Lower Sacramento River
Updated 09/24/10

Flows out of Keswick Dam are down to 7,000 cfs.

The flows continue to drop a bit more each week, and the fishing has been great, especially in the afternoons and evenings. The last four or five days with the cooler weather we have seen small mayfly activity in the mornings, and the Caddis continue to emerge in the afternoons and evenings. With the flows dropping more water is becoming wadable opening up even more possibilities, but you still have to be very careful. September should be a Great month out here!

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: With cooler-than-normal nights and lower-than-normal flows, the table is set for an early Fall on the Lower Sac. We're already seeing a few salmon starting to show up, so it's a good bet that the egg-bite will turn on early this year, possibly late September or early October.

Bridge News: Flows are finally below 7,000 cfs, so it is legal to once again float beneath the Cypress St. Bridge, opening the whole river to drift access from the Posse Grounds down past Red Bluff.

WARNING: Boating on the Lower Sacramento River between the Posse Grounds and Bonnyview is recommended ONLY for experienced rowers. The two bridges currently under construction in this section of river -- Highway 44, and Cypress St. -- pose serious safety hazzards to anyone who is not a very experienced oarsman. If you choose to float between the Posse Grounds and Bonnyview, please do so at your own risk.


Upper Sacramento River
Updated 09/24/10

The Upper Sac is still fishing consistent.

The flows are have dropped to 280cfs at Delta and the entire river is fishing great. Nymphing is still the most productive technique, with either caddis, mayfly, stonefly, or midge patterns. In the evenings there have been still a few stones, mayflies, and caddis hatching providing some decent dry fly fishing. In the heat of the day look for shaded areas or faster pocket water, providing the fish some cover. Now that the river has started to see more angling pressure, those that take the time to hike a little bit will usually experience better fishing. There are 36 miles of river to spread out so it is never really crowded, and don't forget the railroad tracks can be your friend to get away from other anglers. The lower river has warmed up and the fishing is starting to slow a little. We have been getting reports of quite a few lake fish still in the lower river, and with the warmer water temps the bass fishing usually starts to turn on.

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: When nymphing on the Upper Sacramento River, always use more weight than you think you need to get the flies down to the fish. This time of year small flies in the pocket water works best. If you're not ticking the bottom from time to time (yes, this means losing a few flies), you're probably not getting down to where the fish are feeding.


TrinityRiver
Updated 09/24/10

Flows on the Trinity remain at 450cfs out of Lewiston Dam, and should stay there until late October. The Fly Fishing Only Section is still fishing fair, with some reports of Juveniles, Half-Pounders, Browns, some Adult Steelhead, and Spring Chinooks being caught. The Fly Water closes September 15, so this will be your last chance to fish it until next April.

There are a few steelhead starting to migrate upriver in the lower sections of the Trinity (an average count of about 80 steelhead a week are coming through the Willow Creek Weir), but not many yet in the upper sections, with only 1-2 fish a week currently being reported coming through the weir in Junction City. Still, reports from the Lower Klamath indicate good numbers of steelhead in the Klamath, many of which will most likely turn up the Trinity in a few weeks.

The peak of the steelhead run on the Trinity begins around early November and runs through February, so now is the time to start planning your winter steelhead trip.


Klamath River
Updated 09/24/10

Water Conditions: Flows are right around 1,000 cfs out of Iron Gate dam.

We're starting to get the first good reports of the year of half-pounders and adult steelhead in the middle and lower sections of the Klamath River.

Here's a fresh report from our friends at the Marble Mountain Ranch at Somes Bar: the mid Klamath is starting to show some steelhead, with 2-3 days of good fishing, followed by equal days of slow fishing...the fish are pushing into the area but not in great numbers to fill in the voids between migrating pulses. The lower Klamath is showing some good action with Trinity and Klamath fish available to fishermen that are in the right place at the right time. We went out two days ago, got a small adult at Pecwan and some half pounders, and some more half pounders below Blue Creek. Salmon are rolling everywhere and the salmon fishermen are dredging through the areas deep enough to hold the salmon.

