Upper Sacramento River The Upper Sac is in great shape, and the wading is no longer combat style. With more run off to continue for a while the water temp and level should remain exceptional for a little while longer. Not seeing as many Golden Stones as I had earlier in the season. But have been picking up fish on other bugs. Also, the evening dry fly fishing has been pretty good and worth sticking around for. Short line nymphing has been good and getting the fly down fast is the key. With the … [Read more...]
Fly Fishing Secrets: What Is A Transitional Gradient?
Most anglers have a favorite water that they would rather fish if given the chance. Me, I don’t have a favorite lake, stream, river or pond. Instead I like certain situations, a certain piece of water that challenges me. I tend to look for these places when fishing on my own. I will pass up water that I know I will catch fish in just to challenge myself. Whether it is a lake, river, or pond I will find a challenging aspect to keep my interest up. One of my top five favorite is a … [Read more...]
Reading The Water (Part 2)
Being able to read the water and do it correctly is a true talent. I can tell what type of angler you are by looking at your leader, watching you fish, and the water you pick to fish. What people don’t understand is that you need to be able to read the water and match what you are reading to the technique you are using. I find that anglers like to pick a method of fishing and then fish all the water around them with that method. They catch fish in water that is conducive to the method of choice … [Read more...]
Reading The Water
There are many different facets to fly fishing. So many that learning them all in one lifetime is close to impossible. Once you think you have mastered trout fishing, someone then takes you steelhead fishing and everything changes. Now think about adding salt water fishing, bass fishing, and maybe some salmon fishing. Then you have fly tying in all its glory with different fly patterns, materials, hooks and other paraphernalia. So, you can never stop learning. Master one and a new one … [Read more...]
Right Fly Wrong Design
Dry fly selectionUsing the right fly is definitely a big plus when it comes to catching fish. And using the correctly designed fly helps even more. So, what does that mean and how does it apply to your fishing. Take the common May Fly, and the basic stages it goes through. Nymph, emerger, adult, and spinner. There are hundreds of patterns that will represent those stages. But for now, let’s stick to just the dry fly to keep it simple. Some dry flies are hackled, some aren’t some lightly … [Read more...]
Selecting The Right Bug
One of the more frequently asked questions I’m asked is, “which bug should I use?” It’s a fair question considering the multitude of naturals on the water and the bazillion options you have in the fly bins at your local fly shop. My favorite answer of course would be “the fly that’s working! “, so which fly is that? Do you look to see what bugs are flying around in the air? Or landing in the trees along the bank?! Since fish have no hands it’s hard for them to hang on to the branches. How … [Read more...]
Fall Fishing Right on Schedule
With the Inter Mountain Fair under way here in the Fall River Valley it signals the start of the Fall Season, which means changes on the river. The fishing the last couple of weeks has been pretty good. The mornings are starting to get cooler leading to Indian summer afternoons. The bugs are getting smaller and have been coming off at various intervals during the day. Yes, the bugs are small #20 to #24. This means you really must pay attention as to what is on the water. Which makes it a … [Read more...]
Fishing Report August 21: Fall River, Pit River, McCloud
FIRE, SMOKE & FISH I have been fielding a lot of calls lately about the fires. I want to thank all of you who have called to check on me and to offer assistance should I need it. The hat fire had me on edge for a few days, but the fire crews were able to get it under control quickly keeping it away from any structures. The fire coupled with the loss of power and road closures made it a little stressful. Things here at this end of the state are slowly getting back to normal. Despite the smoke … [Read more...]
Mid Summer Fishing Report
Mid-Summer Fishing Fishing this summer has been really good, and it has been since the season opened back in April. It has not backed off even in the warmer months. At this point the Hex is about over and it was one of the better Hex hatches we have seen in a while. Out of a dozen plus trips I did on the hex only a couple were not worth my time. It stayed mostly in the mainstem of the river. It has not traveled up into the lower Fall River yet and it may not make it that far this season. I have … [Read more...]
Fall River Mills, California: Fly Fishing Season Opener 2018
Season opener 2018 (The 2019 Season is underway starting Saturday April 27. Expect a new post and updated fishing report that weekend) Here it is again the beginning of another fishing season in Fall River Mills California. And it has been a good one so far. We are coming off some good winter fishing where we had good numbers of huge native fish being taken on our local lakes found in and around the Fall River Valley. After battling snow, rain, and more then our share of wind it will be nice to … [Read more...]