So it looks like I will probably be going to Joe's Valley for Memorial Day. We are going with some family friends. I've never been there and would really like to get some fishing in. Unfortunately I'll be towing a camp trailer, so no boat. Any suggestions on how / where to fish there and find some success so my kids can finally see why I like fishing so much?
Since it is a holiday weekend we will just be reserving trailer camp spots. I did find a site where we could reserve them. It just shows a map, and not photos of the spots. Has anyone camped there? I see all of the trailer spots are about the same size, but some are $10 night and some $18. None have hookups so I can't see what the difference is. Thoughts?
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The joes valley campground is a great campground. There is water available through out the campground. nice toilets (non flushing)The fishing can be good there, try the cove where seeley creek runs in (by the marina below the campground) Or the stretch along the road near the dam . If you have smaller kids there are several small lakes nearby that will probably be stocked for memorial weekend.They are all with in 10-15 miles of joes valley and are all very scenic. ( grassy lake , blue lake, mary's lake, potters ponds, also petes hole and soup bowl are my favorites but access may be tough depending on snow melt.) The joes valley area in general is a great place to take kids.
THhe only real difference in camp spots is some will handle 2 trailors ect... The spots are plentiful and the reservable spots are generaly the best ones. But there really is'nt any bad spots there. It's a large grassy meadow with juniper and pondarosa pines. All spots have tables , fire pits, and water nearby.
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It's official. The camping reservations have been made and we will be going to Joe's Valley. Any tips on fishing success, especially from shore, would be greatly appreciated. I think we will have a total of 7 kids there ranging from 2-15 years old, and two of them are quite autistic. I would be thrilled if I could show them all a good time fishing.
I might try to find a small 12-14' aluminum boat and put a hitch behind my camp trailer so I can have a boat up there. However, I've always sworn against pulling doubles, especially bumper pull, so I'm still not sure if that will happen. If I could find a cheap boat rack that I could put in the bed of my truck, that didn't have to be bolted down, that would be ideal.
Anyway, any tips, hints, ideas, etc that you might have would be very much appreciated. I just want to help my family and the family going with us see why I love fishing so much.
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Joes valley can be a little tough for impatient young ones since it was run over by chubs 20 years ago. There are fish too be had, and I would give it a try. Good bank areas are the bank just east of the marina, or the area from the dam along the hyway on the east side. There are a couple of parking areas there with good access.
That being said , if the little ones lose interest, Try grassy lake (TAKE THE ROAD STRAIGHT INSTEAD OF TURNING INTO THE CAMPGROUND) it's about 6 or 7 miles up the dirt road. (good dirt road) and is marked by signs. There is also petes hole and soup bowl another 3 or 4 miles up that road. (main road , not the grassy lake turn off road) There is also potters ponds Take the road north from joes valley by lowery water creek. They are on the left (3/4 mile off road , watch for sign) about 10 miles up the lowery water road. These are all smaller very scenic lakes that will be freshly stocked for memorial week end and are great places for kids. They are worth the short drive just for the scenery.Check out the camping around potters ponds for future trips.
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