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: To target the lower sections of river -- either in jetboats below the mouth of the Trinity or drift boats further upstream near Somes Bar -- the Marble Mountain Ranch is the place to go: call The Fly Shop at 800-669-3474 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 800-669-3474 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or click here for more information.


Pit River
Updated 09/24/10

The Pit River is still fishing well! The key to this time of the year is usually downsizing your flies and targeting the faster white water. The fish push up into those areas because there is more oxygen for them. You will be amazed at how fast of water the fish will sit in up there. Adding another split shot or two is a good idea and will help you get down to the fish. The road to Pit #3 is closed until the fall, leaving us with the bottom end of Pit #4, and all of Pit #5 to fish. If you are around in the evenings there can be some strong Caddis hatches, providing some good dry-fly fishing.

There has been a combination of nymphing the pocket water with some dry fly action midday on warm days (caddis, some PMDs, golden stoneflies, even salmonflies).

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: Be ready for tough wading conditions when fishing this river. Flat ground DOES NOT exist here! A wading staff is highly recommended.... almost mandatory. Move slow, and keep solid footing while in the water. (But just in case... pack some dry clothes, snake kit and don't forget to dry out your fly-box at the end of the day!)

NEWS: ROAD CONSTRUCTION INFORMATION LINE: 406-586-2206 ext. 703


McCloud River
Updated 09/24/10

The reports are still mostly good from the McCloud.

The flows and clarity have been good and the fishing has been too. We have been getting good reports from the entire river, and it seems no matter where you fish the fishing should be find fish. The sections around Ah-di-Na and the Nature Conservancy were crowded over the recent holiday weekend, but have since quieted down and the fishing has picked up again, too. Nymphing under strike indicators, swinging streamers, or fishing dries in the evenings have all been producing fish. There have been a lot of really nice fish being caught lately, and we have had several anglers come in with pictures of some big lake run Browns. The Super Floss Rubber Legs still seems to be the top producer, and dropping a smaller nymph behind it will pick up some nice fish as well.

The Fly Shop is now the official booking agency for the exclusive Bollibokka Club on the McCloud. Give us a call at 800-669-3474 to find out more about accessing the famous Bollibokka section of the McCloud in 2010!

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: Felt wading boots with studs, and/or a wading staff can be a good idea for the McCloud, which is full of bowling ball shaped rocks that can be very slick. The more water you can cover, the more fish have a chance to see your fly and the better your odds at landing a few nice ones. High-stick nymph the pocket water and deeper chutes, then switch over to dry flies in the flats and whenever you see a fish rising consistently.


Fall River
Updated 09/24/10

Fall River is fishing decent right now.

Tricos, PMD's, baetis, hoppers, and callibetis have all been producing fish on the Fall lately. The river can get a little more technical this time of the year, but experienced anglers will still do very well. The fish are there, and they are feeding...it just takes precise casts and good, drag free drifts to fool these PhD trout. Look for swinging leeches, damsels, and multiple mayfly nymphs to produce the most fish as well as fishing some dries during certain times of the day.

WARNING: There's a new game warden on the Fall who's trying to crack down on fishing the Hex Hatch by citing anglers for fishing "after dark."

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: The "Fall River Twitch" has been the most effective technique on Fall River for decades. Anchor your pram upstream of rising fish. Cast downstream and across, then feed line out to extend your drift a long ways downstream. This way the fish see your fly first, and enables a precise presentation without spooking the fish. If you're casting to a pod of rising trout, work from the outside in and you can often pick them off one by one.


Hat Creek
Updated 09/24/10

Hat Creek is still fair.

Hat Creek is in its normal conditions for this time of the year and can be very technical. The Tricos should be hatching anytime and will provide some of the most challenging fishing in our area. Nymphing in the riffle water will produce the most fish, and to be successful downsizing your flies is really a must. Size #18-20 Caddis, Mayfly, and Midge nymphs are going to be the best bets. The fishing pressure should be pretty light in the Wild Trout Section, so if you want to avoid some crowds this would be a safe bet.

