ac-fly-fishing

On the Water Fishing Update

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:00:03 GMT

Another fun week of spring fishing with unique opportunities and varied weather, spring is always an exciting time of year! Check out the full scoop below.

Report from the Guides

Lower Sac - It’s been really great, other than a couple stormy days last week. Yesterday was solid all day, with the peak bite in the afternoon. Regular cloudy days have been awesome. We’ve had some great opportunities to fish dry flies and dry-dropper setups in shallow water. Next week is potentially lining up to be great dry fly fishing conditions as well with clouds in the forecast during the start of the week. We have guide availability each day next week if you want to give it a try. The river is still hovering around 6k cfs.

McCloud - It’s dry fly time on the McCloud. Bigger fish have been surface feeding on Green Drakes when the clouds are overhead or during low light. When it’s sunny, the fish have been dropping down and taking a smorgasbord of nymphs. Overall it’s been great! Flows are perfect.

Upper Sac - The Upper Sac bumped up to 2,000 cfs, and is back down to 1400 cfs, which is still high for this river. We wouldn't recommend fishing the Upper Sac right now with so many other options. We will be back when flows drop.

Fall River - A couple of our guides fished the Fall River yesterday, and it was good! Each angler caught some nice fish, including some really good sized ones for the Fall. We still could use some more warm weather on Fall River, as the the fishing is very productive in a handful of spots. As it warms up over the next week or two, the good fishing will spread out a lot more.

Trinity River - We didn’t fish the Trinity last week due to the flow bump. It’s back down to fishable levels today, and we expect the fishing for juvenile steelhead (half-pounders) and trout to be good.

Lake Shasta - Now that last week’s storms have passed, Shasta is back in the mix. Simply put, Lake Shasta is the “Easy Button” right now according to our guide Travis. Epic bass and trout combo trips have been taking place up the Sacramento arm of the lake.

We always love to talk fishing, so please send us a message or give us a call! Right now, conditions look perfect for the beginner angler to get out and have plenty of action, or the seasoned angler to go for the challenge of dry fly fishing during this special window.

Why We Love Spring Fly Fishing

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:53:44 GMT

Spring in Northern California is in full swing, and we are loving every minute.

Report from the Guides

Lower Sac - The mornings have been great. PMDs, Yellow Sallies, Caddis, Stones, and March Browns have all been catching fish. The afternoons have been tighter, still good but making us try a little more for the bites.
McCloud - It’s prime-time for the McCloud, the river is in great shape and the fish are feeding. We’ve had two very strong weeks on the McCloud so far this spring and it’s just the beginning.
Upper Sac - Flows are down to 600 cfs at Delta, making it far more accessible than in previous weeks. Big lake fish, and the bug hatches beginning are making the Upper Sac more appealing to fish each day.
Fall River - We are getting really close to game time on the Fall River as it gets warmer. A great report will likely emerge in the coming week or two. Stay tuned.
Trinity River - The Trinity has been a super cool option these past two weeks. Dry-dropper fishing has been fantastic for half pounders, browns, and some remaining adult steelhead. With no people around whatsoever, it’s been pretty special.
Lake Shasta - Lake Shasta has been fishing really good. The bass are getting more aggressive each day as the surface temperature continues to warm.

The next two weeks of fishing are primed with positivity. The flows on the Lower Sac are raising to 10k cfs today, which is a great level for spring fishing. More water on the Sac paired with some scattered clouds in the 10-day forecast should make the bug hatches and bite continue to get stronger each day.

March Madness in the North State

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:29:37 GMT

It’s March Madness time - basketball lovers and trout fishermen unite in a love for this month. March marks the beginning of spring, and the beginning of spring bug hatches that wake up nearly every trout in the North State from their winter sluggishness. It’s time to string up those 5 and 6wts. As the weather warms, the first streams to really “wake up” are the Central Valley streams, because that’s where it gets warm first. The Lower Sac and Feather River often have trout / steelhead fishing in the month of March that can rival or beat the madness of fall. The reason being, is that as temps rise significantly, the PMDs really start to hatch. Caddis, other mayflies, and even some stoneflies will begin kicking around in March, but on the Lower Sac it is usually the PMDs that take center stage.

With this abundance of food on the Lower Sac, the trout tend to be willing to expend more energy to feed, and become far more accessible for the fly angler. This means they are out looking for food, rather than just taking the food that drifts by them. These same trout have received very little pressure all winter from anglers, and are thus less “educated” and more bold about how they take a fly, and less picky on the more popular patterns they will have seen plenty of by the time the month of June rolls around. On the Lower Sac, March is the last chance to fish the famous upriver stretch from the Posse Grounds down to Highway 44. While there is plenty of epic water below highway 44, this upriver stretch is known for plenty of big aggressive fish, and March is the last chance to fish it before it closes on April 1st.

On the Feather River, March typically marks the beginning of more elevated spring flow releases in the “low-flow” stretch of the Feather River. This can make for some of the most epic fishing of the year on the Feather, and those who have experienced it will attest to just how hot and heavy the fishing can be for the Feather’s feisty Valley Steelhead due to these elevated flows. March also marks the beginning one of the better chances for dry-fly fishing on the Lower Sac. Although still rare, when the stars align on a cloudy day in March during the first strong PMD hatches, you might just find some mega-sized trout softly sipping PMDs in the shallow and undisturbed current edges, flats, or soft riffles.

Another fishery which is often overlooked in March is the Trinity River. March is hands down the best month to throw single dry flies on the Trinity. March Brown Mayflies are hatching strong on the Trinity, and feeding one of the Trinity’s wild winter steelhead, or large resident browns on a single dry fly is an experience like no other. There are typically plenty of “half-pounders” mixed in during this time as well, so action is consistent. Right now, all of this is on the table. All of these great options for epic fishing are part of what makes up the madness of fly fishing Nor Cal in the month of March.

Preparing for the Spring Transition in Nor Cal

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:24:17 GMT

A keen angler is focused on the present moment, but also keeps in mind what’s ahead so that they are ready when the time comes. Don’t get caught with your waders down. Right now, steelhead are swimming heavy through our brains, and for good reason. We have at least a month and a half, maybe even two months of prime steelheading left in Nor Cal. Often, the last part of steelhead season is the best part. Fewer people out targeting them, warming temperatures turning on the bite, and both inward and outward migrating fish in the systems.

Looking ahead, we know that the transition from winter fishing to spring fishing will happen sometime in March, and when it does, an angler should be ready. It happens fast. Typically, these first few weeks of spring fishing ushered in by the warming weather will trigger some of the best fishing of the entire spring. The portion of the trout population that are relatively dormant in the winter come alive and start feeding ferociously at the first sign of a good Caddis, PMD, or BWO hatch. They haven’t been pressured, and they are hungry. The month of March can mean fishing on the Lower Sac that rivals the fury of the egg-drop in October. While there is always a small chance of rain showers in March, usually the weather is nice, and either way the fishing is usually great as soon as the temperature warms up just a little bit.

On the Upper Sac, March also marks the beginning of some angler’s favorite season on this river. We see great numbers of large lake-run rainbows enter the lower portion of the river from lake Shasta in March, some of which can rival the punch of a coastal steelhead. They are aggressive, opportunistic, and hands down the best fighting fish you will find in this river. The transition from winter to spring also often creates a small window of ideal flows on this river, where snowmelt from Mt. Shasta has yet to begin in full force, and the rains of winter have subsided.

Other great spring opportunities abound in March, and sometimes anglers miss out on weeks of good fishing with no crowds if they are not prepared for when spring begins. The Feather River, Lake Shasta, and McCloud River should also be on an angler’s radar in March in addition to the Lower and Upper Sacramento. April and May are when spring fishing is in full swing on nearly every body of water in Nor Cal and is by all means a fantastic time to go fishing. However, if you like taking advantage of every good opportunity, the winter / spring transition time in March should not be overlooked. Usually water levels are ideal, fish are unpressured, and memories are made. In the fly box, having PMDs, BWOs, and small dark colored Caddis are the key to being ready for these early spring hatches. If the stars align, you might even see some pretty epic dry fly action.

February Fishing Report

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 20:40:10 GMT

Fishing Report 2/9

Over the past month, it’s safe to say that we have been in full steelhead mode. Lot’s of miles put on the vehicles, lots of memories made, and some high quality fish in the net. We’ve been lucky to have a relatively dry January, especially these past few weeks, which has allowed for a longer than normal opportunity to chase the fish we love the most.

Lower Sac:

The Sac has had more water than usual for January. We hovered around 15k cfs for a couple weeks, briefly down to 8k cfs, and now back to 10k cfs. There have been very few folks out, as is typical for January. Our few guided trips from the Sac this month have yielded good results. With plenty of water and low fishing pressure, the fish haven’t been too picky. Plenty of fish are getting caught on egg imitations and the usual attractor bugs. February is a great month to fish the Sac when the weather is decent. Very few people and some really nice fish to be had.

