Courtesy of Fly Fishing Specialties
Even more immediately pertinent are the steelhead that are trickling in to the system. It is still predominantly half-pounder’s yet a few more adult steelhead sightings every week. We are excited about steelhead fishing this year and look forward to these fish being in our back yards again.
Clear Lake Largemouth - Good. Water Temps - 80-88 Degrees. Clarity 6" - 1 ft
Give us a ring at (707)287-2939 or (916)722-1055 to get in on some red hot fishing!!!
The Fall River has slowed recently even more. Sporadic hatches coming off are PMD’s and Calibaetis. Anglers are starting the day nymphing but when adults begin to emerge we have been switching to dries. Some mid day dry fly activity however most fish caught have been small.
We are wrapping up the dog days of summer and cooler temps are just starting. This will improve fishing throughout the North State including up on the Fall River
One of Mike Folden's guests with a nice "half pounder"
With current releases fish should be pushing into the Klamath shortly. We have guides up there exploring and pre-fishing this weekend so stay tuned for a complete report.
It won't be long now!
The McCloud has fished well again this week cooling temps. The dry dropper with a stimulator or other large attractor dry and smaller nymph below has produced best in pocket water and riffles through mid day. Cooler temps will usher the perennial favorite October Caddis Hatch. Don't forget to tie on a larvae or pupae below a large attractor dry.
Good flies include Birds Nests, Poopas, Anatomays, Black Micro Mays, Brown S&M's, and Stimulators. Caddis flies in the evening but October Caddis and streamer fishing down on lower river should be just around the corner.
Napa River – Good. Flows – average, Water temps - 60’s. Water clarity – Clear to Poor as you head down river.
Fishing continues to be good recently in the Napa Valley. The upper river in town has fished well for good numbers of schoolies. Most fish are in the 12 to 16 inch range with is common for this time of year but some nice fish in the 5 to 7 lb range landed down lower again this week. Still, a shaker striper on a 6 wt will put up a really good fight. The lower river has been dirty but some larger fish have been caught down there. Clouser style flies with some dark contrasted with white/olive, gray/white etc. in size 1/0 or 2/0 will work well. Fishing the sloughs looking for cleaner water can help. If the water is dark go darker with your flies.
Call Off the Hook Fly Fishing at (707)287-2939 or at the Shop at (916)722-1055 for current reports and conditions.
Lake Oroville - Great Surface temps 80 deg. Clarity - 4+ ft.
Guide Tip: Ryan Says "Look for rising fish in the evening and don't be afraid to chase fish busting way out. 5:00pm-8:00pm is good. 7:00pm is prime time. "
Fishing on Putah has been very good this year. Flows on Putah Creek are at 300 cfs and rising slightly as of this report. This has been a great summer on Putah and the prime time is just getting started. Clients have been having opportunities to hook up to a dozen or so fish a day with chances to catch a truly giant fish almost daily.
Putah's wild Rainbows are still grabbing small, dark nymphs under an indicator. Flies to try are all small sized caddis, mayfly, and midge nymphs 16-22. Dead drifted flies get the most attention.
Small midges and baetis patterns including Tungsten Zebra Midge(black), Mighty Mite Baetis, Hogan’s S & M Nymph (olive), Craves Juju Baetis and Mercer’s Micro May are good aloing with small caddis. Rob Russell says darker flies are working better than lighter colors. Hiring a guide on Putah is more important than many of our other waters as they will be indispensable in helping to break the code and catch fish during the summer season.
Call Off the Hook at (707)287-2939 or at the shop at (916)722-1055 for current conditions or to reserve a guided day.
Guide tip: “make sure you have enough weight on this time of year to get to the bottom. If you’re not hanging up occasionally you’re not going to be catching fish.”
Pyramid Lake NV – Soon
RRussian River - Fair Flows - 140 CFS at Healdsburg. Temps - high 60’s. Water clarity – 5 to 6 feet.
Fishing continues to be decent on the Russian for smallies although water level recently dropped to 140 cfs. Clousers and crayfish patters are producing best although top water continues to elicit some strikes fish first thing in the morning or late in the evening soon. This Russian tends to be less of a numbers fishery but more about quality fish and proximity to wine country for those wanting to stay close to home. Being on the water early continues to be important (especially weekends) not to beat the fishermen as there aren’t really any. It is more about beating the “splash and giggle crowd” of rafters and swimmers. This is not as much a topwater fishery like the Delta, however if you are in the Santa Rosa or San Francisco area it is a good close option. Give us a call at (916)722-1055 or at (707)287-2939 for more info or to book a trip.
Lower Sacramento Trout – Fair to Good, Striper - Fair Flows – 9,000+ CFS at Keswick. Temps - low 50’s. Water clarity – clear (5 ft visibility)
The Lower Sac continues to fish fairly well from Redding to Anderson for trout although not lights out. It is mostly Caddis and Baetis game right now. Weather is definitely changing here in Nor Cal and this last week we had mixed reports. Some boats landed 10 to 15 per day some less and some slightly more. Weather is supposed to warm back up to the 90’s this weekend then cool back down after that.
