Chances are you have already heard, but it’s a great time to be on the McCloud. Lake run brown trout are being encountered on a daily basis. Our guides are mostly finding these fish by nymphing and throwing streamers. The cookie cutter size rainbows are also abundant. Size 14 and 16 mayflies and caddis have been the go-to (Copper John, Tan Pupa, Birds Nest). In the evenings, enough golden stone flies are still coming off to throw around the big dry fly (#8 stimulator).
Last week the river gained just a touch of color to it, but that didn’t put a damper on the fishing. It’s nearly impossible to predict exactly what the water clarity is going to do. Weather forecast is calling for some very reasonable high temps, which should help keep the river running clear. I would suggest getting out there and getting it while it’s good, who knows what good old mud creek has in store for us moving forward.
The word has been out that the river is fishing well, and the crowds are no doubt increasing. The road to Ash Camp is open, don’t be afraid to drive to a new access point or hike a new trail. Anglers tend to pile up in the same few areas. There is plenty of trails and water to spread out on if you are willing to put in some steps.
Finally, bring your tec-nu and watch your step. The poison oak is in full bloom and the rattlesnakes are even more abundant than the brown trout.
To book a trip give us a call at 877-934-7466 or email us info@wildwatersflyfishing.com
The McCloud has had a strong start to the season. Opening weekend through now has been productive using a variety of methods. There are plenty of cookie cutter sized rainbows around, along with a few big browns being found. Nymphing with size 14 and 16 mayflies or large stoneflies is productive throughout the day. Mid-day can produce some solid PMD hatches, making throwing the dry fly around well worth the effort. As we transition into consistently warmer temperatures, expect the fish to start looking for stoneflies on the surface. Water clarity has remained good, with the exception of a couple days after a large spring storm. The number of anglers on the river is starting to ramp up slightly, but finding a stretch of water to yourself is still very doable so long as you are willing to go for a walk. With the road now accessible to Ash camp, it should be easy for anglers to spread out more easily.
Upper Sacramento
The Upper Sac has remained mostly too high to really get in there and fish. As of today, it is at 1600 CFS and dropping. Looking up into the Eddy mountains – there doesn’t seem to be too much snow left to melt off. I imagine the upper reaches of the river will be fishing very well within the next couple of weeks.
After a very moist winter chasing steelhead all up and down the coast, our guides are looking forward to throwing some dry flies in the sunshine. Local streams are starting to shape up for what should be a good spring.
The Lower Sacramento was running at a massive 40k cfs, but has since dropped down to the mid 20’s. These flows should produce some productive fishing so long as it doesn’t get much bigger. Spring is a great time to get out on the Lower Sac, usually bugs are hatching by mid March and the river doesn’t get too crowded. The Upper Sacramento is still running well over 2,000 cfs and will likely be too big to fish for at least a couple more weeks. Finally, the McCloud has continued to stay clear throughout the winter and at excellent flows. There has been very little snow accumulation at low elevations, so barring any late season cold storms, access should remain good. Also, after many years of being closed, the road to Ash camp has finally been reopened.
It was nice having the river to ourselves all summer, but word has finally gotten out and people are out fishing the McCloud. Water clarity has improved even more. Visibility is up to about 4 feet, more than enough to yield some good fishing. There are a variety of mayfly hatches in the afternoon, but still haven’t seen an October caddis. Fish are finally starting to look up to some dry flies, a welcome sight after a long stint of fishing sub surface. Sounding like a broken record here: there are lots of brown trout around this year. Mid week Ah-di-na campground was nearing half full. I expect by this weekend getting a tag to fish the nature conservancy will require an early start.
Upper Sac
The Upper Sac has been a bit finnicky with weather changes. Nonetheless there are some bigger fish kicking around in the lower river. Some more warm afternoons in the forecast should mean good fishing ahead.
Klamath
Water clarity is improving quickly. There are clearly lots of fish moving through the system. If you are waiting to make plans to fish the upper river, I wouldn’t wait much longer. All signs point to another great fall on the Klamath.
