Fishing Conditions

Water Conditions

Flies

American River

Updated:10/25/2007

Bill Lowe reports "Half pounders are spotty but consistent with most all the fish taking sub-surface bugs.  Pretend that you're on the Lower Sac and dead-drift a caddis and a micro-mayfly and see what happens... you'll hook some fish but not quite like you are on the Lower Sac!"  

Flows around 1200 cfs

Caddis Pupah, Micro May, Mighty May, Z-wing Caddis, Mangy Pupah, and Pheasant Tail

Fall River

Updated:07/26/2007

Good spring conditions with spotty but good PMD hatches. If you are  on a hatch consider yourself luckly. For you nymph anglers try swinging or indicator a zug bug.

 Good conditions

Wet Flies: 

#14-16 Zug Bug, #14-20 Pheasant Tails, Hares Ears, #18-22 Micro May flies and Cooper Johns, Olive Z-Wing

 

Dry Flies:
#16 Olive comparadun, loopwing PMD, Olive sparkle dun and #16-18 Limestone cripple, Mahogany Paraduns, #16-18 Parachute Adams, Pale Yellow PMD, #14-18 Elk Hair Caddis, E/C Caddis  and Yellow Humpies

Feather River

Updated: 08/10/2007

Reports have a few salmon showing in the low flow which means the steelies are not to far behind. There have been reports of small half-pounders with a few fish in the 5lbs range.

Flows at Gridley near 5100 cfs.

Shad Darts

Wet Flies:  
#14-16 BH Olive Bird's Nest, BH Prince Nymph, BH Pheasant Tail#14-16 Pheasant tails, Fox Poohah, Caddis pupa, Z-Wing Caddis pupa,

Dry Flies:
E/C Caddis, Elk Hair Caddis, Caddis emergers and cripples

Hat Creek

Updated: 08/10/2007

Reports have the Hat fishing conditions in the good shape with hatches of PMD, Yellow Stones, and Trico are happening early AM and later in the PM. Go early for Tricos and PMD hatches and stay late for the Caddis.

Good flows, with temps in low 40's

 Wet Flies:
##18-22 Pheasant Tails, #16 Hogan's S & M, #14 King Prince and Amber Prince, #10-12 Cone stone, and

Dry Flies:
#18-22 Trico #16-18 Parachute Adams, Pale Yellow PMD, Little Yellow Stones

Lower Sacramento River

Updated: 08/06/2007

The Guys at Sac River Outfitters report "The current release is 13,500 cfs and should remain at this level until the fall. The fishing has really picked up the past few days. Those willing to stay out till dark have had decent dry fly action as well. The temperatures are going to drop into the low 90's making the conditions more tolerable." 
  

Flows are in near 13,500cfs.

Wet Flies:
#14 Fox's Poopah, #14-16 King Prince, #12-14 Queen Prince, #14-16 CDC Prince, #14-16 Olive Hotwire caddis, #14-16 Amber Prince #10-12 Olive and Tan Birds nest, #6-10 Stoneflies

Dry Flies:
Caddis, Caddis and more Caddis

Upper Sacramento River

Updated: 08/06/2007

The Guys at Sac River Outfitters report "same as last time just a little later, dodge the heat! The fishing on the Upper Sac has been good, and with 4,000 to 5,000 fish per mile, why shouldn't it? Anglers have seen good numbers of fish nymphing the pocket water during the day with mayfly, caddis, and stonefly patterns. The evenings should be spent throwing dries to rising fish in the tailouts and seams."

Flows are near 200cfs.

Wet Flies: 
#12-14 Stone flies, #16 Hogan's S & M and #14 Hogan's red headed stepchild, #14 King Prince and Amber Prince, #10-12 Cone stone, and #14-16 Pheasant Tails

Dry Flies:
#18-22 Parachute Adams, and Olive Paraduns

McCloud River

Updated: 08/10/2007

Reports have the McCloud fishing well with most fish taken early AM and late PM. Beating the heat is the key. Watch for spotty rises of PMD and late evening caddis. 

 Flows are in mid 200cfs.

 Wet Flies:
#12-14 Stone flies and Green Drakes, #16 Hogan's S & M, #14 King Prince and Amber Prince, #10-12 Cone stone, and #14-16 Pheasant Tails

Dry Flies: 
#16-18 Parachute Adams,  PMD and PED cripples and emergers, Elk Hair Caddis, E/C Caddis

Upper Merced River

Updated: 08/23/2007

Tim Hutchins reports "The Merced is currently at 26cfs which is the lowest I have seen it in 25 years.  Trout fishing isn't really a very good idea until water temps cool off in a few weeks.  High country streams are also very low but fishable with a combination of stealth and very small flies.  Terrestrials and caddis #18-20 will take fish during the day if they don't see you first.