Best flies have been Fox’s Poopah in tan, Mercer’s Micro May in green and browns, Hogan’s S& M, Mercer’s Missing Link and Birds Nests.
The Sacramento continues fishing well for striper as well. "It has fished fair to great depending on one’s casting ability and persistence" says Chuck Ragan. We have had good numbers of schoolies with opportunities for some larger fish as well. Come prepared to lift and shoot a 20 to 30' head. Plan on making lots of casts using the ole' double haul and guests should be able to shoot 40 to 70 feet to increase chances of success. "Keep casting, keep focused and you will be rewarded.
Guide Tip: Utilize quick and long sharp strips mixed with long slow ones with pauses will increase your chances.
Upper Sacramento – Good . Flows – low (320 – cfs at the Lake) Temps - low 50’s. Water clarity – clear.
Fishing on the Upper Sac continues to be good despite warm temps. Water is at ideal wet wading level and the upper river near and above Dunsmuir is fishing great! October Caddis nymphs can be seen on the rocks so it shouldn’t be long before they are fluttering about.
Good flies include Parachute Adams, dark stonefly and midge nymphs, Birds Nests, Princes Chubby Chernobyls, and October Caddis nymphs and dries soon.
Trinity River – Fair and improving Flows – 450 cfs Temps – Low 50’s. Clarity – Good
The Trinity continues to produce a few steelhead the last few weeks. There was a good push of fish in the system a couple weeks back including jack salmon and steelhead. They are taking swung flies like candy so this is a good time to get out and practice the swing and get tuned up for Fall. This is not the numbers that one can expect in October or November but now is the time to swing for aggressive chrome bright fish. Expect a few half pounders and 1 to 2 adults is possible per day. This will be the place to be this Fall for sure but anglers heading up now are being rewarded with some decent fishing already.
Best flies this week were Tiny Dancer, Hobo Spay and Anderson’s Euphoria in Chartreuse or Brown.
To give Trinity Steelheading a go call at (916)722-1055 or at (707)287-2939. Fall dates are going fast so don’t delay.
Truckee River – Fair Flows – 85 at Truckee, 200 at Boca. Water Temps. – low 60’s. Clarity – a little color.
A blast of winter came in this week and it snowed all the way down to lake level. With cooler temps should come a more consistent bite. Flows are getting down to their winter level. Fishing should be good this weekend and coming weeks but dress warm and plan for snow.
Best flies include stone like Mercers poxyback Stone, Solitude Stone, larger dark mayfly nymphs and Caddis patterns.
Guide Tip: Jordan says " For smalleys focus on the areas where wind blows across the lake and target windy shores blowing into or along rocks."
Little Truckee River – Fair to Good Flows – 200 CFS Water temp. 60’s Clarity – good
The Little Truckee has been fishing pretty well too. Trout have keyed on Midges in the morning and then shifting their attention to PMD's and even BWO's on cloudy days. There have also been some Little Golden Stones, Pale Evening Dunns (PED's) and Caddis in the evenings to round things out but with cooler temps the dry fly action may slow a bit.
For flies try Poxyback PMD’s under a Adams parachute, Stimulator or Caddis. Also try Midges or caddis pupae or other insects above under dry dropper.
Give us a call to escape the Sacramento heat and catch some nice wild fish! (707)287-2939
Yuba River Trout – Fair Flows – 1,100 Below Englebright. Water Temps - 60’s. Clarity – Clear
The Yuba is fishing so so. The fish are all small and skinny this year however are eating pretty well and range from 8 to 14 inches. Fish over 15" are pretty scarce right now. The water is finally down and waders are having some success. Competent anglers can catch half a dozen fish or more if they know what they are doing but a good drift boat is recommended over wading. There are not a ton of bugs in the Yuba right now following the scouring that the river received this last wet season. Some BWO’s are hatching and an occasional Caddis can be seen troughout the day. A few fish even reported eating dries including hoppers however the cooler weather should put a damper on that. Try an XCaddis, pinkies, stimmys or hopper patterns with bead head droppers or non weighted PT on your dry fly set up. A 4 or 5 weight is ideal for this. Bump cuts and drop offs with stones and your choice of #18 or #16 beadhead nymphs. S&M's, Mercer's, CJ's, PT's, etc... Small swung streamers in olive, rust or black have produced some fish on seams at the bottom of islands or edges as well.
Some salmon sighted this week so keep that in mind going forward and add eggs into the mix once they become more prevalent on the river.
Fishing below Daguerre diversion dam for striper, trout and shad has slowed but what a season it was! One really large trout was caught along with a good amount of smaller fish this two weeks ago below Daguerre Dam with Specialties guest. There is limited access to this part of the river but “we have the key” so to speak. Give us a ring at (707)287-2939 or to reserve your shad or striper trip for next year.
Call (707)287-2939 or (916)722-1055 for more info or to schedule a trip.