Trinity River:

We have done lots and lots of fishing for steelhead on the Trinity this past month. For the most part, it’s been fantastic. There have been a few challenging days here and there, but overall it’s been a banner season with really nice sized adults and a ton of half-pounders. We had higher flows earlier this month which kept much of the pressure off of the river and the fish on the bite with so much protection from all the water. Fish were behaving more like coastal steelhead, willing to take bright egg imitations and resting in the soft water. As the flows receded we saw a phenomenal bite for a few days with some guides reporting as many fish as they had ever seen hit the net each day. Flows are back to around 500 cfs, which is still great. We expect great fishing to continue through the next month at least and possibly longer.

Coastal Steelhead - Eel River:

We have been lucky enough to have a long extended weather window to fish the Eel River this winter. Since about the 2nd week of January, we have been fishing the Eel and have been loving it. It’s uncommon to have this much of a window to fish it. It’s still coastal steelhead fishing, so it’s not for the faint of heart. Over the few weeks we’ve had our fair share of epic days with plenty of opportunity, and challenging days with more slim opportunity. Overall, we are still seeing chances at fish each day even when it’s toughest so as any seasoned steelhead angler knows this is about as much as you could ask for. We are stoked to keep fishing the Eel in the coming weeks, and a little bit of rain will actually be a welcomed thing.

Feather River:

There haven’t been a ton of folks on the Feather lately. However, our guides who have been fishing it over the last two weeks say that it’s been decent up in the upper stretches of the “low-flow” lately. It sounds like the fish aren’t super spread out, but there is enough of them in the system to make a good day of fishing.

Shasta Lake:

No reports yet coming from Shasta, but rest assured the winter bass are ready to get going soon.

Winter Steelhead

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 17:48:56 GMT

Winter Steelhead "The Pinnacle" of freshwater Fly Fishing

It’s the most wonderful time of year - winter steelhead season. No other fish in Northern California will have people calling off work, losing sleep, and putting thousands of miles on a vehicle winter steelhead will. Winter steelhead are the pinnacle of freshwater fly fishing. Saltwater fish that we have a very brief window to pursue in freshwater, sometimes no more than a day out of the ocean on their migratory journey.They are elusive and smart creatures that demand the respect of those who pursue them. A fly fisherman's journey will often lead to steelhead, and once it does there is typically no turning back.

Why do we love winter steelhead fishing so much? It's an adventure, constant learning, pure excitement, heartbreak, and deep reward. Having faith in your crossing paths, faith in your gear, and faith in your ability to manage pure chaos on a hook. The latter of which can be the most humbling. The pursuit of something rare and difficult to achieve is always a more satisfying venture than one that is easy and convenient. The steelhead of Northern California’s coastal rivers are wild and special. Surviving in the wild pacific ocean, their ability to escape is highly elevated in comparison to freshwater fish. A true ball of energy. Just getting to hook one is spectacular, shaking hands with them is a bonus. They test an angler’s ability to cast into tight spots, mend with grace, and apply enough pressure to turn them in heavy winter current without breaking them off on one of their sizzling runs. Pursuing them will make anyone a better fisherman.

We are lucky to have them swimming up our rivers in good numbers as the winter rains arrive. In the grand scheme of things, more anglers who care about steelhead will mean more effort towards future conservation efforts. This is very important as these fish face more challenges as the world continues to change. For the next few months, we get to watch the weather forecast and journey down the wild rivers of Northern California chasing these special creatures. We couldn’t be more excited.

December Fishing Report

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:11:35 GMT

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! No crowds and epic fishing. Winter steelhead are showing up in good numbers, and the stable weather over the past two weeks has produced some epic trout fishing on the Lower Sac. The main focus lately has been on Lower Sac trout and Trinity Steelhead. Rain on the extended forecast means more of this, as well as an increase in steelhead numbers on all rivers!

Lower Sac - It’s been all about those Baetis (blue-winged olives) on the Lower Sac in town lately. When those bugs hatch, the bite has been lights out good. A few clouds in the early afternoon has been the formula for an epic bite that rivals or beats that of the egg bite in October if you are in the right spot. It’s mostly a few hour window during the hatch when they are feeding on those tiny nymphs most aggressively, but there is still enough action the rest of the day to make it worth it. The river has been a ghost town as well, with most folks either staying home or off chasing steelhead somewhere. Speaking of steelhead, there have been a decent number of them showing up in the lower-river floats on the Lower Sac, a very cool and unique option where you can target large valley steelhead and still have good trout fishing on the same fishing day.

Trinity River - We have been fishing the Trinity pretty much every day over the last few weeks and have been seeing extremely consistent results. There are quality fish spread throughout the system, and each day we are getting plenty of shots at them. They are taking the typical winter-time patterns, stoneflies, small attractors, and pheasant-tail style nymphs in the #14-#16 range. Sometimes it’s surprising that the big 28”+ steelhead will take such a small bug, but that’s exactly what we have been experiencing as is usual when we have long periods of little rain like this. With more rain on the forecast, the numbers of fish will get even better, and they will get more aggressive when the water gets some color added back into it, we love a little rain! We have been seeing a mix of hatchery and wild fish, but this next rain will likely bring in some big wild winter fish.

Feather River - The Feather has been good for our guides the past two weeks.The fish have been very concentrated into a select few spots, which means getting those spots is key. If you aren’t in the right spot, it might be tougher. We are still seeing plenty of results, but our guides are eager for this next rainstorm to bring in some extra water and move the fish around a little bit as well as bring in more fresh valley steelhead into the system.

Upper Sac - No recent reports, but there are likely some big fish moving into the lower river below Simms. Also, you are pretty much guaranteed solitude this time of year.

McCloud River - No recent reports

Pit River - No recent reports

Fall River - Our season up in Fall river has concluded for the year, we will check back in on the Fall River in springtime.

North Coast - Eel River - We haven’t heard of anyone chasing those coastal fish just yet, but undoubtedly we will be heading over there in the coming weeks. You don’t want to miss when those fish show up.

Winter Fishing

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:41:14 GMT

The primary reason Nor Cal fly fishing is in a class of its own "Variety"

Fishing in Northern California during the winter is a special experience of it’s own. Across the west, most trout fisheries go relatively dormant for the winter months. River anglers across the west will flock to California for this reason. In Nor Cal, we are lucky that winter is by no means an “off season”. For many of us, it’s our favorite season. We have excellent trout and steelhead fishing all winter, and during this season you can often find yourself in complete solitude on the most popular of rivers. Additionally, we see the arrival of winter steelhead in Nor Cal. The biggest, baddest fish of the year that hardcore anglers have been waiting all year for a chance to pursue.

First and foremost to discuss on winter trout fishing, is the Lower Sac. During the winter, we see the lowest flows of the year coming out of Shasta Dam. This coincides with some of the biggest fish of the year getting caught, as their deep water hangouts are now accessible for nymph anglers. We see hatches of Baetis mayflies all winter, and when the mid-day hatch happens, the river can come alive with feeding trout. Additionally, there are typically some late-fall / winter run chinook spawning in certain areas of the upper-river which creates a localized “egg bite” that can yield great action and huge fish from December through March. The fishing in winter typically ebbs and flows, some days are red-hot and others can be a slower bite than you might see in fall or spring, but slow fishing on the Lower sac typically still means a few shots at trophy class fish even on the toughest days, paired with absolute solitude, what’s not to love. On the good days, we experience tons of action from big fish without a sole around. Due to the Sac being a tailwater, the winter rains typically do not cause a “blow-out” meaning you can fish the Sac when other venues are unfishable.

Our most favorite thing to do in winter is to chase winter steelhead. Guides and hardcore anglers all know this is the most exciting thing we have waited all year for. With each passing rainstorm, fresh chrome winter steelhead migrate upriver into our fishing zones. We chase them primarily on the Trinity and Feather rivers, and when conditions are just right, we head over to the coast on the Eel river for a chance at the biggest, most aggressive, and most special fish we have on the west coast of North America. We are addicted to chasing these fish because hooking one can feel like getting struck by lightning in the best of ways. Pure excitement and chaos. Chasing winter steelhead can mean cold hands and long hours searching for one glorious opportunity, and when it happens, you’ll remember it forever. Fish can exceed 30 inches at times. We don’t do it for numbers, and if you experience it with an open mind it’s easy to see why. The variety of steelhead and trout fish options during the winter in Nor Cal will leave an angler with too many places to fish, and not enough time to fish it all. Fish that live in your mind forever, and Nor Cal is one of the very few places on earth to experience it in it’s full glory.

Seasons of Steelhead fishing on the Trinity and Feather

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:02:28 GMT

November is here, and so are our long expected fall steelhead runs.