Smallmouth bass fishing is as good as it gets.  The warm water temps have the fish being very aggressive and the bite is on all day long.  Fish below the south fork using sinking lines and just about any streamer or crayfish pattern around the rocks and you will find fish

The tailwater section on the Tuolumne will stabilize with flows of 750cfs afte the first week of September making for productive trout fishing on this remote big river."

 Flows are dangerously low.

Pit River

Updated: 07/24/2007

 Flows vary so check with CA DWR before you go.

Wet Flies:
#12-16 Black BH Birds nest, Dark Lord, Black A.P., and Copper John, #12-14 Flashback Pheasant Tail, #18-20 Zebra Midge, HBI, and WD40's,

Dry Flies:
EC Caddis and Elk Hair Caddis

Streamers!

Putah Creek

Updated: 08/31/2007

We have been getting good reports over the past few weeks of great days nymphing.  Tie on your droppers and get out there!

Near 500 cfs, Winters

Wet Flies: 

#16-20 Micro May#18-22, #18-20 Zebra Midge (blk, red), #14-18 Pheasant Tails

Stanislaus River

Updated: 08/10/07

 Our Hardy/Cortland Rep supplied the following report:

"The N.F. Stanislaus is fishing quite well with flows between 160 - 200cfs and temps in the low 60s. Constant dry fly activity morning and evening with nymphs producing mid-day.

Sparse hatches caddis, sallys, and pale duns.  

God flows in near 200cfs and lower 60 water temp

Wet Flies:

PT in green and natural,

 

Dry Flies:

#14-18 Caddis #16 Sallys #14-18 Light Cahill Para

Sacramento/San Joacquin Delta

Updated: 07/24/2007

Capt Kevin Doran reports it is still black bass season! Load up the poppers and the big streamers and hit it!    

Bass:

Bass popper, #1 to 1/0 and Dalberg divers, Clousers, Dark colors in the AM and late PM then as the sun gets on the water try brighter colors.

Trinity River

Updated: 07/24/2007

Chris King of Sac River Outfitters reports "the flows on the Trinity have dropped to the summer level and should remain at 450 cfs. This is the time to take advantage of the fly fishing only section. There are good numbers of half-pound steelhead as well as salmon and sea-run browns. There have been a few adult steelhead caught as well, but be prepared to work hard for them."

Near 450cfs in Lewiston

Wet Flies: 

#16-18 Pheasant Tails, #10-12 Stone flies, #2-10 Muddler minnows and #4-10 Wooly Buggers, Eggs, and copper Johns of all sizes and colors.

Truckee River

Updated: 08/27/2007

Matt Koles of Gilligan Guide Service reports the following:

Truckee River:

"The Truckee has held up well all summer with descent flows and dependable hatches, and on top of that it's HOPPER TIME. Recent cool weather has improved the fishing. Nymph the fast water in the morning with a golden stone, and caddis pupa dropper, or micro mayfly, throw streamers in low light periods. Fish a hopper dropper rig along the banks all day. The crayfish have started there molt, start dead drifting crayfish patterns in deeper holes!"

Little Truckee River:
"There is a descent pmd hatch mid day, though not dependable. Walk the banks until you see rising fish. Some tricos have started, and look for fish sipping midges early morning. Don't even waste your time nymphing as the water is low."

Truckee:
Wet Flies:
Small bead heads, midges, San juans, Ants, golden stones

Dry Flies:
Hoppers, Caddis, Little Yellow Stone

Streamers:
Anything that looks like a crayfish

Little Truckee:
Wet Flies:
No reason to try!

Dry Flies:
#16-22 Olive Baetis Paradun, Baetis Emerger, Olive Sparkle Dun #20-26 Griffith's Gnat, Black Midge, Tricos

Yuba River

Updated: 10/25/2007

Bill Lowe reports "The kings are slowly taking up their fall spots in the shallows.  I'm still seeing daily hatches of caddis and PMD's and some early winter baetis on the right days."

Flows near 1550 cfs at Smartville

Wet Flies: 

#14-20 Pheasant Tails, Hares Ears, #18-22 Micro May flies and Cooper Johns, Olive Z-Wing, Fox Poo-Pah

 

Dry Flies:
#14-18 Elk Hair Caddis, E/C Caddis, Yellow Humpies, Golden Stone and Hoppers