Southern Oregon
Our guides ventured up to Southern Oregon to do some trout fishing on spring creeks. We got to see some awesome water and bad ass, lake run trout. Gin clear water and 6x tippet means we got more scenic photos than hero shots. Looking forward to spending some more time on these rivers next summer.
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
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.
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.
As if Covid wasn’t enough we are now dealing with extreme fire danger here with all National Forest closed to the public. Specifically the McCloud River is shutdown. The closure will be reviewed again next week but for now the river is closed. Up until the closure the river was putting out some beautiful fish and to add sauce to it the river colored up, but not enough to keep you off of it. Smoke has been bad to manageable but with all the surrounding fires you can expect these types of days for quite some time. I don’t know about you all but I’m done with 2020, this year has been blow after blow to the gut for all of us.
The Upper Sacramento River
On the other hand most of the USac is open still except for a couple of spots, specifically Pollard Flat and Dog Creek. It’s been fishing good from above Dunsmuir to Shasta Lake. The nights are starting to cool down now and and the freaking hot weather has just about gone. The river is at its summer/fall low and running very clear so stealth is important. Think LBS flies for sure and maybe play around with a big rubber leg, the October Caddis will start their wake up call soon and the fish will start keying in on them. Most of the bigger fish are in the heavy oxygenated water and we are still seeing a fair amount of browns moving up from the lake so this river is a great alternative.
The McCloud River Report The McCloud River has been kicking out some very big fish lately. The Brown pictured above has to be one of the biggest we have seen ever, this bad boy was a solid 30 inches and John Rickard, our Brown Guru, was dialed in on this particular day, spotting it, client hooking it and landing it after 4 ginormous leaps. Also this large rainbow was an OMG for this river too. It’s all about nymphing and getting your bugs down. This time of year with the lack of hatches the fish are hugging the bottom in the deep runs and pools or sticking their heads into the heavy oxygenated water where they feel safest. It’s been very hot in the canyon so wet wading is recommended. Btw be on the lookout for the rare and scary big Dobson Fly, if one lands in the river wait for the explosive grab of a big fish.
The Upper Sacramento River Report
The Upper Sac has been fishing good lately regardless of the very hot weather. You are going to get a lot of the little guys that are prevalent these days but there are still some bigger fish to be had. Nymphing is the best method and getting your flies down near the bottom a must. We also are starting to see the annual upstream charge of the lake run fish out of Shasta Lake and hooking into one of these guys is like a jolt of electricity, they are very active fish and a chase may be in the offering. Again here wet wading is suggested, recommended and preferred.
Give us a shout if you want to get in on the summer fun.
The McCloud River has been fishing great! With The Nature Conservancy and Ah Di Nah open now life is good. Conditions currently are perfect with top and bottom action happening, what more could we ask for. Expect to see folks out on the water but you can usually just move on a bit and find your own personal piece of heaven to fish on this magical river. Our guides have been on the river a lot and have had very successful days with happy clients. This is one of my favorite times to be fishing here. You will be seeing a wide variety of Mayflies and Caddis along with the Golden Stones. The stones are thick late afternoon and evening so it’s big Chubby or Stimmie time. Nymphing is always a solid bet too so I recommend using a double fly setup with copious amounts of weight. Golden Stone nymphs and rubber legs are a good choice for top fly and then your favorite size 14 or 16 nymph dropped off either. We recommend for you tiers that you try the stone fly pattern tied by our own Jason Kash recently featured in CA Fly Fisher. Dry/dropper has been effective all day with the best top action in the late afternoon when the shadows take hold. We are currently structuring days to accommodate this late evening thrill so you might think about a late start and late finish with one of our excellent guides.
Upper Sacramento River The river has been fishing very good and should remain so. We are still seeing some snow melt but flows are very reasonable with cold water … a perfect recipe. Sims Flat campground is open but not Castle Crags campground. Dunsmuir has limited motels open and the Brewery is offering sit down with the pizza and Mexican restaurants open. And most important the favorite of many of you Cafe Maddelena just opened its doors and is serving outside dining. Good news too is The Ted Fay Fly Shop is officially open for business. Dry fly fishing has been best in the evenings with nymphing very consistent during the day. We are seeing Golden Stones, Sallies, Pink PMD’s and small caddis. Dry/dropper also has shown success in the heavier faster moving water. Successful nymphs have been soft hackles, S&M’s and Frenchies.
