MF Feather?

[BobVP]

Having fished many parts of Northern California in the past few (40 or so...) years it surprises me to realize I have never fished the Middle Fork of the Feather. Not one little part....a few tributaries a few years back when backpacking above it. Guess I've concentrated my fishing on other places and returned to many I have grown to love, such as the areas of the NF Yuba, NF Feather (above the lake and the environs therein), PITHATFALL, my own coastal areas for those elusive anadromous creatures, high lakes of the Sierra, Carsons and many others.

I am ready to explore this area in my home state now and want the guidance and wisdom of this collective bunch.

I've read Ralph Wood (in Seth Norman's book) and have looked at maps and read old articles from CFF so I know certain things already: The access to the lower part is tough....there can be big rewards for the hikes....The upper section has easier access and still some good fish. Being that I almost never fish within 1/2 mile of any road if I can help it the idea of walking 1 to 4 miles does not give me any pause, so getting away from the road is not a problem (The heck with what the caridologist says...)

So? Throw that accumulated wisdom my way and all I can promise in return is a report (good or bad) and info on the Mendocino Coast rivers come winter.

Thanks,
Robert

[DFrink]

Check out John Baiochis's bolg here:

http://jonbaiocchiflyfishingnews.blogspot.com/2010/04/aprilmay-prognosis-for-middle-fork.html

You could even PM him, he seems to be very knowledgeable in this area and has helped me out in the past. Good luck.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

This is a mysterious river that I have heard stories about for decades.

It has some really tough access points and for that reason probably still has some really good fishing left in it.

I have gone down in the upper part with David Armocido at Cleghorn Bar which is a 4 wheel drive road down to the river.

I have talked with other anglers over the years who had 4 wheeled down in from the Bucks Lake side down river somewhere.

I believe this is one of the better trout streams in California but it has very difficult entry points which keep it safe.

I think June would be a good time to fish it and again in the fall in October. It gets a Isonychia may fly hatch in the fall too.

[huntindog]

typically june would be a great time to fish it...this year i am not sure. there is still a HUGE amount of snow in the high country, my cabin which we typically open for the summer on memorial day still has 6 feet of snow and we cant drive to within 5 miles of it. Everything is going to be put off a month this year.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

HD

I think you might be right on here...........thanks.

[wineslob]

I'm not sure what area of the MF most here fish but I fished the Milsap Bar area (Brush Creek is the closest town) about 15 years ago. I diden't fish the MF but a side tributary just before the bridge at the CG. The fishing was very good, lots of browns and 'bows up to 12". Beware of the CG, the ummm, "campers" there were looking kinda rough. (pot growing area)
I just checked out the MF on Google Earth, and I think I'll have to make a trip up to the Devils Canyon area, it looks VERY interesting.

[Notch]

If you're up for a hike, I would check out the Bald Rock section of the MF Feather. This is the tail-end of the river before it enters Lake Oroville. The hike in descends ~2,000 feet in just a few miles, and once you're in the canyon it's serious boulder jumping to get from spot to spot. I would go when flows are at their lowest (July-August, but maybe September this year) because there are a few pools you have to swim across when the canyon walls close in. The fishing is easy once you're in the canyon, and often times you can sight fish for 16-20 inch trout. Here are some pics of the canyon and Curtain Falls, which is an epic place to fish after the long hike upstream.

Bald Rock Dome
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b152/jnotcher/Feather%20River%20Canyon/IMGP0276.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b152/jnotcher/Feather%20River%20Canyon/IMGP0298.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b152/jnotcher/Feather%20River%20Canyon/IMGP0403.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b152/jnotcher/Feather%20River%20Canyon/IMGP0406.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b152/jnotcher/Feather%20River%20Canyon/IMGP0302-1.jpg

Natural waterslide
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b152/jnotcher/Feather%20River%20Canyon/IMGP0401.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b152/jnotcher/Feather%20River%20Canyon/IMGP0396.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b152/jnotcher/Feather%20River%20Canyon/IMGP0397.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b152/jnotcher/Feather%20River%20Canyon/IMGP0395.jpg

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b152/jnotcher/Feather%20River%20Canyon/IMGP0398.jpg

[Scott V]

That is a hike I am totally up for, looks like a place to go this year for sure. The further in the better.