The Trinity River boasts some of the most famous steelhead runs in Northern California. The Trinity still has lots of pristine spawning habitat for chinook and coho salmon below Lewiston Dam, making it a perfect place for steelhead to also thrive. Since it is a tailwater fishery, the Trinity will typically fish well throughout winter storms that will blow out most of the other rivers in the North State. Throughout fall, hatchery steelhead return to the Trinity in large numbers. Around mid-November when the rains begin, more larger wild winter fish also begin to show up on the Trinity making the chance at a true trophy a real possibility every day. Having both hatchery and wild runs mingled together, the opportunity for epic steelhead fishing on the Trinity is as good as it gets by mid November through December, as well as January through March if the weather cooperates. The steelhead on the Trinity tend to act somewhat trout-like being willing to take smaller bug imitations as well as the classic steelhead attractor style flies and egg patterns. As rains increase and the river swells, the attractors and egg patterns take over. The sheer number of steelhead on the Trinity also make it a favorite place to swing flies for many folks. Not that it isn’t challenging, they certainly make you work for them some days, but overall the success rate on this river is much better compared to the more fickle coastal fisheries. January through March can be a special time on the Trinity. Many folks go home or look to coastal venues this time of year, leaving the river uncrowded. This often results in some of the best fishing of the entire year on the Trinity.

Closer to Northern California's metropolitan areas, the Feather River near the city of Oroville can also be a really fun place to steelhead fish throughout the fall and winter into spring. An easy day trip from Sacramento or San Francisco, you’d be surprised at how uncrowded it can can as fall fades into winter. The Feather River steelhead aren’t as big on average as their Trinity and Coastal cousins, but they often make up for it in numbers. A short float can sometimes yield double digit opportunities on a good day. Like most steelhead, they love egg patterns. The Feather sees a good fall salmon run, and afterwards the steelhead keep looking for those leftover huevos rancheros. Being a dam-fed river, the Feather usually stays clean when other places blow out with heavy rains. This means it usually fishes most of the winter, through March and April even. November through March is prime time here , and often as the weather worsens, the fishing improves so don’t be afraid to fish on a rainy day here. Like any river , it has its up and down years. The last couple years have been great, and this year is no exception so far. The Feather is a perfect example that good steelhead fishing is more accessible than most folks think. A perfect place to hone your skills before chasing the larger and more elusive coastal fish.

Fall Fishing in all the Variety

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:03:25 GMT

Fall Fishing in all the Variety

Fall is in the air all throughout Northern California. It seems like this year we are seeing a more typical fall than in the few years past. A few cloudy days, and salmon returning to their spawning beds. Life is good. There’s so much to talk about with Fall fishing. The honest truth is that there are no wrong answers. Just good fishing in almost every body of water all throughout Northern CA.

Starting out, the star of almost every season in Nor Cal is the Lower Sac . While every season is good on the Sac, the fall is no doubt the most popular. This is for one main reason. The egg drop. Starting sometime in early October, the large fall chinook salmon dig their redds and start to spawn, kicking off a trout feeding frenzy that can rival Alaska. While the entire time you can still fish bugs and be very successful, the fall egg bite is just plain exciting. Typically great weather, and trout gorging themselves silly. This year, we are already seeing lots of salmon spawning in Redding and a red-hot trout bite, a great sign for the fishing to come. Along with this egg drop on the Sac, the Trinity River sees a push of Chinook salmon spawning during this same fall window, which triggers a steelhead bite that can be incredible at times. Fresh steelhead follow the salmon upriver in anticipation of the feast to last them through the winter.

Another Valley stream that can absolutely go off in the fall is the Feather . It’s fished exceptional in recent years. The Feather can sometimes see as many or more salmon spawning in it than the Sac, which can mean tons of steelhead right behind them. The valley steelhead are fun fish that aren’t averaging as big as their coastal counterparts, but typically make up for it with numbers and aggression. The Feather is located conveniently to the major metro areas, about an hour closer than the Sac on average.

Further up the mountain, another amazing fall spectacle takes place simultaneously with the return of the salmon and egg bite frenzy. The October Caddis hatch. For October Caddis, the McCloud and Upper Sac are the places to be. It’s small water dry fly or dry-dropper fishing at it’s finest. Golden fall colors highlighted against the lush green river corridor make it a moving experience just being up there. Seeing fish destroy a giant October Caddis Stimulator on the surface is icing on the cake. To make matters even better, the large brown trout from Lake Shasta also begin their fall spawning migration at this time.The mega brown trout of the McCloud are typically caught in October / November as they stage and feed before spawning. This time of year with so many good options, it’s not uncommon to find yourself alone on these streams as so many places are drawing anglers' attention at once.

Early September Fishing Report

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 16:04:20 GMT

Fishing Report - 9/2/25

The extended forecast shows temperatures dropping back to the low 90s, steelhead are showing up, the trout are turning on, there’s no doubt fall is right around the corner. Here’s a little snippet of what’s been going down lately.

Lower Sac

Flows just dropped below 9k cfs which is prime. We’ve had yet another great past two weeks on the Lower Sac. Our experience has been this: Almost no fishing pressure, and plenty of great fishing. One report from yesterday was that the river fished as good as it has in any of the years past. We are having great number days, and seeing quality fish hit the net. The Baetis Spinnerfall in the morning has been one of the most consistent producers, but a steady bite through the day on small jigged flies like the Weiss Nymph in a #18, or Olive Hotspot, has been the normal program, with flurries of hot bites in the mornings and evenings. Also, there have been some salmon spawning up in town which has made an egg bite turn on when fished in the right spots, a very good sign for fall. Below Bonny, the Rubber legs are also cleaning up. Some evenings, we’ve been seeing the fishing as good as it’s ever been. There are some subtle and extremely specific things our guides do to drastically improve our success, that in years past wasn’t near as critical. Boat placement, and fly placement has been paramount to keeping rods bent in the narrow feeding lanes.

Fall River

We are very happy to report that the grass at the beginning of the month has cleared out. Since then, the fishing has been phenomenal. Our guide Travis has reported seeing no other boats on his last day out, and had some of the best fishing he’s ever seen up there. There has been a reliable Callibaetis Spinnerfall in the morning, and scattered BWO hatches throughout the days, PMDs are on the forecast to return for September as the weather cools slightly. This will be a great option until it gets colder in November.

McCloud River

The McCloud has been the best walk n wade option in Nor Cal over the past two weeks and should continue into September. This is the perfect time to be in the canyon near Ash Camp, and it’s been great the past few weeks. The reason for this is the cold, consistent flows from McCloud Reservoir entering the river just upstream from Ash Camp. The clarity has also been excellent. Pocket water is great, but there are also fish in the pools. This is that classic time of year when any small dark Perdigon will probably be a top choice for flies. Mornings and evenings have been top producers with the mid-day heat slowing the bite a little. October Caddis are about a month or so away, but the fish are already eating their nymphs, so don’t be afraid to even fish a big mop fly. Looking ahead, the McCloud should be on everyone’s radar.

Trinity River

We just received a fast flow bump last week, which shot a BUNCH of steelhead upriver into the stretches we like to fish from Lewiston all the way down below Junction City. Since then, the flows have dropped to 500 cfs. It has fished awesome on the drop. Yesterday there were a pile of fish around, and they were pretty good biters. Nymphing small egg patterns, or the classic Trinity flies like rubberlegs or copper johns have all been safe bets. These early adult fish have averaged 22-25” with some 28” + monsters getting hooked. These early fish are some of the hottest steelhead you’ll ever encounter. Over the next few weeks these early steelhead should be a great option.

Upper Sac

We haven’t fished the Upper Sac much recently because of the warmer water and hot outside temps making it strictly an early morning / late evening bite. That being said, there are still plenty of bites to be had on the little Weiss nymph initiating a Baetis in the early mornings before it gets hot outside and the sun hits the water. We have also heard that the carpenter ant patterns have been producing some action. The McCloud is simply a better full day option right now. As weather cools later into September, the Upper Sac will become a better option again.

Feather River

We are entering prime season for the Feather. There have been some really fresh early valley steelhead already starting to push in, in addition to the resident fish always present. There have also been lots of early fall salmon in the system, which has begun the egg bite on the Feather. In recent years the Feather has been a fish factory. The next three months should be an awesome time to be on this valley stream, which for many folks does not take nearly as long to drive to as other further north options.

Early August Fishing Report

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 15:32:33 GMT

August Fly Fishing Report

Overall, we’ve had great weather and great fishing over the past few weeks. We have a couple more hot days, then back to the 90s which is actually unusually cool for Redding in August, something we are all welcoming with open arms. Now let’s get to the fishing…..

Lower Sac

Our beloved trout fishing powerhouse is still kicking out great fishing as we nose into the dog days of summer. Our guides are reporting that right now, it’s been best in the mornings. It is opposite of how it normally would be this time of year, where evenings are typically the hot bite. The evenings have been fishing well also, but with less consistency than in the mornings due to the sporadic nature of the caddis hatch. A Baetis spinner fall and other spent mayflies like PMDS have been making up the majority of the food source during these cooler morning hours, and the trout having been taking keen advantage of it. Also, there has been a notable showing of Spring Chinook salmon spawning in the upper reaches. This means an egg pattern is very much a valid option when fished near spawning salmon. The August 1st (above highway 44) opener was reportedly fantastic, with lots of big fish and consistent action through the top stretch in both the morning and afternoon on a huge smorgasbord of flies as the fish have been unpressured since April 1st. We are also getting reports that the river below Anderson is fishing fantastic as well, especially in the morning. Overall, it seems like the river is healthier than it has been over the past two years and is trending more positively each day.