Upper Hat Creek is still fishing great around the campgrounds. This is a great area for begginners as DFG stocks the creek regulary during the summer.

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: For a fun challenge, try catching Hat Creek trout on as many tactics as you can: small indicators with nymphs, swinging wet flies and/or streamers, and, of course, with a well-presented dry fly. The Powerhouse #2 Riffle is one of the best spots on the creek, but also one of the most popular. Anglers seeking a real challenge should sight-cast to trout in the fabled "carbon flats" section, and those looking for solace can hike into the freestone section just above Lake Britton.




Baum Lake
Updated 09/24/10

Reports from Baum lake have been good the last couple of weeks.

Baum will fish good in the summer time as long as it continues to get stocked. It was a couple of weeks ago and the fishing has been good. Look for Damels and Callibaetis to be hatching. The dry fly fishing during the Callibaetis hatch can be a lot of fun.

The most productive methods are stripping small Olive Damsel Nymphs or Callibaetis Nymphs on an intermediate lines, or fishing small nymphs under an indicator.

Fishing Conditions: Intermediate lines with Damsel nymphs or small buggers always produce fish. The key is SLOW strips! The water is clear, so the fish have lots of visibility. Use lighter, longer leaders. Delicate presentations will produce more strikes. At times attractor nymphs under indicators works really well, especially where there is current.


Lewiston Lake
Updated 09/24/10

No recent reports.

Some days it fishes great for big rainbows, as well as Brown trout, other days the fish are hard to find.This famous lake has good mayfly, caddis and midge hatches. The best success has come drifting small midge patterns under indicators, but some anglers are also doing well slow-stripping leeches with intermediate lines in the slower moving stretches.

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: You can't go too small. The takes can be subtle and then the takes can Brutal. Strike on every twitch! Be patient, too, sometimes it takes a long, slow drift to pick up fish. A small yarn indicator is a good tip, take heed and try it.


Iron Canyon Reservoir
Updated 09/24/10

No recent reports.

Iron Canyon is still low (around 6,000 AF), which is ideal conditions and the fishing is outstanding with sight-casting opportunities for rainbow and brown trout podded up and feeding near the surface. The fishing has still been productive in the inlets of several arms, and at some of the campgrounds. This lake is a sleeper with most fish are in the 14"-16" range, and usually very aggressive.

You can attack this lake either one of two ways, Indicator and nymphs or sinking lines and streamers. The midge hatches are usually strong and fishing a Blood Midge with a Black Midge Pupa dropper is deadly. For those who want to cast and retrieve flies, Leech and Bugger style flies work great. You can usually get some bigger fish usually this method.


Manzanita Lake
Updated 09/24/10

Manzanita is still fishing pretty decent. There have been several short windows through out the day when the fishing has been good, then it seems to drop off. Look for damsels, callibaetis, and ants hatching lately. We should also start to see some motor boat caddis with the weather heating up. You can really fish about any method you want right now; retrieving flies on sinking lines, fishing nymphs under an indicator, or fishing dries in the shallows. With the lake being open now for awhile, to have the best success you will want to down size your tippet to 5x or 6x. Long leaders with fluorocarbon tippets are a good idea. There have been a TON of kayakers this summer, so do not expect to have much solitude until the weather cools down.



McCumber Lake
Updated 09/24/10

Fishing is poor at McCumber.

They've stopped stocking it, and we haven't had a good report from the lake for several weeks. Try by the dam if you are planning to fish up there.

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: You'll want a small boat/pram, float tube, pontoon or a guide to access the lake.


Give us a call for details.
(Gas motors are not allowed).


Keswick Reservoir
Updated 09/24/10

No recent reports

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: The best way to fish Keswick is from a jetboat, nymphing the seams and dropoffs, and stripping streamers on sinking lines. Depth is the key to success here. Once you find the right depth that the fish are feeding at, success is likely.



