Fishout Site: Horseshoe Bar Preserve

                     Forrest Hill, CA

Date: Friday - Saturday, October 23-24, 2009

Fishout Leader: Karl Wolff (fishout leader)

                          Tom Bartos (host)

Phone: 916-224-7633

            916-205-6073

Email: karl.wolff@sbcglobal.net

          hbp@surewest.net

Meeting Time: 12 Noon Friday to

                         6:00PM Saturday

Meeting Location: Meet at the gate. You can stop at the overlook about 1/4 mi. before the gate turnout for a good birds-eye view of the property

Max. # Attendees: 20

Directions: I-80 North to Auburn, CA. Take the Foresthill Road exit and stay on Foresthill Road until you arrive in Foresthill.  Turn right at Mosquito Ridge Road.  Go almost 7 miles to Gorman Ranch Rd. and stop at the large turnout on your right.  There is a dirt road with a large gate.  A temporary gate combination for the lock will be given to those who will be attending.  Follow the road and GBF signs down to the river camping area (see map).  We recommend 4-wheel drive as some areas can be difficult for 2WD vehicles.  Drive slow as the road is narrow in places and the canyon is deep.

Website: www.horseshoebarpreserve.com 

Fish: Wild Rainbow &

        Brown Trout

Fishing strategy: Wading, Wet Wading, Float Tube, Pontoon Boat

Tackle:

Rod Wt

Line

Leader

Tippet

Other

Flies:

Patterns:

Stimulators 8 - 12, Caddis 8 - 18, BWO 16 - 18, Yellow Sally16  - 18, Parachute Adams 12 - 18, PMD Nymph & Emerger 16 - 18, Pheasant tail 14 - 18, PT flashback, 18 Micro May 18, Prince Nymph 14 - 18. Sculpins and Wooly Buggers are great for large browns

Other gear:

Waders,

Float Tube,

Pontoon Boat

Wading staff

Wading Boots

Fins

Personal Flotation Device

Polarized sunglasses

Camp chair (optional)

Vest, Net, & usual flyfishing tools

WATER for 2 days

Steak etc. to BBQ Friday nite

Lunch Saturday will be provided

2-way Radio (Ch. 6)

The Horseshoe Bar Fish and Game Preserve is located on the Middle Fork of the American River just below Oxbow/Ralston Dam.  Just one hour from Sacramento or two hours from the Bay Area, Horseshoe Bar offers true wilderness fly-fishing in this thousands of acres preserve in the American River Canyon Watershed.

The property includes five miles of river where wild rainbow and brown trout abound. The Middle Fork of the American River at Horseshoe Bar is a “free stone river“. The water is supplied by snow runoff from French Meadows and Hell Hole Reservoirs. Although the property elevation is only 1,000 feet, it is like fly-fishing  on an upper-elevation Sierra river because the water from the upper reservoirs is delivered to Ralston Afterbay, (Oxbow Dam) via a tunnel system. The water is cold and clear. Better yet, the area is open to year round fishing. Hatches are numerous and include BWOs, caddis, October Caddis, Golden Stones and Yellow Sally’s to mention a few. The various beats contain great runs of deep holes, big tailouts, pocket water, and perfect seams that hold lots of wild trout.   

While catch & release fly-fishing is the major activity on the property, camping, hiking, gold panning and just having a picnic in the solitude alongside the river are a few of the other activities members enjoy.  The campground overlooks the incredible Tunnel Chute, a Level-5 rapid that takes rafters through the tunnel created by miners in the early 1900’s.

Upon arrival: After meeting at the gate, you will be escorted to the campground area where we will set up camp and stage your rods for the afternoon and evening fishing.   I recommend you have some light snacks and refreshments before fishing. Bring your steak & BBQ fixin's for Friday nite. Hamburger BBQ will be provided by Tom for Saturday lunch.  You are welcome to bring whatever beverages you prefer.  Cigar smoking, drinks & tall tales after fishing and dinner in the camp area is permitted around the campfire. Picnic tables & benches are in the campground. Bring a folding camp chair if you like for sitting around the campfire.

Facilities:  HBP is a true wilderness experience where one can expect to come across wild animals such as bears, lions, deer and other creatures such as rattlesnakes.  HBP provides Porta potties at the campsite.  There is no potable water or electricity other than a generator that is used for cooking.  Bottled water should be brought.   You need to bring whatever sleeping accommodations you will need.  There will be plenty of room for tents, tent trailers and other sleeping vehicles.  The dirt road is somewhat steep but can be easily navigated by 4 wheel drive pulling a tent trailer.  Two wheel vehicles can make it to the campground, but there are areas that two wheel vehicles just cannot make it up the hill.