Trinity River

The Trinity recently got a flow increase up to 1,500 cfs which has greatly increased the number of fish pushing into it’s upper reaches. Right now it’s hovering around 680 cfs in Douglas City which is prime flows. With this flow bump, the summer steelhead fishing has been nothing short of fantastic. More and more, the Trinity is becoming recognized for it’s amazing early season fishing. It hasn’t been crowded, and there have been plenty of white-hot summer steelhead and half pounders around. The fish haven’t been picky with this higher water, so fishing with what you have confidence in should work great. Rubber-legs, egg patterns, copper johns, etc. it’s all on the menu with the right drift. Don’t wait until November to experience this.

Upper Sac

The Upper Sac has been a great wet wading option lately to get out of the heat. The water below Simms has been a bit too warm, so we are focusing our efforts above that point. The dry-dropper fishing has still been very consistent. The mornings and evenings have as usual been best for the dry fly fishing, and mid-day is mostly nymphing and a bit slower. Perdigon style nymphs and Two Bits are a very safe bet underneath a chubby chernobyl or small indicator. With this warmer water, the fast water pockets with foam on top have been the key producers. August is a very fun time to wade the Upper Sac.

McCloud

Following a brief blowout due to a thunderstorm and landslide, the McCloud is back in good shape and fishing well. In the coming weeks, we expect this to continue. Our guide Travis reported catching some very nice browns and solid rainbows over the past few days. Water temperatures on the McCloud are much cooler coming out of McCloud Reservoir, so this stream can be fished from Ash Camp all the way to the bottom of the Conservancy with no worries about water being too warm. Much like all the walk n wade streams right now, oxygenated pocket water is the ticket. The McCloud has lots of shade, so the bite window in the morning and evening is more extended than that of other rivers. Think Perdigons and other basic Jigged attractors like Duracels and blow torches. There are still some fish eating the chubby chernobyl dry fly as well. We are right around the corner from the Mega-Sized October Caddis appearing, but until then it seems the fish will not be going hungry as they are already feeding on their Larva, and some mop flies have been getting bit.

Pit River

We haven’t had many reports from the Pit lately, but we can assume that it’s famous slippery pocket water is fishing just as good if not better than the Upper Sac and Mccloud. Summer on the Pit is always fun because wet wading makes it a little more fun if you fall in.

Fall River

Our latest report from the Fall River is that the grass die-off has increased making fishing challenging due to constantly needing to clear the hooks from grass. Fish are still being caught, but the grass maintenance has been a lot to keep up with when there are so many other great venues to fish right now. Once we start seeing some cooler weather in September a few weeks from now, this should subside. Until then, we recommend focusing on the Sac or Trinity because they have been outshining the Fall as of lately.

Lake Shasta

The water is WARM in Lake Shasta right now with surface temps in the 80s and 70s up the river arms. The fish have pushed deep during the day, and are accessible in the mornings / evenings when they chase huge schools of Shad. Overall, this fishery needs a few weeks to cool down and will fish much better in September / October as the weather cools just a little. There are still fish getting caught here, but in our opinion the Lower Sac, Trinity, Upper Sac, and McCloud are all likely better options right now.

July Fishing Report

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 15:44:36 GMT

July Fishing Report

The summer is here in full force. It’s time to ditch the waders and head to the hills, we have some lights out fantastic fishing going on in Nor Cal right now. Our walk n wade fisheries have been the highlight this week, with the McCloud, Upper Sac, and Pit firing on all cylinders. The Lower Sac, with a slight flow increase, is also fishing better than the previous week.

Lower Sac:

We have plenty of water this summer on the big river. Flowing at 14,700 cfs right now, the river is moving lots of water for the farmers downstream. This doesn’t mean bad fishing, in fact quite the contrary. We prefer it at this flow rather than slightly lower even, because it concentrates the fish. It definitely hasn’t been “easy” cast anywhere and get bit style fishing, but it has been outstanding at the right place at the right time. The softer edges of riffles and current seams have been very very productive, especially when the bugs are hatching. The bites are very “quick” meaning you could have tons of bites in a day but only hook some of them if you are super slow on the hookset, so pay close attention. The caddis are still showing themselves, and from the sounds of it, classic flies like the Tan Birdsnest (#14-18) or Cinnamon Pupa (#14-18) are getting plenty of love. The smorgasbord of flashy pmd nymphs, Perdigons, and the occasional Pat’s Rubber-leg are of course getting some bites as well. Now is a good time to fish the late evenings or downriver floats. Yesterday we received an outstanding report from the stretch below Anderson, huge numbers and complete solitude. If you’ve traditionally fished the stretch in town, now is the time to see it down low. It’s a totally different river down there, lots of wildlife, scenery, and less-educated trout.

Upper Sac:

The Upper Sac is flowing around 300 cfs on the Delta Gauge. Our latest guide report: “It’s on fire”. One of our guides reported hooking dozens of fish in a short stretch of river during a full day trip today, with many rising to the dry fly. 300cfs is perfect shape for wading this river. You don’t want it any lower or higher, and you DON’T need waders. Wading boots and Neoprene socks are perfect, it’s time to get wet and enjoy the cool water on a hot summer’s day. As always on this river when it’s in shape, go hiking and find happy fish and solitude. Fish are still taking the surface chubby chernobyl dry fly (golden stone imitation), as well as CDC style Jigged Mayfly Nymphs below it. One report we heard that the Rubber-legs are not working as well as usual, and it’s been more of a mayfly game during the daytime. In the evenings, the Caddis emerge which makes it time for dry fly fishing a missing link, or nymphing with classic prince patterns.

McCloud:

The McCloud report from this week is that it is also “on fire”. It seems like less fish are rising to the surface for the Chubby dry fly, but the CDC style mayfly nymphs with large beadheads are getting down in the fast water and getting bit constantly. Focusing on the pockets amongst the fast water, with a broken surface, has been the key to success. We have also heard that the stonefly nymph imitations aren’t working as well here either, and that a small jigged mayfly is almost a sure thing in the right spot. The evenings have been seeing much more dry fly action, with some unusually large Caddis already hatching for this early in the year. The clarity is reportedly back to the “Glacial Blue” the McCloud is known for. Not gin clear but plenty of vis for them to see your flies.

Pit River:

July might be our favorite month on the Pit. The fish that live behind every rock on this river seem to all be feeding! Our last few guide days out there have been outstanding. Nymphing reins supreme here, no doubt about it. The CDC style mayflies and other jigged mayfly variations have been the top producers. The river is in perfect shape for wet wading, which is really nice because if you fall in, you just get cooled off.

Fall River:

The Fall is still cranking out consistent results day in day out. The quality of the fish lately has been impressive. For most of the day, various types of Baetis have been the top game, whether it be small pods of fish sipping spent spinners, or tiny size 18 or 20 two-bit nymphs (or other small Baetis) under a small indicator. Moss has been a problem here lately, which requires much more fly maintenance. A stripped leech has also yielded a few results lately.

Lake Shasta:

Lake Shasta bass fishing is still absolutely a thing. It is more specific now that the surface temperature of the lake is rising, meaning finding the cold water influence is key. The McCloud, Upper Sac, and Pit arms have all been producing great fishing in the upper reaches. Additionally, many trout have been getting caught during our guided bass fishing days recently.

Dry Fly Fishing in Northern California

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 16:29:27 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Peak summer hatches

As we stride into summer, it’s time to talk about the bug hatches that make summer time fly fishing in Northern California famous. Northern California isn’t always known for it’s dry fly fishing, but summer can often provide some great surface action if you know where to look.

It wouldn’t be summer without our good friend the Caddis. On the Lower Sacramento, these larger summertime Hydropsyche Caddis begin to hatch in droves during the evenings and mornings of the hottest summer days. Fish nose up into the shallows and feed recklessly during these hatches. In the evening, there is a twilight window where the dry fly fishing can be off the hook if there is a strong caddis hatch. Flies like the “Missing Link” or “Outrigger Caddis” anywhere from a size 12-16 are sure bets. Look for those moth-looking bugs in the air, and there's a decent chance the fishing will be good in the right places. We find them on riffles, glassy current seams, swirls, and tailouts.

Next, we think about our walk n wade fisheries. Summer is prime time to catch fish looking up in our walk n wade fisheries, especially the Upper Sac and McCloud. Any large golden stone attractor style fly can get an eat in these rivers, even if there aren’t any fish currently rising. The way the fish eat these flies is typically an explosion that often results in such an excitement that you set the hook too soon. Remember to wait a second for the fish to turn down with the fly. Flies like the Chubby Chernobyl are hard to beat, and also serve as a perfect indicator if you hang a dropper nymph below them. In the evenings, both of these streams get caddis hatches much like the Lower Sac. It’s typically an evening thing, once the overhead sun is gone. You can find fish hunting for adult caddis in the glassy tailouts, foam lines, and riffles. A “missing link” that matches the size bugs you see hatching is a great bet.