The Fly Shop'sŪ Private Waters
Antelope Creek Lodge
Updated 09/24/10

Fishing has been on fire on the lakes the last couple of weeks. Anglers are taking fish pretty much any method they prefer right now. Fishing leeches, buggers, and damsel nymphs on intermediate lines, or bead head nymphs and midges under indicators have been both equally effective. Lately hoppers, beetles, and callibateis have been hatching up at the ranch. Call us for the latest info or stop by the shop if you are headed to the ranch.

Fishing Conditions: At 5,000 ft. elevation, the waters here normally stay cold year 'round! The stream sits 20 ft. from the lodge, and almost every bend has rainbow or brown trout lurking in the undercut banks! And the two scenic lakes on the ranch are full of trophy rainbow and brown trout.

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: Two lakes and around a mile of stream provide anglers with wade fishing, bank fishing or float tubing. Opportunities for small trout and large trout, rainbows or browns on dries, nymphs, or streamers!! What more could you want? How about a comfortable lodge with a wet bar, huge fireplace, DirectTV, and gourmet food? No problem, it's all here!




Bollibokka Fishing Club established in 1904 sits on seven private miles of the majestic McCloud River and is available to fish only for Club Members. If you would like to learn how to become a member of Bollibokka click here.

The fishing is great all the time.

The flows and clarity have been great and the fishing has been too. We have been getting good reports from the entire river, and it seems no matter where you fish the fishing should be find fish. Nymphing under strike indicators, swinging streamers, or fishing dries in the evenings have all been producing fish. There have been a lot of really nice fish being caught lately, and we have had several anglers come in with pictures of some big lake run Browns. The Super Floss Rubber Legs still seems to be the top producer, and dropping a smaller nymph behind it will pick up some nice fish as well.

The Fly Shop is now the official booking agency for the exclusive Bollibokka Club on the McCloud. Give us a call at 800-669-3474 to find out more about accessing the famous Bollibokka section of the McCloud in 2010!

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: Felt wading boots with studs, and/or a wading staff can be a good idea for the McCloud, which is full of bowling ball shaped rocks that can be very slick. The more water you can cover, the more fish have a chance to see your fly and the better your odds at landing a few nice ones. High-stick nymph the pocket water and deeper chutes, then switch over to dry flies in the flats and whenever you see a fish rising consistently.



Bailey Creek Ranch
Updated 09/24/10

The stream at Bailey Creek is fishing great.

The trout lake is fishing incredible with fish up to 30" already been reported landed this season. The fish are averging four to seven pounds this year and are very hot. As the weather warms Callibaetis, Damsels, and Dragon Flies will start hatching providing great fishing both on the surface and sub surface. The lake has one of the strongest Damsel and Dragonfly hatches in our area. The stream is in perfect condition and fishing a dry and dropper is deadly. You will be amazed how shallow of water you will hook these large trout!

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: Only 45 minutes from Redding, Bailey Creek Ranch is the perfect get-away for the family or a small group of anglers.


Battle Creek Canyon
Updated 09/24/10

No recent reports. Fishig usually will pick up and be great again in the fall. We hook occasional Steelhead in late October/ early November.

Nymphing will be deadly with a Super Floss Rubberlegs and an attractor nymph dropper. The dry-fly fishing usually is pretty consistant with a Thing From Uranus, and a bead head dropper.

This rugged stream is not for the faint of heart, but those intrepid anglers willing to trek down into the canyon are rewarded with some of the best small stream fishing anywhere, with wild rainbows pounding stonefly nymphs and dries, as well as smaller caddis and mayfly patterns and even streamers.

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: The pocket-water nymphing on this stream can be fantastic. It's definitely the most productive method here. Sometimes we'll carry a sink-tip line and swing streamers in the deeper slots and hook into some large meat-eating fish. Dry and dropper can be deadly at certain times of the year. Stone hatches in the spring can be mind-blowing! The "Coleman Ditch", more like a spring creek, on the property is absolutely loaded with 14-18" rainbows. It's open to all Battle Creek guests who are fishing on the ranch.


