Middle Fork Feather River Report

[Troutstalker55B]

http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i424/moto55b/middleforkfeather500_4_1.jpg

The Middle Fork Feather River is high and cold, water temps range from 47- 49 degrees. Feeder creeks such as Gray Eagle creek and Frazier creek are running at 44 degrees. There were some incredible mayfly hatches between 1:30 and 3:30 pm. BWO's, Gray Drakes, and March Browns hatched in big numbers. I took the time to watch a small riffle and you could actually see the March Browns "pop" right before your eyes - Really cool! This always happens in the early season of the MFFR, the hatches are there but the water is too cold for anybody to look up.

http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i424/moto55b/middleforkfeather503_6_1.jpg

Fishing was surprisingly good despite the conditions. I swung a gold cone head black bugger with a clear camo int. line in the soft water that had some depth to it. Had about a dozen grabs landing 6. Fish ranged in size from 12-16", with one brown at 10", most were fresh planters. Many fish are hanging out where the feeder creeks are coming in but you have to fish the seam of water where the cold water meets the main current of the MFFR.

http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i424/moto55b/middleforkfeather501_5_1.jpg

Here is a tip for you. If you can find side channels like this one above you will find many fish, the water temp here is 51 degrees. With warmer water temps and little flow the fish can feed without working hard against the main flow of the river's current. This particular side channel is about 10 feet deep, I used a Rio express sink tip to get down and had something flash my fly in the 20 inch range! Mr Big did not give me any more chances so I get to have him haunt me at night while I try to get some shut eye. Look for June and part of July to be the most productive time to wet a line here, and hope we do not get any more cold storms so the water temp can come up. Oh, by the way; never saw another angler fishing the entire time. I'll take solitude and hungry trout anytime! - Jon.

http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i424/moto55b/middleforkfeather504_7_1.jpg

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Thanks for the excellent report Jon....

The MFFR is a very special and unusual fishery.

I think on a normal year June and October can be good average timings for fly fishing.

I have had customers over the years who really love that river and did a lot of hiking down into semi-inaccessible stretches.

I have heard over the years that some really big trout hide down in those box canyons.

[Troutstalker55B]

Bill,

Your right on the money about the MFFR being special and unusual. It is considered California's most beautiful river by many published authors like Tim Palmer. Unusual because for a mountain river it has rainbows, browns, carp, and small mouth bass. The native rainbows do well here when water temps really heat up, they have adapted to those conditions over the years but you will still find them in areas below cold feeder creeks, shady lies, and deep pools when the heat is on. Speaking of those deep holes, they do hold big fish and they are hard to catch with flies. Every year the bait guys pull some 4-6 pound browns from the depths. During June and July there can be profuse caddis hatches in the evening and the dry fly fishing is simply the best.

Jon.

[Scott V]

Looks like I need to add another piece of water to my must see list for this year. Thanks Jon!

[Ralph]

Jon- If you ever get the chance, run Milsap to Bald Rock. Class 5+ with some gnar portages but the canyon rivals anything that Yosemite has to offer. The fishing sucks.

[Mark Kranhold]

Love that river, I call it my home water. My folks have had a cabin up there for 28 years and have fished it since day 1. Back in the mid 80's they had a bad flood if I remember right that pushed alot of silt in the river that really effected the fish, but I do have to say its fishy again. It seems to me the river has been healthier the last few years (bigger :fish::fish:),between my brothers, nephews and I we have seen some 20+ inch fish on the end of our line :eek:. Dry fly hour is like a free happy hour!! Just a feeding frenzy! This is a very special place for our family.

[KJE]

Jon -

My girlfriend and I fished that exact stretch over the weekend. The first current seam was excellent - dropping a Dark Lord or similar fly into the fast water and letting it swing into the slack was all it took. She hooked into one that definitely peeled off a bit of line, which I think was a first for her.

The chute into that side channel certainly made me wish I had a sinktip handy, it looked like bruiser central.

A great river that I spent time on every summer of my youth, but hadn't fished in about ten years. With any luck I'll get to spend some time on it this season.

Kevin

[Troutstalker55B]

Kevin,

Stoked you and your girl were out there! It's cool that you can relate to the report and pictures since you were there. When that side channel gets too warm the trout are gone but then the carp come in - Another game to play!

Jon.