And Beyond
Our guides have also been venturing out to the Lower Sacramento River and Trout Lake for some amazing days in the boat. Check out the pictures and give it some thought, we would love to get you out on the water.
In conclusion this has been a stressful time for all of us. This area has had very few cases of COVID-19 but as people arrive for their summer fun we are starting to see an increase in new cases. Our healthcare community is very small and although we have excellent health workers and facilities they cannot handle a large increase in case loads. We ask all of you who are coming in to this area to please don’t let your guard down and continue to practice good COVID protocol. This whole pandemic has a long way to go before normalcy returns.
The river remains in excellent shape for winter and early spring fishing. The storm last night and this morning brought the river up to 550cfs and is currently dropping slowly. The river was getting a bit stale and clear due to the lack of rain but last night was just the thing we needed. The fishing remains great for big fish and we have had outstanding days with our clients. The large fish are still on the prowl and are eager to play over the entire river from Ney down to Dog Creek. The days will be extended now with daylight savings time but the mornings are still chiily so not necessary to get out there at the crack of. With the warming days I am seeing more and more bugs so make sure you have nymphs that represent Mayflies, Caddis, BWO’s and Stones. Unlike last season the river should remain in excellent shape for the next few months so don’t hesitate, get on it now. We have some excellent USac guides available for those who are looking for a fun day and a valuable tip or two.
Area SteelheadReport
Our guides have been roaming near and far for steelhead over the last few weeks and have been finding success with these elusive beast. There’s still about a month to go so if interested in feeling the tug of one of these guys give us a shout, we have excellent guides who are covering all rivers from the Klamath and Smith in California up through southern Oregon as far as the Umpqua.
Am getting a little worrisome as far as river conditions and snowpack but have to say up to now no complaints. The river has been running oh so sweet with flows right now just north of 400cfs. February started off with very high flows but has been dropping slowly. The entire river right now is very approachable and fishing is off the charts for big rainbows. Just about everyone who’s been out is finding fish in the 16-24 in range …. SERIOUSLY! It’s one of those winters where the planets have aligned and the fish gods are showing us love. Temps during the day this week have been in the 60’s from Dunsmuir down river and the 2 week forecast shows nada precip and warm temps. Fish are grabby for the Jimmy Legs, tungsten stones, sculpins and a variety of mayfly nymph patterns. We are starting to see the rainbows spawning so be cautious of their redds. I will impress one more time, the window is here and when it shuts you will kick yourself for not taking advantage of this very opportunistic time to get into one of these elusive beasts. We have the guides who can get you into them, give me a shout.
Rick Cox
info@wildwatersflyfishing.com
Steelhead Report
We have chasing steelhead frantically since January and finding some very nice steelies. We’ve been on all over northern California and southern Oregon where conditions have been perfect and remain so. Swinging and bobber has produced with a lot of chromers coming to the net. Unlike last year when the rain was relentless the weather has been holding just enough and that steelhead green has prevailed on most rivers. We will continuing pursuing these bad boys the remainder of this month and March so if you got the itch give me a shout.
This is our favorite time of the year to be chasing chrome. January and February are THE months to be getting with it. We’re already cranking it up and getting out there from the Eel River up to the Umpqua River in southern Oregon. A major storm is just starting to begin its snow dump here in Mt. Shasta which equates to big river flows on the coast and a surge of fresh steelhead booking it into the rivers and creeks. Once it passes look for the coming weeks to be prime for getting yourself into a fresh chromer. Rivers like the Smith and Chetco will drop and get into shape within a couple of days with the other rivers to follow. Further inland we also expect to see fresh fish showing up on the Trinity, Klamath and Rogue Rivers. So far this year we haven’t had the blown out conditions of last season so the next couple of weeks will be your window to get on any or all of these rivers. Give us a shout our guides have an intimate knowledge of all of these.
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