Ash Camp

[StevenB]

Got all the way to the Camp this time. PG&E has not closed the road yet. Pretty soon maybe, I expect I will end up driving over there soon and find the road blocked. I just hope they have opened the road to Upper McCloud at the same time, so I have a close alternate spot.
Upper Usually opens by the traditional opening day so last Saturday day in April.

Weather was great, Water was good but a little more color than last week, still 5-6 feet of visibility, Fishing was slow again.

Pretty good hatch of them bugs mentioned in the last report (BWO) started around 2 but hit its peak closer to three. Good numbers of bugs, no rising fish (darn), no noted improvement in the fishing. It was still slow.

I hooked 4 and landed two. Pic is the first fish, then my camera man deserted me to go fishing so no pic of the second landed fish (about the same size). Of the other two fish one was a little dink of 7-8 inches that jumped and threw the hook. The other one not landed was big. Really big. But I never got a good look at him, he came up and rolled a few feet under the surface out in the middle of a good size pool and then pulled hard and opened up the hook enough to get off (16 Red Copper John). Ya, I know, get your finger off the spool, fool, USE the drag. Still, I was on 5X, should have broke off before the silly a** hook opened up. From the poor glimpse I got when he rolled it could have been a big brown. Least that’s what I am saying as my excuse for losing him, uncivil words were uttered at the time.

Lost track of my buddy, but I think he got skunked. Forgot to ask him on the ride back. D’OH

Bats got in the outhouse again this winter, outhouse was unlocked but not usable.
Guano everywhere.

Prognosis for the McCloud this year color wise is poor. The lake by the launch ramp was very off color, I did not get a Pic of it but there were streaks of muddy water floating around out there. By the time we got to the Dam the lake was closer to normal color and there was very little effect on the river as noted above, but I think by tomorrow or the next day when that water by the ramp gets down to the dam there is gonna be a big color change in the river. If you are thinking about trying it towards the end of the week be sure to check on the color, probably best to give Bob a call at the Ted Fay Fly Shop.



Some Pics added

Should be in this order:

The Eddys west of Mt Shasta, where all the snowmelt for the Upper Sac comes from. Pic is taken at somewhere around 4000 Ft so I would guess the bottom of the snow on the mountain is maybe 5,000-6,000 ish. Still a foot or more at Snowmans Hill which is 4700.

At Ash Camp looking up Hawkins creek.

Got a Water Pic this time. Including derelict cameraman.

Bunch of these guys around, Little winter Stone I figure. Interesting bug, these guys are all over the Upper Sac in the winter, I have seen heavy hatches (?) of them, but never any indication the fish care.

Fish Pic


I have several more photos including a bunch of the various rocks and trees on the road.
I seem to be running into a 5 pic limit the way I am currently attaching them. I have the rest in a Google Album. I was thinking about just posting a link here, but maybe not.
If any members want to see the rest, email me and I will send you the link.
That won't blow up my email will it? I dunno, 10K members, but only 200-ish active.