Shasta Area Guides Preseason Preview: Upper Sac, McCloud, Lower Sacramento Rivers

The General Trout Season opens this Saturday, April 26th!

This weekend will be your first opportunity to sample the McCloud, Hat Creek and Fall Rivers this season. Backcountry skiers, rafters and kayakers are rightfully bummed with the drought conditions this spring, but fly fishers have good cause to celebrate these rare outstanding conditions when our best hatches of the year peak and flows are at historically low levels making local rivers incredibly accessible. With nearly all rivers in great shape folks will likely be spread out. The National Weather Service is also forecasting showers in the shadow of Shasta with daytime temps in the 50's and 60's this weekend (clearing early next week) which should also help keep the crowds at bay, but spark hatches and improve the bite. Our recommendation is to fish early and often this spring!

Our year round trout rivers including the Upper Sacramento, Lower Sac and Pit Rivers have been fishing exceptionally well, with flows on the Upper Sac and McCloud Rivers unbelievably low, at levels and clarity we don't see until late June in average seasons. Fall River and Hat Creek are in great shape as usual and we expect with the mild spring that hatches will likely come off earlier than usual.

Upper Sacramento River

The last several weeks the fishing has been outstanding with several fish in the teens and a few over 20" to hand. We have seen dry fly fishing with March Browns and Brown Drakes that we usually only dream about. Flows are amazingly low for this time of year, making it very wadeable and fishable, particularly as anglers work upstream. This spring looks to be similar to last season which was our best in many years as conditions will allow us to fish during the biggest hatches of the season.

Hatches appear to be unfolding early this year as we've already seen the beginning of the Salmonfly, Goldenstones and March Browns this week, with the peak of the hatches and the big Mayflies of spring soon to follow. We'll also be seeing an abundance of smaller bugs, including PMD's and spring caddis in the coming weeks. The bite has been best on small caddis and mayflies nymphs with light midday hatches of March Browns and Brown Drakes getting the fish looking up. Big nymphs in sizes 4 to 10 have been productive particularly for the larger fish, though typically more fish come on the smaller offerings.

Water Conditions

Flows bumped up to 900 cfs earlier this week but dropped back down to just above 400 cfs, with daily fluctuations related to air temps and passing storms. The norm for this time of year is 2,000 cfs and we typically don't see flows this low and fishable until the end of June for most seasons. With a snow pack well below the average and warm weather in the forecast we expect these great conditions to continue into the coming weeks when our biggest hatches of the year will peak.

Flies

Small nymphs produce more fish on average than the larger ones but the trophy fish have been taking the bigger flies. Fish Copper Johns, Micromays, Pheasant Tails, Iron Sallies and small caddis patterns in 14-18's in runs, slots, slicks and pocket water. Rubberlegs, Prince Nymphs, dark and golden stone imitations are increasingly finding fish. Expect to see improving hatches of the big bugs and increasing top water action in the weeks to come.

McCloud River: Reopens Saturday, April 26th.

We could not be more excited about the opener on the McCloud this season as we experienced some outstanding fishing in similar conditions early last season after challenging high water several prior years during the time hatches on the river were at their best. The McCloud River below McCloud Reservoir looks to be in superb shape with flows on the lower river at summer release levels, well below the norm with good clarity.

The McCloud's sister rivers, the Upper Sac and Pit have been excellent lately and we expect much of the same for the opener on the McCloud. Flows on the Upper McCloud above the reservoir are well below the seasonal norm but a bit higher than the trickle we see in summer. The first couple weeks after the opener can be quite crowded on the Upper McCloud River as folks look to fill their creels with hatchery fish as well as the wild rainbows trying to spawn.

Water Conditions

Flows below McCloud Reservoir have been decreasing down to 402 cfs at Lake Shasta and are steady at 184 cfs at Ah Di Na with fair to good clarity. Flows on the Upper McCloud above the McCloud Reservoir are quite low dropping to 650 cfs, well below the norm and will likely remain so for the coming weeks with temporary increases during and after rainstorms.

Quite unusual for this time in the year, there will be many places to cross on the Lower McCloud, similar to midsummer conditions with lots of pocket water and many runs that rarely see early season anglers. With the Upper Sac, Pit River and small creeks running lower that usual, we hope the Lower McCloud will avoid becoming the McCrowded this spring.

Flies

The opening of the season is most often a nymphing affair but look for opportunities for dry fly action midday and towards evening. Big bugs will become increasingly important, a few Salmonflies and Brown Drakes have been spotted, probably a sign that hatches will come off earlier than usual this season? Be prepared with small flies as well as large. We like to offer one of each when nymphing and tie droppers off our big dries. Try Stonefly dries in orange or yellow #6-10, or a large Parachute Adams, hanging Copper Johns, Iron Sallies, PT's, Micromays and your favorite caddis pupa in #14-18 off the bend. Use these small nymphs in combination with Poxyback Goldenstones, Rubberlegs, and Princes when exploring with an indicator or high stick nymphing.

Lower Sacramento River

Recent fishing for trophy Rainbows has been phenomenal. This spring has fished as well as we have ever seen it in any season, particularly for larger fish. The PMD's have arrived in full force, with some Pinks, lingering March Browns, Blue Winged Olives, and spring caddis to go with some summer caddis beginning to show as the bite gets grabbier. Some Salmonflies are also hatching on the lower drifts where the fish have been taking stonefly nymphs as well. We continue to have great success side drifting small nymphs & rubberlegs while the dry fly fishing has been good but technical if, when, and where you find it. Water clarity continues to be outstanding with the river fishing well from the Posse Ground all the way to Bend. Spring showers can still impact clarity downsteam when side streams flush during and a few days after storms.

Water Conditions

Releases at Keswick increased this week but are back down to 4,000 which is half the norm of 8,000 and superb for fly fishing. Water clarity is excellent through out but can be impacted by showers (a few this weekend in the forecast) on lower stretches below tributaries.

Flies

Small nymphs below rubberleg patterns are the norm. Your favorite PMD nymphs, various Pheasant tails and Micromays in #14 - 18"s will likely get the most attention but those trying Prince Nymphs, Copper Johns, Ironsallies, Fox Poopahs & Birdsnests are also finding fish. For two and three fly rigs try adding a Super Floss Rubberleg or Microspawn.

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