The Fall River also must be mentioned if we are talking Nor Cal dry fly fishing in the summer. The giant Hexagenia Mayflies that arrive on summer evenings here are amazing. Hatches of these giant flies often blanket the water. Fishing this hatch is a short, but active window of action. The last 30 minutes of daylight into the pitch darkness is typically the only window that it happens, but it can look like sprinkler heads going off as fish ruthlessly thrash at the surface for every Hex they can grab. The fall river also can produce dry fly fishing all day for other much smaller hatches. Callibaetis, Tricos, BWOs, PMDs, and Caddis all have their windows of hatching. Feeding these fish in the daytime is technical. It requires 5-6x tippet and an absolutely perfect drift. It is extremely rewarding if successful.

Northern California Fly Fishing Report - June 2025

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 16:34:01 GMT

Fishing Report on 6/12

A quick re-cap of the fishing the past few weeks as well as an outlook to what’s ahead..

Lower Sac

The Lower Sac has been very good for those who are dialed in to the game over the past few weeks. It’s been highly specific, meaning you can have an epic day or a tough day depending on many factors such as fly patterns, feeding windows, and fish location within the river. This is when having lots of experience in this river comes into play and pays off in dividends. Our guides are reporting some of the best fishing taking place in the skinniest 1-3 ft of water. On a huge positive note, we are also seeing a much stronger showing of Caddis than we did last year, all the way downriver past Anderson. The fish seem to be preferring them when possible, however the full smorgasbord of PMD’s , Sallie’s, and Stones are also still in effect. The flows have been bumping up and down, but it seems to affect the fish less and less each time as change is becoming the norm for them. The presence of these Caddis creates a very positive outlook on the summer ahead. The evenings and mornings should continue to only get better. This is a great time to hop on the “Beat the Heat” special we are running, so that anglers can take advantage of these prime bite windows and avoid the hottest parts of the day on the water. Last year our Caddis were simply not showing up as consistently which made the fishing tougher, this year it seems we are blessed with a much stronger showing of these crucial insects so far.

Fall River

We are entering the heart of the Fall river season. The past couple weeks have been great fishing on our favorite spring creek. With the coming weeks of stable warm weather, we can only expect this fishery to improve as we stride into it’s peak season. The game is still specific day by day, meaning you have to pay close attention to what is hatching and what size. When in the right place at the right time on the Fall, magic is happening. We are seeing plenty of bug variety, including several kinds of Baetis, PMDs, Midges, and Caddis. It also sounds like the the Hex hatch has begun in the late evenings!

McCloud

The past couple weeks on the McCloud have been Golden Stone time. Each spring this hatch produces some really fun fishing with dry-dropper setups and it has been no exception lately. A large Golden Chubby-Chernobly with any Golden Stonefly nymph below is sure to get some action right now. This is the perfect time of year to hike into the lesser traveled stretches of the canyon and experience some solitude paired with epic dry-dropper fishing. As is usual on this river, more walking = more reward. In addition to Golden Stones, there are also still some Caddis, PMDs, Sallies, and Baetis mixed in.

Upper Sac

The flows have finally receded on the Upper Sac! As of this writing, it is 500 cfs at Delta. A large drop from the 1,000 cfs it was at this time last month. For the first time of the season, we can say it really is go-time for this river. We haven’t had a ton of reports yet as the river only recently dropped into prime shape and we have been busy on all the other awesome venues close by, but what we have heard so far has been great. That being said, we can’t imagine it not being great right now on this river. The fish haven’t seen much angling pressure for many, many months. A Golden Stone nymph or a Pat’s Rubberlegs paired with a prince nymph of any kind fished into the soft edges and pools is a very safe bet. Also, a dry-dropper setup will have some fish looking up much like on the McCloud.

Hat Creek

The past few weeks have been awesome dry fly fishing in the shallow water (1-3ft) downstream of highway 299 when looking in the right places. As temperatures continue to warm things up, the game will likely shift back over to the Baetis, Caddis, and PMD varieties. For now, Golden Stones and Salmonflies are still in play. How long they last, we don’t know for sure. The wild trout section of this little spring creek is a technical fishery, luck here typically requires some knowledge, practice, and awareness.

Pit River

Now is the time to think about the Pit River. We love wet wading this river as summer temperatures increase, especially the popular “Pit 3” section. It’s time to start thinking about the Pit. We have some trips scheduled here over the next couple of weeks and will have some updated reports soon.

Lake Shasta

Lake Shasta has still been a great option over the past few weeks. Our guide Travis continues to be locked in on the pulse of this amazing and dynamic fishery consistently delivering sore forearms for our bass fishing anglers. Recently, the attention has shifted to the arms of the lake where the cool waters from the Upper Sac, McCloud, Pit rivers come in. This has created some unique options for trout / bass combo trips on the lake. We are seeing some really nice trout caught along with our spotted bass on most recent days. As summer temperatures warm the lake water, the cold water influence from these tributaries will become increasingly important.

PMD's Under the Bobber - Hatches of Northern CA

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:57:52 GMT

Hatch Highlight: PMDs under the bobber

It’s springtime, and on trout rivers across the west this means it’s PMD time. PMDs (Pale Morning Duns) are a mayfly loved by trout and trout anglers alike. Little cream colored helicopters, these bugs are often preferred by trout, even when the trout have a long menu of other appetizers and entrees. When nymphing during PMD time, it can vary from wide open pick any general mayfly nymph and get bit, to extremely picky fish why are there bugs everywhere and I’m not getting bit. In fishing there are never any certain answers, but here’s some tips that sometimes help us get an extra bite or two when imitating a PMD subsurface.

Mornings : Before you start seeing the little cream colored helicopters (Adult Pale Morning Duns) hatching, there are often spent spinners leftover from yesterday’s hatch. They are adults who laid their eggs already and are dead or dying, and usually look more rusty colored and skinny. Skinny Nymphs like the S&M and X-May imitate this well.

As the hatch begins : You are seeing an adult bug or two starting to come out, not a bad time to fish an emerger nymph. Frenchies, Crack Backs, Split Case PMDs, really anything with a dark body and a little bit of yellow showing. The bright cream / yellow PMDs are vulnerable as they shed their dark exoskeletons. Trout know this.

The main heat :

You are seeing bugs all over. This can be the hottest bite where any PMD nymph works, or a time when there’s so many options your flies have a hard time standing out. The Peaches n Cream nymph looks like these big bright adult duns, but often they still take the emerger nymphs as good or better. Sometimes a flashy attractor like a perdigon style nymph will also stand out better.

 Post hatch :

Things are winding down. Not an easy time to get a ton of bites as the trout aren’t darting around expending energy feeding. This is a good time to get your flies deeper, as close to the bottom as possible. Patterns matter less here. Hit them on the nose with it. Spent spinners, attractors, emergers, or adults all can get you a bite or two here. Think perdigons or anything you have confidence in fishing.

What works for one fisherman might not work for another, so everything here comes with a grain of salt. Just go fishing and don’t overthink it.

Summertime Fishing/Fall River w/ Travis Babin & Devon Canty

Thu, 29 May 2025 19:53:11 GMT

Season 3 - Episode 3

Guides Travis Babin & Devon Canty chat about the Fall River and other options for early Summer in Northern California

Top 5 Summer Fisheries (Lower Sac, Fall River, Upper Sac, McCloud, Pit)

Mon, 26 May 2025 18:09:28 GMT

The Best Fly Fishing Options in Northern California during the Summer

As we look forward to summer and all the fun that it brings, here are the top 5 Northern California summer fisheries that should be on every angler’s bucket-list this summer.

The Lower Sacramento

The Lower Sac deserves to be at the top of this list for many reasons. The fish on the Lower Sac during the summer months are in some of the healthiest and hard fighting shape you will ever find a wild rainbow trout to be in. Most days even during extreme heat spells we see consistent fishing, and the temperature on the water typically is several degrees cooler than the surrounding area. On a typical summer evening, large Hydropsyche caddis hatch as the shade begins to hit the water. This can make the bite go into full frenzy mode in the riffles as the trout gorge themselves on these vulnerable snacks. Paired with golden summer evening light and it’s an experience like no other. All day during the summertime on the Lower Sac you will typically find some bugs hatching and fish feeding. In the Lower Stretches, summer means large stonefly imitations and “swirl” fishing when some of the hardest fighting trout in the river suspend just under the surface in deep holes feeding in the miniature whirlpools created by the current. A summer float on the Lower Sac, especially in the lower stretches can mean complete solitude and solid fishing.

Fall River

The Fall River is undoubtedly the most unique fishery in Northern California. The large spring creek literally boils up from underground and meanders through gentle grass beds as it wanders it’s way through the scenic Fall River valley. Summer is peak fishing season on Fall river, as water temperatures finally become warm enough for insect hatches to take place. Gin clear water makes the fish wary, so good presentation is key here. That being said, anglers can have huge days of constant action on this prolific river. Summer also brings with it the famous Hexagenia mayfly hatch. These giant yellow mayflies hatch at dusk, creating a short yet intense flurry of dry fly fishing action that has become famous on this river.

