Shasta Area Guides Report

McCloud, USac, LSac, Pit, Hat, Fall, Lake Siskiyou:

The weather has turned gorgeous, flows on local rivers have dropped and hatches on local rivers are in full swing. As a result, the dry fly fishing on the McCloud and Upper Sac has been exceptional, particularly in the evenings. The Hex hatches on the Fall River and Lake Siskiyou have been phenomenal and nymphing on the Pit continues to produce some outstanding catches. Hat Creek has some stoneflies still hanging around and warm weather has summer caddis and PMD's on the Lower Sac popping. While the Stonefly hatch continues on the Klamath we have concluded our spring season until fall water temps drop to a safe level to practice catch and release.

Flows on the McCloud are at a season low, having reached summer levels weeks ago with nearly all crossing spots open and wading at it's best. We've been taking advantage of the conditions with several guests, casting dry and droppers to the far bank and pockets all day, followed by phenomenal fishing to risers during the evening hatch of Pale Evening Duns, Flavineas along with a Rusty Spinner fall. Many Stoneflies continue to linger with an occasional Green Drake getting eaten as well. The June crowd is gone and particularly on weekdays you can find some solitude.

Several guests are enjoying the evening Hex hatch on the Fall River which is moving up from the confluence of the Fall and Tule Rivers. This hatch allows us to nymph and swing emergers prior to the hatch and cast enormous Mayfly dries at last light to target the biggest fish of the season on the surface. Combined with action nymphing and casting drys to a midday mayfly hatch makes for a very fulfilling day. We expect the hatch to continue through July and the first few weeks of August. Plan to visit if you have not yet experienced this amazing seasonal event.

We've been finding some fish on the Pit River as flows have dropped to the summer minimum. Several guests have enjoyed outstanding days, catching chunky 'bows who have seen very few anglers this season. Pit 4 is still tough to get around and temps are still cool enough on Pit 5 to catch and release, bring a thermometer as warm weather is in the forecast.

The Lower Sacramento River continues to fish well, providing some exciting action with the summer caddis just getting started in earnest. With the warming weather we expect to see the summer caddis taking center stage and the evening fishing on the Lower Sac in summer can be spectacular, we've already enjoyed some opportunities to cast dries!

Flows on the Upper Sacramento River have dropped to summertime norms making the entire river very wadable and fishable. Nymphing during the day continues to produce and the evening dry fly bite on Mayflies and lingering Stoneflies has been outstanding for those in the know. The fish are fat and happy as angling pressure has been noticeably light this season.

We have concluded our Steelhead fishing on the upper Klamath for the season but still have some fall Steelheading dates available starting in October when water temps drop and we can safely practice catch and release again.

We recently hosted a number of anglers who attend the International Women Fly Fishers gathering in Mt. Shasta, enjoying some local creeks and ponds, floating the Lower Sac for trophy 'bows and sharing spring creek fishing at it's finest on the Fall River. Most of the guests enjoyed dry fly fishing on the Upper Sac and a few wandered over to the Upper & Lower McCloud as well. A few found some trophy 'bows nymphing on the Lower Sac as well as tossing Poppers for Bass and big Hex dries on Lake Siskiyou.

Thanks for your patience following our fishing reports. We experienced modem crashes and loss of access to Wordpress the past few weeks, so are delinquent with our report. For a complete report including some pictures please visit our website. We are looking forward to posting regularly in the future.