Flyfishing Trabuco Creek can be surprisingly good at certain times of the year. You will need to adjust your expectations of course, Silver Creek it isn't . If the rainfall is higher than average the previous year, there will probably be holdovers in the spring. These fish won't grow a great deal during the non-Spring seasons, but they will give the creek a greater fish population. The Department of Fish & Game plants rainbow trout in the creek typically between Februaryand May. Most of the fish range from about 7-11 inches although I have caught fish in the creek as large as 13 inches. I typically start fishing just past the national forest sign indicating that an Adventure Pass is required. The creek is generally stocked from about this point up to the third bridge crossing (see topo map below with waypoints if you're not familiar with the creek). In higher rainfall years, you will find fish well upstream and downstream of this section.

At the beginning of the season, I prefer to wait a couple of weeks after the first plant before I fish. The bait fisherman pull out a lot of fish during this time, but the fish that remain tend to naturalize and target flies more than powerbait. The best strategy is to hit a pool or run and move on if you don't get a hit after a few casts. Late April through mid June (water level permitting) usually fishes the best. The fish that have been in the stream a while are eating flies, and the creek doesn't seem to be as crowded. The water level is low enough that you will do a fair amount of sight fishing. Also, make sure you don't pass up the shallow runs. You will find fish holding in very shallow water and most of the bait fishermen target the larger pools rather than the shallow runs. These fish are not picky about the fly; a size 14 parachute adams or humpy will almost always work. There have been occasions where I have had to go to a nymph to catch a particularly fussy trout. There is a lot of brush and overhanging branches near this creek. Bring spare flies because you will probably donate a few to the vegetation.

Trabuco Creek is an excellent early-season warm up to a trip to the Eastern Sierra. It is also a decent creek to learn flyfishing if you stick to the larger pools and runs that don't have a lot of overhanging branches. It would be frustrating for a beginner to fish the whole section described above, however, since line control is needed through most of this creek. You will not need chest waders in this creek. Hip waders or wet wading works fine.

Few of these fish will survive the summer, so you don't have to feel bad about taking a few home. I don't really like the taste of the rubber trout, so I always release these fish.