Upper Sacramento River

It wouldn’t be summer in Nor Cal if we didn’t talk about wading the Upper Sac. This fishery is many people’s favorite walk n wade stream in the summer. As outside temperatures rise, wet wading with no waders becomes a refreshing way to beat the heat and catch fish. With over 30 miles of productive water above Lake Shasta, finding complete solitude is easy on the Upper Sac. With a little hiking and adventurous spirit, you can fish areas that seldom see any anglers. The trout population on this river seems to be in extremely good shape, so if the water looks fishy, it probably has fish. Nymphing with various caddis, stonefly, and mayflies all work great depending on what’s hatching that day. Dry Dropper is always worth fishing as well, especially in the pocket water. Prince nymphs, rubber legs, and jigged perdigon style flies are always a safe bet here. We also see some dry fly action in the mornings and evenings most days.

McCloud River

The McCloud River is easily one of the most famous trout streams in California, if not the most famous. The scenery alone is worth a visit. Emerald blue water, giant foliage, and some of the prettiest native redband rainbow trout in the world as well as brown trout that grow quite large. On the hot days, wet wading here is an option although the water is typically pretty cold still coming out of McCloud reservoir. The shaded canyon of the Lower McCloud is always a welcomed oasis from Northern California’s summer heat. Summer time is pocket water season on the McCloud, and most oxygenated boulder pockets will have fish waiting for the opportunity to eat the right fly. Sometimes in this foamy water, attractor style flies like a copper john will get bit as good or better than a perfect caddis, mayfly, or stonefly imitation. Dry dropper fishing is a perfect way to cover this water, and an explosion on a chubby chernobyl dry fly is like nothing else. Hiking this river on a summer day is a rewarding and special experience, and it is important to note, watch out for rattle snakes as you hike in.

Pit River

Summer is peak season on the Pit River. The main reason we say this is because you can wet wade all day in the summer, as the river temps are usually perfect for this and the outside temperatures require it. “There a fish behind every rock on the Pit” is a saying we hear often, and we have experienced it to be true. The Pit River is known for having stout “football” shaped rainbows that don’t typically grow long, but they do grow round. These fish pound for pound are some of the hardest fighting native trout around. Wading the pit is very challenging, as the boulders are slick and plentiful. This is why wet wading is perfect, because if you slip a little, it’s always nice to cool off in the river anyways. Golden Stoneflies are prolific on the Pit River, which makes any golden stonefly nymph an easy choice. There are also plenty of Caddis, Mayflies, and other Stoneflies that hatch on this river. Often, the trout aren’t extremely picky here. It’s more about getting a fly in front of them.

Northern California Fly Fishing Report 5/10/25

Wed, 14 May 2025 16:12:43 GMT

Northern California Fly Fishing Report 5/10/25

Fly fishing in Northern California has been great over the past few weeks. Some highlights have been the flurries of dry fly action on both Hat Creek and McCloud River, along with a phenomenal spotted bass bite on Lake Shasta. Fall river is also beginning to take off, making now a great time to head to the mountains.

River Reports:

Lower Sacramento:

The Lower Sac has been producing really great fishing on most days as is usual for this time of year. There were a few scattered days where wind or abrupt flow changes dampened the bite for a few hours, however even on those days anglers still had some action and flurries of bites. Looking forward, we expect the bite to continue being great. The river recently jumped up to 15,000 cfs after hovering around 8,000 cfs. Fishing in these flows is still good, especially in the soft water edges. These are the conditions where the guide / angler connection is key. An angler paying very close attention to the drift can have an amazing day, however the bites can be fast and subtle in these conditions making it very important to stay engaged with your drift. In the faster current, mending your line on time can be the difference between a day filled with bites, or a day struggling. Our guides reported a large variety of nymphs working. There was a hot yellow-sallie bite last week below town, and in town it sounds like the larger stonefly nymphs and standard PMDs are all working. Each day there is a smorgasbord of PMDs, Sallies, Caddis, and Stoneflies hatching. Also, we are entering the time of year where there are spawning trout in the redds, if you fish an egg pattern, please do so responsibly and avoid these shallow gravel spawning areas. We have been receiving reports that our guides have witnessed other boat anglers targeting these sensitive areas.

McCloud:

The McCloud is now entering it’s peak spring season. The flows and clarity are ideal right now. If this river is at all on your radar, now is go time. Our guide Devon reported recently having an outstanding dry fly session fishing green drakes. They also saw some salmonflies and golden stones. Looking into the coming weeks, the salmonflies and golden stones will take center stage and create some epic dry-dropper conditions in the pockets and pools of this world famous river. We expect to see the Green Drakes fade out and more Salmonflies and Golden Stoneflies show up, along with some caddis, PMD, and Baetis action sprinkled in. Surface attacks on big salmonfly imitations has us all very excited to fish the MCloud in the coming weeks.

Hat Creek:

Hat Creek is also entering its peak spring season. Over the past week we’ve had reports of epic salmonfly action on the surface in a foot or two of water down in the wild trout section. The riffles below 299 are some of our favorite water to fish during these hatches. There’s not much more exciting than seeing a fish appear out of nowhere in shallow water to inhale a huge bushy dry fly. The next month will be the best window of the year to throw these giant dry flies, after that it’s back to the small subtle presentations hat Creek is known for.

Fall River:

We’ve had some fresh fall river reports come in over the past week and we are hearing great things. It’s finally go-time on our favorite spring creek after waiting all winter for conditions to warm. The fish have been keyed into a Calibaetis hatch that produced great nymphing action most of the day with scattered fish rising on top as well. We did have an exceptionally windy day last week that made it more challenging, however fish were still caught even in these conditions. Looking forward, we are entering peak season for fall river fishing and are expecting the PMDs to begin hatching soon taking center stage while the Calibaetis continue hatching.

Upper Sac:

The Upper Sac is still flowing around 1,000 cfs from runoff, which is higher than is ideal for this river. With so many other great options over the past two weeks we simply didn’t fish it. However, there is no doubt that certain soft edges would likely be producing. The Upper Sac is on the top of our radar, because as soon as the flows drop a little more we expect it to be on fire. This is the time of year when salmonflies and golden stones are the supreme bug of choice, especially with high flows. Also, swinging streamers in the lower end can be a very fun option targeting the larger, hot, lake run fish from Shasta. Not many folks have fished this river for many months, we can’t wait to see what it brings when conditions are right.

Lake Report:

Lake Shasta is still producing wide open spotted bass fishing. Topwater in the mornings, and float n fly all day along with many other tactics working as well. It is a nuanced game, meaning you need to know where to look, as it is a massive body of water and changes frequently with lake level and water temperatures. Our guides have been dialed in on these hard fighting biters. This has been a guest favorite over the past couple weeks with some folks reporting it’s the best fishing they have ever experienced, a perfect experience for beginners. We expect this to continue through the rest of spring.

Beat the Heat - Summer Special

Thu, 08 May 2025 18:47:31 GMT

Summer Special 2025

Beat the Heat this Summer!

… And enjoy some of the finest Summer trout fishing in the North State.

We are happy to be rolling out a summer special again this year. In an effort to offer our guests the option to avoid some of the mid-day summer heat that we can get here in Redding, we are offering this fishing and lodging package at a discounted rate. This is what the trip would look like: head up to Redding in the afternoon, meet your guide and start fishing by 4pm to fish the evening session until sun down. This is usually a special window of the day when the bugs can come off strong and the trout can get aggressive in the fading, summer light. Spend the night at the nicest lodging accommodations in Redding at the Sheraton hotel. Get up early the next morning and fish the morning session while the temps are still comfortable and get off the water by lunch time. This "off-hour" Special has been a big hit the past few summers.

$595 per person (Based on double occupancy)

In effect: June 1 - August 31 2023

What you get:

Two Half Days of guided Fly Fishing (All inclusive for both anglers)

One night lodging at the Sheraton

Sheraton amenities include: Complimentary Breakfast, Wifi, Parking, Taxes and fees

*This special puts you on the water during prime fishing windows that most other guide services do not offer.

*In order to take advantage of the special offering, please mention the "Summer Special" at the time of inquiry.

Untangled Podcast - Just off the water with our good friends BMan & Jdub

Wed, 07 May 2025 17:28:06 GMT

Season 3 - Episode 3

Guides Anthony Carruesco & Jaret Flint sit down with Brian (BMan) & Justin (Jdub) after a day on the water. Brian & Justin have been fishing with us for years & like lots of our regular longtime guests, have become great friends.

Best Walk and Wade Fisheries in Northern California

Mon, 05 May 2025 18:03:47 GMT

Top 3 walk and wade fisheries for the early season: "Out of the boat" options for the adventurous angler

It’s time to dust off the wading boots, spring is here and so are the first great opportunities to get out of the drift boat and stretch your legs for some boulder-hopping fun. Springtime fly fishing in Northern California is not complete without a trip to one of our world renowned walk n wade streams. The “early season” walk n wade fishing that takes place before the summer heat arrives can be some of the funnest, with little to no crowds and uneducated fish.