[fishinFed]

I would highly recommend a book by Andrew Harris called "Plumas National Forest Trout Fishing Guide." It highlights a number of outstanding, hard-to-reach spots on the MFF, with detailed directions on how to get there. I checked out a couple of those spots last year (Sept./Oct.) and they were well worth the effort.

[Scott V]

Thanks fishinFed, I will definetly take a good hard look at that book.

[jhaquett]

I second the Plumas Trout Fishing Guide. A ton of high quality information in there...

[Scott V]

I actually ordered it last night along with a Yellowstone book as well. Thanks for the info.

[wjorg]

Be careful. You might have a 4x4 but you can get yourself killed driving in some of the places. Some of the routes down are more like goat trails.

[Scott V]

No 4x4 in my corral, it is either on foot or I don't go in. But 5 to 7 miles in on a day is what I like. Damn Ed Wahl has gotten me to really like to hike deep in to solitude away from all the crowds.

[Barnett]

Nice pics Notch! We should definitely fish that spot this summer. I am more than happy to hike for my fish.

[amoeba]

Well - I have fished it on a number of occasions; here's what you have to deal with"
a) right now, in normal and wetter years, high water;
b) long drives to the usual access places (way upstream); lots of people too; my recollection is that a 4-wheel drive is essentially worthless; you'd be better off taking a passenger car and walking - it would be faster, and safer, in most situations -
c) mosquitos
d) brutal hikes, even on trails, and more brutal otherwise; very few people are fit for this; generally, this whole system is not a day trip - I do like your "famous last words", namely:

"I am more than happy to hike for my fish."

If that means 4-8 hours hiking (roundtrip) per day, then this system is for you.


e) in below normal or drier years (and late in the year) , low (and warmish) water; fish concentrated by small trib and spring confluences, and deep; late bites.
f) this system has some decent fishing, even in the areas of pressure, but most of the river nobody touches because they don't, or can't deal with the hikes, elevation changes, and very rough river terrain.

[Tracy Chimenti]

We backpacked in a few times and we go in around Humbug-- way up across Oroville and up Highway 162. The hike, north of Fall Creek is a cinch if you are in reasonable condition and you will be on the water in an hour. Problem with many of the trail accesses is that it is easy to find yourself trapped in a box canyon, loaded with fish. Really bad stuff. Also, river entry, and especially crossings, can be dangerous and have cost some lives in recent years. The Humbug (or was that Gleghorn? It's the one near Fall Creek) run will allow a group to fish an apx. 1/2-mile of gorge, with plenty of deep water that houses large fish. I hooked a typical 9-incher in a riffle and a large, snakey thing came out of no where and attempted to take it away from me. Rattlers and mountain quail abound. Definitely worth the effort.

Tracy

[robdog]

I have fished the MF of the Feather quite a bit & I love it around the Red Bridge area. I haven't really played w/ it below Minerva Bar, but I have put it on my to do list. Another place you might want to checkout is the Lil' North Fork of the Feather. It's hard to get to, but it's a kewl lil' stream, especially if there is still a high runoff in the Middle Fork.

[davkrat]

When I lived in Quincy I used to fish several of the roadside access points bridge/campground which are like any other dumping station for planters. I only made it down in to the canyon once. The 4X4 "road" was TOUGH, even for a fearless 21 year-old kid in a Jeep. It took me 45 minutes to get in but closer to 3 hours to get out. It is brutally steep, if you have ever driven the Hwy 70 canyon you know what this place looks like. I was there during the end of runoff and was basically restricted to a couple hundred yards of fishing. It is a beautiful place but if your cardiologist warns you about something this is definitely the type of place he is talking about. On a side note my friend who hiked the PCT and was regularly doing up to 20 miles a day on trail got to the North Fork Feather and spent the night in Belden, the next day he hiked out of the canyon about 2-3 miles and called it for a day. Said it was one of the most memorable climbs of the whole trip. I have never gone back as it is one of the only places I ever went where I promised myself I would not go in alone again. If you want an epic trip that you will surely remember go for it but don't plan on running down and back in a day. I plan on taking my brother back in there every year and just haven't had it come together yet. Maybe this will be the year. I guarantee you'll have solitude, it's kind of sad to hear it talked about so much these days but then again most people probably go in once and then wait a decade or so before they decide to go again.