Archive | September, 2023

9/21/23 Fishing Report

Fall is here and the fishing in Northern California and Southern Oregon is really lighting up. There are too many great options this time of year to report on, but here’s an update on a few rivers our guides have been getting out on

The McCloud

Water clarity has improved dramatically on the McCloud. Visibility is up to 3 feet, which is more than enough to have success. Predicting what the water clarity will do is nearly impossible, but for the time being things look good. The fear of dirty water has kept the crowds away from the McCloud. Having the river nearly to yourself has been a common occurrence over the last couple of months. Our guides are having frequent encounters with lake run brown trout. If you have ever wanted to target these fish, now is the time. Dry fly-fishing opportunities are very limited at the moment, we have been having the most success fishing nymphs and streamers. We have a handful of mid-week dates still available, if you are interested in booking a guide feel free to reach out.

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The Klamath

Again, water clarity is a major player on the Klamath right now. Due to mudslides the Klamath is still blown out between the Scott and the Salmon. However, sections of the river that are clear are showing some incredibly promising signs for this year. Our guides have been finding plenty of fish eager to eat the swung fly. We have just a couple of openings through November, reach out if you are interested in booking a trip.

Upper Sacramento

Fall time on the Upper sac means variety. From the pocket water fishing in Dunsmuir to the large pools in Lakehead, this river has something for everyone. We have been seeing some of the lake run fish starting to make their way through the system. As the water temperature continues to cool down, we will start to target these fish in the lower portion of the river. The October caddis will start to pop any day now and the dry fly fishing will really take off, particularly in the upper section of this river. Wild Water’s has some mid-week availability through the fall. Check back for an early winter report on this river. Although most people put the trout rods away once snow starts to fall, winter on the Upper Sac can be an outstanding time to target big fish.

Lower Sacramento

The Lower Sac is doing its thing. Lots of big fish, caddis, eggs, you get the idea.

Trinity

A few early outings to Trinity have showed some promising results. A couple of days on the upper river in early September showed a healthy number of Salmon around, as well as a few half pounder and adults mixed in.  During a few days on the lower river, we were able to bump into a very solid push of fish. It’s been a while since we have put our eyes on this many anadromous fish moving through a river. These fish were happy to eat swung traditional flies on a dry line, or bugs dead drifted under an indicator. Given what we have seen so far, we are looking forward to spending some more time on this river through the fall and into the winter.

Upper Rogue

Although it’s not easy for us to drive past the Klamath, our guides have been venturing up to the Rouge this summer in search of the larger fish this river can offer. This time of year on the Upper Rogue is fly fishing only, and a great time to target these fish on the swing. Grinding out a handful of very early mornings and late evenings we were able to encounter a couple of summer steelhead. The number of salmon spawning, particularly above Shady Cove, is impressive.

Give us a call or send an email to book a trip or check in about conditions

Cheers,

Riley

info@wildwatersflyfishing.com

www.wildwatersflyfishing.com

877-934-7466

Fall Fishing Preview

Wild Waters Fall Fishing Preview

Our favorite time of year to be on the water is just around the corner. As temperatures drop, our fishing options start to open up.

The McCloud

Water Clarity continues to be an issue on the McCloud. The river was fishing great for most of the summer, but August rainstorms have once again brought dirty water. This river has had a mind of its own recently, and predicting water clarity isn’t easy. However, over the last few days the water color has been trending in the right direction.

With all of that being said… historically, big drought killing winters have led to high numbers of migratory brown trout in the river. This year appears to be following that trend. Our guides have been encountering these fish frequently, as early as June. When the river does eventually clear up, we could be in for some of the best brown trout fishing we have seen in a long time. We are eager to get back out there as soon as the water clears up, check back for updates.

The Upper Sacramento

The Upper Sac has been a much more reliable fishery than the McCloud just over the hill. It has continued to fish well throughout the summer, particularly in the upper stretches where the water stays cooler. Water temperatures have started to drop quickly. This allows us to fish some of the lower stretches of the river, which often hold larger fish. Once the October Caddis start to hatch, this river will really start to light up.

The Klamath

The Klamath dam removal is well underway, and this fall will be the last time we fish this river in its current dammed state. Iron Gate reservoir drawdown will begin on January 1st, which will likely blow the river out for some time. Early reports at the mouth seem to indicate good numbers of fish already entering the system. More fish should keep coming in with fall flow bumps and dropping water temperatures. Also, this year California closed commercial and recreational salmon fishing. This means that steelhead will be less pressured as they make their way up the river, and finding solitude on the river will be easier than ever. Starting mid-September, we plan on chasing these fish everywhere from Orleans to Hornbrook. Klamath Fish readily take a swung fly, making it a good choice for both the beginner and advanced Spey angler – particularly early in the season. Indicator fishing is effective throughout the season. The Klamath has had an outstanding couple of years, and we can’t wait to see what it brings this year.

Coastal Steelhead

Lucky For us, just as the Klamath season with be coming to an end with the reservoir draw down on Jan 1st, the coastal steelhead season will just be getting kicked off. Our guides can’t wait to get out to the coast and chase these elusive fish. We will be primarily focusing on the Smith River, but as is always the case with coastal steelhead fishing, flexibility is key.

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Lower Sac and more

Of course, the Lower Sac, Hat, Pit, Baum Lake, and too many more to list are all great fall options. Give us a call or shoot us an email if you are interested in booking a trip.

Wild Waters Fly Fishing

877-934-7466

info@wildwatersflyfishing.com