McCloud River

The McCloud River comes in at the top of our list for an early season out of the boat option. It’s sheer beauty in springtime is transformative. The first major hatches of stoneflies, mayflies, and caddis enjoying the increased warmth and sunlight, with a stunning backdrop of budding green river foliage and new growth all around. The month of May is often our first real opportunity of the season to go out and fish dry flies consistently throughout the day. Watching a feisty redband come up from the depths to inhale a chubby chernobyl will certainly get the heart pumping. We also like the McCloud River in the earlier months because it is ahead of the summer heat waves that cause the ice formations on Mt. Shasta to begin melting. Once this melt begins sometime in the summer, the river can become silty making the fishing more challenging. Early spring is a great time to get out and hike in below Ash Camp, or ply the more accessible waters around AH-DI-NA.

Hat Creek

Hat Creek is an easy early springtime favorite. The end of April into May and early June is prime time for this gorgeous little gem. Salmonflies, Golden Stones, and a plethora of Mayflies fill the air on a warming spring day. Again, this might be the best dry fly window of the whole season on this little stream. It is the most easily wadeable of all our Northern California streams making it more accessible for anglers with limited mobility. For the adventurous angler, there are miles of water you can hike and get away from the crowds. We especially enjoy hiking the stretch between Highway 299 and Lake Britton in the “wild trout” designated zone. It’s important to be stealthy, patiently stalking the banks looking for rising fish in ambush zones. You can also slowly pick your way through the riffles in the lower end of this stretch, and do not overlook the shallow water.

Upper Sacramento River

The Upper Sacramento River deserves to be on this list due to it’s pure variety and awesomeness. It’s important to note that flows can be a little too high at times to make early spring fishing ideal, as they are at the moment. This is not always the case. As the flows begin to recede, even at levels some folks consider to be far too high, the fishing can be beyond incredible. We find the fish pushed into soft water near the edges, sometimes in dense schools. This is when we typically catch the largest fish of the season on this river, as they are pushed out of their deeper preferred holding pools by turbulent flows. They are typically opportunistic during this time, making giant stonefly imitations an easy bet. To effectively fish the higher spring flows, you sometimes will have to cover lots of water often driving in between spots to maximize time spent fishing these softer holding pockets near the bank. It’s typically well worth the effort, and you will see very few to no other anglers while doing so.

Fly Fishing Report 4 /25/25 - Spring Northern California Fly Fishing

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 17:29:45 GMT

Both the Weather & Fishing are heating up. Lower Sac, Shasta Lake, & the McCloud River are all excellent options.

Spring fly fishing in Northern California is in full swing. We have two more months of these prime conditions and couldn’t be more excited as we head into the heart of our spring season.

Lower Sacramento

The Lower Sac has been putting out consistent reports of good fishing all week. Flows briefly bumped up to 10,000 cfs to help outward migrating juvenile Chinook on their journey downriver, and are now back down to 6,500 cfs. The fishing remained solid when flows were at 10k cfs and have stayed great as it drops. Later in the morning has had the most consistent action. There have been decent hatches of PMDs and Caddis, with a few yellow sallies starting to show up as well as a few of the larger stonefly varieties present. The good ole rubberleg stonefly imitation has been putting fish in the net from top to bottom and has been a top fly for many guides. Looking into the coming weeks we expect these hatches to continue building and the bite only getting better. These hatches are when PMD imitations like the split back PMD and classic Frenchie will work the best. In May we typically see some of the biggest hatches of PMDs of the season and you can expect the fish to be feeding aggressively in the shallow fast water when this happens. Some of the most exciting fishing of the year on the Sac is coming up soon with the chance to catch fish in extremely shallow water for this big river.

Lake Shasta

Shasta Lake is no doubt the hottest fishing report we have, the last two weeks have been nothing short of phenomenal. One guest fishing with us on Shasta recently reported that it was “the best fishing of their entire lives”. The hard fighting spotted bass are being caught by the dozens and from the sounds of it, you will have sore forearms from fighting fish all day if you go fishing on Shasta Lake right now. It also sounds like a plethora of tactics are working, but the most consistent is the deadly effective “Float n Fly” technique that imitates a wounded shad. Spotted Bass will continue this ferocious bite into May ahead of their spawn.

Walk & Wade

Upper Sac - McCloud - Pit - Hat Creek

We recently received an excellent report on the McCloud River from our guide Travis Babin who fished it on 4/22. The flows were ideal and there was even some dry fly action to be had. It’s officially go time on the McCloud and we expect May and June to be prime time on this river. When flows and temperatures become ideal, the first few weeks of fishing on our walk n wade rivers can be the best of the entire season. Uneducated fish from the winter will be excited to take advantage of the first major bug hatches, and a keen angler will be sure not to miss this opportunity. We recently received an excellent report on the McCloud River from our guide Travis Babin who fished it on 4/22. The flows were ideal and there was even some dry fly action to be had. It’s officially go time on the McCloud and we expect May and June to be prime time on this river. When flows and temperatures become ideal, the first few weeks of fishing on our walk n wade rivers can be the best of the entire season. Uneducated fish from the winter will be excited to take advantage of the first major bug hatches, and a keen angler will be sure not to miss this opportunity.

The Upper Sac is flowing 2,000 cfs at Delta which is higher than most like to fish it, so not many folks have tried. We fully expect it to be receding from these high flows in the near future, so it definitely needs to be on the radar. We haven't had any guides on Hat Creek over the past week but this should also be a good option in the near future with the nice weather and increased bug hatches.

Spring Hatches - The Best Flies for Spring Fly Fishing in Northern California

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 16:43:38 GMT

Top 3 Early Spring Fishing Venues - the Best Fly Fishing Options in Northern California

Spring (March - May) hatches on our local waters - Bugs and and things that start the feeding frenzy

Spring is here, and along with it the very beginning of the prolific spring bug hatches on our favorite Northern California trout streams. The arrival of these aquatic insect hatches marks the beginning of an annual trout feeding frenzy on the Lower Sac, Upper Sac, McCloud, Pit, and Fall rivers along with Hat Creek and Baum Lake. As the days get longer and warmer, the first of the major insect hatches begins with the Pale Morning Duns or “PMDs” in late March and early April. We see PMDs throughout the entire year at times, but the major spring hatch that captivates the trout’s attention typically peaks from April through June. PMDs are one of our most abundant Mayflies on the Lower Sac, Upper Sac, Pit, and McCloud Rivers. They range in color from rusty brown to bright yellow and roughly from size #14- size #18. We fish them at every stage through a given day, often starting out imitating spent spinners from the previous day, to active nymphs, emergers, cripples and duns as the daily hatch progresses. A cloudy spring day during a strong PMD hatch can create excellent dry fly fishing on the Lower Sac, which is very rare most of the year. Typically a few weeks after the PMD hatch gets going, we start to see Yellow Sallie Stoneflies emerge. This usually happens a little later in April with May being the peak, and can last through July. They are also bright yellow, and look a lot like PMDs. Sometimes we fish nymphs such as the “UV Sally” that successfully imitate both Sallies and PMDs due to their relative similarity in size and color. When hatching at the same time, one can tell them apart by this simple visual cue. When flying, Yellow Sallies look like a Chinook Helicopter, while PMDs look like a single rotor helicopter. This is because Sallies have four wings, and PMDs have two. Both are loved by the trout, and can vary day by day which one they prefer based on hatch abundance.

As we get into the month of May, we look forward to seeing the arrival of the larger brown and black stoneflies. This hatch is especially important on the Upper Sac and McCloud Rivers, where throwing a large bushy dry fly to match these stoneflies such as a Chubby Chernobyl can leave you shaking as fish ferociously attack it from many feet below. We see these big bugs around the rest of the warm season, but the peak of the hatch typically occurs in May and June. On the Lower Sac, especially in the lower river below Anderson, the stoneflies can create an exceptional bite for those opportunistic fish who love a big springtime snack. We typically fish flies ranging from size #4 - #8 to imitate these big critters. Pat’s Rubber Legs is likely the most well-known nymph to imitate these big bugs and is worth every bit of it’s hype. May and June are peak “Dry-Dropper” season in Northern California because you have a legitimate chance of a fish attacking your large stonefly imitation on the surface, while you dangle a tasty looking PMD or Sallie below.

As days start to turn from warm to hot at the end of springtime, this is when the grand finale of our spring hatches takes center stage. Once outside temperatures start to hover in and above the 90 degree range in June, the large Hydropsyche Caddis begin to move. These are very active bugs. They drift in the current to spread out ahead of mating using an air bubble, and are very vulnerable during this process. When hatching, they look like a moth. Typically running from size #12-#16. During the evening, they begin to hatch in droves. Many folks will agree that some of the best fishing they have ever seen is the final hour of daylight on the Lower Sac during a big Hydropsyche Caddis hatch in June. The Caddis hatch that begins in spring, will typically last all through the summer as the other bugs start to slow down. We look forward to each of these hatches every spring, and the unique and cool fishing opportunities they present keeping our Northern California trout fisheries healthy, exciting, and growing.

