Craig Nielsen
06-05-2011, 02:08 PM
Dry Fly fishing on the McCloud River has been outstanding as midday hatches of Pale Morning Duns and Large Drakes, including Green Drakes have big 'bows looking up. Some Salmonflies and early Goldenstones are out and about and fish are beginning to take them on the surface as well. Our guests have enjoyed some outstanding days and exceptional fish as a result of the bounty. One guest caught all his fish on a dry fly rig including several in the upper teens. While most of the fish in the morning were on the smaller size, the mayfly hatch in the afternoon saw all the big heads up.
The flows remain low, very clear and stable, well below the norm, particularly for a high water year and may not last with a large snowpack still poised. The weather forecast is calling for some warmer, stable weather in the coming week, so we recommend you get here now to enjoy the magic while it lasts! The rock blocking the road in between Ah Di Na and the Nature Conservancy that was scheduled to be removed by blasting on May 26th is still in place. Plan to walk the extra 1/2 mile or so to gain access to the lower river.
The Upper Sac and Pit continue fair to good as flows remain high and fishable water is limited. The bugs have begun to pop but it is still difficult to access the very best water in these flows. The bite has been soft and the high, cold water makes it difficult to land some of the larger fish. This is the time of year we find some of the biggest Rainbows of the season and some guests have found the best fish of their lives. Midday hatches and dry fly fishing can be found but it has not been the steady affair we've experienced on the McCloud or Hat Creek, so one day is good while the next is not so. Some fair weather in the forecast hopefully will change this for the better.
Fly fishers have enjoyed an outstanding bite on the Lower Sac in the past few weeks. Incredible midday hatches of Pale Morning Duns have the fish feeding in a frenzy and the grab gets silly at times. Many big fish continue to be on the grab both on the midday bug bite and during non hatch periods on rubberlegs and eggs. The cool temps has the hatch coming off later than usual, starting in early afternoon rather than late morning on most days. Not as many fish looking up as we might hope and expect with this kind of hatch with only a few sessions of dry fly fishing to be found. We hope the warmer weather in the forecast will get the fish looking up? Flows bumped up to 20,000 cfs on June 3rd to fill the Red Bluff Diversion Dam but remain fishable. When flows lower and temps rise be ready!
On Fall River last week cool temps meant midday hatches of Blue Wing Olives and Pale Morning Duns have been fair on some days, good on others with some exceptional dry fly action on the better days. One of our guests landed all their fish on dries! Windy days continue to be tough, particularly on the dry fly bite. Hopefully warmer weather in the coming week will steady the hatches and move the dry fly fishing into full swing.
Hatches on Hat Creek are taking off with Big Drakes taking the main stage. Fishing are keying on midday hatches of PMD's as well. Some Salmonflies have hatched but blustery weather has them hanging tight to cover so fish have not started keying on the dries. The warmer weather in the coming week should have them taking off and get the fish looking up. You may want to consider planning a trip to this spring creek gem in the next week or two to enjoy the bounty.
For complete reports including pics visit our website. If you are headed our way just drop us a line, we are always pleased to point you in a direction you are most likely to enjoy, whether you are seeking guide service or not.
The flows remain low, very clear and stable, well below the norm, particularly for a high water year and may not last with a large snowpack still poised. The weather forecast is calling for some warmer, stable weather in the coming week, so we recommend you get here now to enjoy the magic while it lasts! The rock blocking the road in between Ah Di Na and the Nature Conservancy that was scheduled to be removed by blasting on May 26th is still in place. Plan to walk the extra 1/2 mile or so to gain access to the lower river.
The Upper Sac and Pit continue fair to good as flows remain high and fishable water is limited. The bugs have begun to pop but it is still difficult to access the very best water in these flows. The bite has been soft and the high, cold water makes it difficult to land some of the larger fish. This is the time of year we find some of the biggest Rainbows of the season and some guests have found the best fish of their lives. Midday hatches and dry fly fishing can be found but it has not been the steady affair we've experienced on the McCloud or Hat Creek, so one day is good while the next is not so. Some fair weather in the forecast hopefully will change this for the better.
Fly fishers have enjoyed an outstanding bite on the Lower Sac in the past few weeks. Incredible midday hatches of Pale Morning Duns have the fish feeding in a frenzy and the grab gets silly at times. Many big fish continue to be on the grab both on the midday bug bite and during non hatch periods on rubberlegs and eggs. The cool temps has the hatch coming off later than usual, starting in early afternoon rather than late morning on most days. Not as many fish looking up as we might hope and expect with this kind of hatch with only a few sessions of dry fly fishing to be found. We hope the warmer weather in the forecast will get the fish looking up? Flows bumped up to 20,000 cfs on June 3rd to fill the Red Bluff Diversion Dam but remain fishable. When flows lower and temps rise be ready!
On Fall River last week cool temps meant midday hatches of Blue Wing Olives and Pale Morning Duns have been fair on some days, good on others with some exceptional dry fly action on the better days. One of our guests landed all their fish on dries! Windy days continue to be tough, particularly on the dry fly bite. Hopefully warmer weather in the coming week will steady the hatches and move the dry fly fishing into full swing.
Hatches on Hat Creek are taking off with Big Drakes taking the main stage. Fishing are keying on midday hatches of PMD's as well. Some Salmonflies have hatched but blustery weather has them hanging tight to cover so fish have not started keying on the dries. The warmer weather in the coming week should have them taking off and get the fish looking up. You may want to consider planning a trip to this spring creek gem in the next week or two to enjoy the bounty.
For complete reports including pics visit our website. If you are headed our way just drop us a line, we are always pleased to point you in a direction you are most likely to enjoy, whether you are seeking guide service or not.