Craig Nielsen
09-06-2011, 10:36 AM
With fall just a few weeks away, we are enjoying some exceptionally fine weather and the final days of summer, enabling us to wade wet on our local freestones, the McCloud, Upper Sac and Pit Rivers. As is typical of summer, this is not the time of year we expect epic days catching loads of big fish. It is the time of year we enjoy the simple pleasures of fly fishing and perhaps an afternoon streamside nap.
With flows at their lowest we can chose a water type and technique to suit our mood, whether it is high sticking pocket water, fishing a dry dropper through a classic run, or casting tiny dries to selective evening risers. This is also a favorite time of year to target the larger fish with streamers. Though not a numbers game, anglers who cover a good deal of water can enjoy productive days for big Rainbows on the Upper Sac and Pit and as well as trophy Browns on the McCloud River.
As is typical in summer, fishing has been best early and late in the day when the sun is off the water. Evening hatches on local freestones have been compressed, sometimes lasting an hour or more but seldom longer, mostly small to tiny mayflies and caddis with a few lingering yellow sallies. Nymphing, as well as fishing dry fly attractors with droppers, has been effective before the hatch as well as earlier in the day. We saw our first October Caddis of the season yesterday but we expect the main hatch of these big morsels is still weeks away.
Those who like it hot have enjoyed some fine catches on the Lower Sacramento River of late with plenty of big 'bows (and one big "golden bone" :>). Daytime temps have been in the nineties, not scorching by Central Valley summer standards, and with stable flows, hatches of summer caddis and mayflies have been predictable. A good place to visit after sleeping in, the grab has been best later in the day with some mornings and early afternoons being unusually slow, more than made up for by the late afternoon and early evening bite.
The Fall River has reached the summer lull with a couple hours of dry fly fishing in the morning with some nymphing and streamer fishing before and after. You can have the place to yourself. On most days the fishing drops of completely mid-afternoon and doesn't pick up again until the caddis hatch during the last hour of light. As soon as the weather cools we expect Blue Wing Olives and PMD's to reappear along with some Mahoganies providing good top water action.
For a complete report with pics visit us on our website. As always if you are headed our way feel free to drop a line. We are more than pleased to share all we can about local conditions whether you are seeking guide service or not. We hope to see you soon!
With flows at their lowest we can chose a water type and technique to suit our mood, whether it is high sticking pocket water, fishing a dry dropper through a classic run, or casting tiny dries to selective evening risers. This is also a favorite time of year to target the larger fish with streamers. Though not a numbers game, anglers who cover a good deal of water can enjoy productive days for big Rainbows on the Upper Sac and Pit and as well as trophy Browns on the McCloud River.
As is typical in summer, fishing has been best early and late in the day when the sun is off the water. Evening hatches on local freestones have been compressed, sometimes lasting an hour or more but seldom longer, mostly small to tiny mayflies and caddis with a few lingering yellow sallies. Nymphing, as well as fishing dry fly attractors with droppers, has been effective before the hatch as well as earlier in the day. We saw our first October Caddis of the season yesterday but we expect the main hatch of these big morsels is still weeks away.
Those who like it hot have enjoyed some fine catches on the Lower Sacramento River of late with plenty of big 'bows (and one big "golden bone" :>). Daytime temps have been in the nineties, not scorching by Central Valley summer standards, and with stable flows, hatches of summer caddis and mayflies have been predictable. A good place to visit after sleeping in, the grab has been best later in the day with some mornings and early afternoons being unusually slow, more than made up for by the late afternoon and early evening bite.
The Fall River has reached the summer lull with a couple hours of dry fly fishing in the morning with some nymphing and streamer fishing before and after. You can have the place to yourself. On most days the fishing drops of completely mid-afternoon and doesn't pick up again until the caddis hatch during the last hour of light. As soon as the weather cools we expect Blue Wing Olives and PMD's to reappear along with some Mahoganies providing good top water action.
For a complete report with pics visit us on our website. As always if you are headed our way feel free to drop a line. We are more than pleased to share all we can about local conditions whether you are seeking guide service or not. We hope to see you soon!