get fished pretty consistently..

[@TenkaraAddict]

Yeah, I think both places I fished get a lot of pressure. Still had a great time, though.

[@markvanderstelt8999]

not as much as you guys think for the amount of people who visit the park you dont see to many fishing most are hiking and just camping and if you go into the backcountry of Yosemite you hardly see anyone fishing .

[@chuckgmanleyphotos7197]

Always amazing to see fish in YNP rivers/streams. Back in the early 90’s I watched fish and game walk the Merced upriver through the valley counting fish. Hundreds. Some of the back country streams had a limit of 11 per person, just needed a shiny hook with limit caught in 20 minutes. Mostly fryers however 20 miles in great eating.

[@lambertsaldi1550]

Nice footage 👍 👌 thanks for sharing The Vermonter

[@funnygum1]

You should go to sequoia and kings canyon national park

[@TenkaraAddict]

I'd like to, for sure

[@hobbitcorner9811]

Tristan, love the videos one suggestion I would make is could you please say what flies you're using, are they mostly dry flies ?

[@thatplace1]

Learning to fish and repeat customer at Yosemite so will try that stream this summer. Thanks for the inspiration. New Sub.

[@RustyX2010]

I was there a few months back and the place was so crowded with people everywhere! People were in the water swimming,cooling off,etc. I tried to fish at the Yosemite Valley View parking area but there were too many people taking pictures.

[@clydeshope6942]

Would love to see some more of your videos

[@brian1204]

Such a beautiful stream!

[@Dentspeed]

That is such beautiful territory! I live in E. Tn and fish in the Smoky Mountains. What an incredible difference in beauty.

[@stephenplant6503]

I have to ask... the hat you regularly wear looks like a US Forest Service or Park Service emblem. Do you work for them? Loved your Yosemite video. Just got invited to a wedding to be held there next June. Timely. Thanks

[@alexanderdragomirov7051]

Amazing place and video. What action camera do you use.

[@TenkaraAddict]

Thanks! GoPro Hero7 Black

[@raulpacheco2147]

Have you tried fishing for trout in the San diego mountains try the San Luis rey river I've caught a 3LB. Rain Bow trout there good luck.

[@markvanderstelt8999]

the Merced river that runs through the park has some nice fish in it much larger then the ones you are catching and the lower river that winds out of the park has Great small mouth bass fishing .

[@barrybruckner4334]

headed that way today with new tenkara rod

[@MrRourk]

Good Luck Hope you have some San Juan Worms. I always do good with those.

[@TenkaraAddict]

Have fun!

[@carlstritzinger6724]

Tenkara, just be prepared for a long hike. There are so many switchbacks going down into the vallley of the Touleme and dont take shortcuts, to dangerous. Going up the other side is the same. You will begin to hate them on the return trip. Have fun if you go and do take some pics for KZbin.

[@johntrott1872]

Ten lakes a great place to fish years ago they use to be stocked

[@jamesadventuresnearfarphil5609]

You should try Wyoming kaycee then out 191 then turn on 190 towards the hole in the wall

[@lamt99]

You have a video how to setup to catch the trout, you make it look so easy…

[@Huge4Fish]

Heading there in June

[@Robert-fs1pb]

I like to fish for tiger trout,and golden it interest me that their are 120 different species in California alone though.

[@HolyFire333]

Beautiful stream

[@BraydenZ12]

Headed out this Sunday… I’m staying at housekeeping and can’t go super far… where should I go and what bait should I use?

[@stevebutton4112]

As an Englishman, this has to be my dream holiday

[@geneg5870]

What rod were you using in this video? Just an amazing place to fish btw👍🎣

[@TenkaraAddict]

The rod, line, flies, etc. are always listed in the video description. This was a Daiwa Sagiri 45 MC.

[@geneg5870]

@@TenkaraAddict thank you 👍

[@brettmorgan5129]

fished those rivers many times those fish are very shy. Usually best technique is to drift fly down from above while staying hidden behind boulders

[@kelvinnguyen8893]

Hi. I love your video by the way could you tell me where is location of pool in first of this video please !

[@michaeljleone1124]

Nice video and beautiful streams. Why is tenkara style your preferred method over euro nymph or traditional fly fishing?

[@alexandb96]

What kind of flies were you using? Just Kebaris? And what other flies do you recommend using for trout that are some “go to” options?

[@vanceregan9708]

It was a pleasure to see you up in the high country. The Lyell fork was exceptionally beautiful two years ago thanks to the high water level.

[@nathannielsen3342]

The second spot you were at actually has trophy brown trout. I’m talking 5-8lbs range. You were just on the wrong fork. 😉

[@funnygum1]

Another place upper kings for wild huge rainbow

[@TenkaraAddict]

👍

[@robertwolfe2971]

Usually those fish are so spooky.they take off and hide as soon as they see you.

[@lucaschagas4038]

Can you tell what kind of bait are you using? I’m going to fish there in few week and I would like to know some hints…

[@HardRoad2Travel]

Hey T, good to see you’re getting a lot off views here.. I ne3 to get my butt back on the Ten Colors forum and see what everyone is up to.. but if you’re ever back in NorCal, I’d certainly buy you a beer/coffee or show you a stream or two.

[@Caboosse321]

Next time you are there, hold onto the the Browns. They are invasive and feed on the Rainbows.

[@Sshooter444]

pffft they are just as invasive as the rainbows, neither are "native"