More Photos

Untangled Podcast - Spring Fly Fishing in Norcal w/ Anthony Carruesco, Darrin Deel, & Jaret Flint

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:46:50 GMT

Season 3 - Episode 2

A brief conversation on what has been happening and what to look forward to as we shift into Spring in Northern California. Featuring AC Fly Fishing guided Anthony Carruesco, Darrin Deel, & Jaret Flint

Fishing Report - March 20th, 2025 - Shasta Lake Bass

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:42:23 GMT

Northern California Fly Fishing Report

Guide Travis Babin gives us a Northern California Fly Fishing Report and update on the bass fishing up on Shasta Lake. Spring & early Summer give us some great spotted & smallmouth fishing. Looks like now is the time.

The Best Early Spring Fly Fishing Options in Northern California

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:26:33 GMT

Top 3 Early Spring Fishing Venues - the Best Fly Fishing Options in Northern California

With flows dropping on the Lower Sac and many good options on the horizon, it's time to dust off your gear because early spring fishing season is here. Here are our top three early spring fishing venues we get excited for each year as warmer weather approaches.

Lower Sac

The Lower Sac may be a year-round favorite for many of us, but there are some notable highlights to fishing the big river in early spring. In early spring, especially the first few weeks, the trout typically become far more aggressive and opportunistic feeders than they were during the winter months. The warmer weather usually brings on our first major hatches of PMDs and small darker colored Caddis. In winter, the feeding windows shorten and some of the trout grow dormant, meaning you have to land a nymph precisely in front of their nose to make them eat. As the first warm weather starts to appear, the fish who haven’t had much to eat for the past few months will begin heavily feeding, anticipating their spawn later in the spring. In addition, the fishing pressure in winter is almost non-existent so you will find these unpressured fish more easily fooled in the more popular areas up in town.

Feather River Steelhead

The past week of Feather River Steelhead fishing has been remarkable. The Feather is an excellent option in early spring, often due to its regulated flows keeping us fishing when other places are blown out. Historically, March is a great month to be on the Feather River. There is a mix of fresh spring run valley steelhead and holdover steelhead from the previous fall, which results in some really big number days at times. Crowds on the Feather in March are also typically much much lower than you would see in the fall. It’s not known as a river of solitude, but there are times during early spring where you will find yourself with far less other anglers.

Coastal Steelhead

Through late February and most of March our Coastal steelhead rivers are still a great option if conditions allow. Fishing the coastal rivers is a game of being at the right place at the right time.These fish are still very challenging to catch, and equally as rewarding. Chasing chrome steelhead in an ancient redwood forest is an experience like no other. These rivers are susceptible to blowing out, but when they are in shape, there are usually fish to be had well into the month of March. Our primary coastal steelhead venue in California is the Eel River.

Other Spring Fishing Notes

Lake Shasta Bass

As the temperature warms in early spring, those who like catching a TON of fish should be thinking about Lake Shasta Bass fishing. As the Bass go on the pre-spawn bite, anglers typically can catch these hard fighters all day until their forearms are sore. This is a great option as well for taking kids fishing as there is usually lots of action.

Trinity River

Another early spring fishing venue we love is the Trinity River . As of this writing, the Trinity is still at 3500 cfs and we don’t know when these releases from Lewiston will slow down. This is unusual for the Trinity this early in the spring. Typically we would see more normal flows into the month of March providing great fishing opportunities on the Trinity.

More Photos

Northern California Fly Fishing Report - Trinity & Lower Sacramento Rivers

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:11:45 GMT

Northern California Fly Fishing Report

Here is a quick Northern California Fly Fishing Report & recap of our last month or so of fishing, and a look ahead into what we are excited about coming up.

Trinity / Coastal Steelhead:

Over the past month we've had some great weather windows to target winter steelhead. Successful winter steelhead fishing is measured by simply getting the opportunity to target them with good conditions, but so far this season we are happy to report our nets have been staying wet and rods staying bent with positive catch reports in all the rivers we fish. There has been a good push of wild adult fish in the upper reaches of the Trinity. Our guides were busy catching them throughout all of January despite the higher than normal releases from Lewiston keeping many anglers at home. For many of us who are addicted to chasing these fish, the last month has been an onslaught of good times on both the coastal and inland steelhead fisheries. Our Coastal fisheries up and down the entire coast saw a great window of opportunity with prime flows throughout the entire last half of January.

Looking forward, we are excited about what this new round of storms will bring. If rain doesn’t happen, steelhead fishing will get stale. This year, that worry can be considered gone. We have an awesome freshet renewing the lifeblood of our favorite steelhead rivers as we speak, and without a doubt when that water recedes it will usher in a fresh push of fish from the salt. We can’t be certain of exactly when this will happen, but be assured that the first few days after the rivers drop, it will be game time. It looks like there may even be a short window to fish the coast in the later part of this coming week. If you have flexibility in your schedule, go time could be coming very soon. In the meantime, we celebrate that all of the fish in our systems have the chance to migrate far into the headwaters and spawn safely.

Lower Sac:

Another winter highlight over the past month has been the solitude on the Lower Sac. A few of our guides have fished it consistently over the past month and have had great success. In winter, you can often find yourself all alone on the big river. It may not always be the numbers slay fest of the warmer months, but if the sun peaks out and the bugs hatch in that mid-day glory, hold on tight. Winter is typically when we see some of the biggest fish of the year come out of the depths and try to get a little snack time in as they wait for the longer feeding windows of spring time.

The Lower Sac will see some high flows these next couple of weeks and is up to 60,000 cfs as of this writing. Even with these current high flows keeping us off the river, we fully expect March to line up for great flows and great fishing on the Lower Sac. Although we expect the flows to drop significantly into March, we are not at all afraid of high water on the Lower Sac. Many of us have experienced some of our best days ever in extreme high flow conditions that keep many folks at home. The higher flows will create soft pocket feeding lanes near banklines which will uniquely congregate the fish. The first warm days of spring will also bring us the first major rounds of insect hatches. When this happens, you want to be trout fishing. The lack of fishing pressure all winter will have the trout uneducated and ready for the first dead drift that comes near them.

More Photos

Untangled Podcast - Trinity River Steelhead with Travis Babin & DJ Spivey

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:38:08 GMT

Season 3 - Episode 1

AC Fly Fishing Guides Travis Babin & DJ Spivey chat with us about the excellent steelhead season we've been having over on the Trinity River.

ac-fly-fishing

On the Water Fishing Update

Why We Love Spring Fly Fishing

March Madness in the North State

Preparing for the Spring Transition in Nor Cal

February Fishing Report

Fishing Report 2/9

Winter Steelhead

Winter Steelhead "The Pinnacle" of freshwater Fly Fishing

December Fishing Report

Winter Fishing

The primary reason Nor Cal fly fishing is in a class of its own "Variety"

Seasons of Steelhead fishing on the Trinity and Feather

November is here, and so are our long expected fall steelhead runs.

Fall Fishing in all the Variety

Fall Fishing in all the Variety

Early September Fishing Report

Fishing Report - 9/2/25

Early August Fishing Report

August Fly Fishing Report

July Fishing Report

July Fishing Report

Dry Fly Fishing in Northern California

This is a subtitle for your new post

Northern California Fly Fishing Report - June 2025

Fishing Report on 6/12

PMD's Under the Bobber - Hatches of Northern CA

Hatch Highlight: PMDs under the bobber

Summertime Fishing/Fall River w/ Travis Babin & Devon Canty

Season 3 - Episode 3

Top 5 Summer Fisheries (Lower Sac, Fall River, Upper Sac, McCloud, Pit)

The Best Fly Fishing Options in Northern California during the Summer

Northern California Fly Fishing Report 5/10/25

Northern California Fly Fishing Report 5/10/25

Beat the Heat - Summer Special

Summer Special 2025 ﻿

Untangled Podcast - Just off the water with our good friends BMan & Jdub

Season 3 - Episode 3

Best Walk and Wade Fisheries in Northern California

Top 3 walk and wade fisheries for the early season: "Out of the boat" options for the adventurous angler

Fly Fishing Report 4 /25/25 - Spring Northern California Fly Fishing

Both the Weather & Fishing are heating up. Lower Sac, Shasta Lake, & the McCloud River are all excellent options.

﻿ Walk & Wade

Spring Hatches - The Best Flies for Spring Fly Fishing in Northern California

Top 3 Early Spring Fishing Venues - the Best Fly Fishing Options in Northern California

Untangled Podcast - Spring Fly Fishing in Norcal w/ Anthony Carruesco, Darrin Deel, & Jaret Flint

Season 3 - Episode 2

Fishing Report - March 20th, 2025 - Shasta Lake Bass

Northern California Fly Fishing Report

﻿

The Best Early Spring Fly Fishing Options in Northern California

Top 3 Early Spring Fishing Venues - the Best Fly Fishing Options in Northern California

Northern California Fly Fishing Report - Trinity & Lower Sacramento Rivers

Northern California Fly Fishing Report

Untangled Podcast - Trinity River Steelhead with Travis Babin & DJ Spivey

Season 3 - Episode 1

Summer Special 2025

Walk & Wade