This week’s podcast features John Rickard, an Orvis-Endorsed Guide with Wild Waters Fly Fishing in Mt. Shasta, California. Our main topic is winter steelhead in California, but John also gives us some helpful insights on California trout fishing, as well. 

If you don’t see the “Play” button above, click here to listen.

On Super Bowl Sunday the Iron Gate section of the Klamath River saw one guide boat. The clarity of the water was greenish brown and the wind gusted up to 30mph in the afternoon, conditions were tough but we had it all to ourselves. Many of my favorite spots were forever changed as half the trees along the banks were broken and dangling in the river. Despite it all fish were caught, fish were fought, and fish were lost. At the end of the day it was considered good steelhead fishing. After finding some nice ones I was happy to have some trips lined up this week. The following day they bumped the flows to 4k and the last bastion of California steelhead fishing became unfishable. Emoji sad face dude. There is a place however, were you can still go, pull up a stool at the bar and cast your line. Chuck caught one there last night.