Clear Creek
Updated 09/24/10

Water is in perfect shape and fishing great.

Those that have been going up to the ranch have been experiecing some great fishing. You can really pick any method you want to fish up here, but a dry and a dropper will probably produce the most fish. The water is very clear, so stealth usually is a must.

Fishing Conditions: We are lucky to have access on one of the longest stretches of private streams in California. Three cabins and six miles of stream can make for a great weekend! You'll get about 2 miles of stream and a cabin to yourself!

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: This is seclusion at it's finest. Spring Creek and Freestone style fishing in a private setting. LOTS of sight fishing. Your own private cabin. Your own 2 miles of stream. Your own trout to catch.



Hat Creek Ranch
Updated 09/24/10

This is one of our favorite new ranches! With an idyllic cabin right on the banks of upper Hat Creek, private access to your own stretch of the creek as well as three trout-filled ponds, all within minutes of Burney and all of the great public accesses nearby, you're bound to fall in love with the Hermsmeyer Hat Creek Ranch, too.

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: The bigger fish in the creek are holding under the structure, riffles, and undercut banks.



Lake Christine
Updated 09/24/10

Lake Christine is fishing good right now at first light and in the afternoons/evenings. The Callibaetis are hatching pretty much every afternoon and evening. Damels, callibaetis, and midges have been the most productive flies lately. Going a little deeper with a Type II line and a leech can produce some very large fish as well.

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: It is especially important to have a float tube or pram to access the lake. The best dry fly fishing lake that we have ever been associated with. Cast to the cruising fish all day long.



Riverside on Fall River
Updated 09/24/10

Fall River is fishing decent right now.

Tricos, PMD's, baetis, hoppers, and callibetis have all been producing fish on the Fall lately. The river can get a little more technical this time of the year, but experienced anglers will still do very well. This is a boat river so getting a guide can be a good idea. Look for swinging leeches, damsels, and multiple mayfly nymphs to produce the most fish as well as fishing some dries during certain times of the day.

WARNING: There's a new game warden on the Fall who's trying to crack down on fishing the Hex Hatch by citing anglers for fishing "after dark."

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: The "Fall River Twitch" has been the most effective technique on Fall River for decades. Anchor your pram upstream of rising fish. Cast downstream and across, then feed line out to extend your drift a long ways downstream. This way the fish see your fly first, and enables a precise presentation without spooking the fish. If you're casting to a pod of rising trout, work from the outside in and you can often pick them off one by one.

This beautiful 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath house sits 10 feet from Fall River! It comes fully equiped with a hot tub, BBQ, and 3 boats - with new gas motors - ready to go fishing! (Make sure that you read the confirmation and instructions on gas motor operation before using!) This is a perfect getaway for a group of 6-8 people.

A great vacation house, Riverside is in close proximity to other fisheries like Hat Creek, Burney Creek, and the Pit River. Don't forget to bring the clubs, a world class 18 hole golf course, with magnificent views, is only 10 minutes away!



Rock Creek Lake
Updated 09/24/10

Rock Creek Lake has been fishing great the first few hours of the day and the last couple in the evening.

Fishing first light to about 9:00 AM in the morning and about 5:30 PM to Dark has been the ticket up at Rock Creek lately. The fish are on the surface feeding a damsels and midges primary and are agressive with a "good" presentation. A good idea is to walk the leavy and look for crusing fish and target them. The inlet and outlet have also been very productive. Mid-day the fish have been going deeper, but will still eat. Either count down your Intermediate line or switch over to a Type II line to get down to them. Lighter, longer leaders are a must this time of the year.

This is our most popular private water destination, with limited availability through out the season. Early on in the season the water is colder and the fish will be a little deeper. Searching those depths with buggers and leeches will produce a lot of fish until things start to warm up and the bugs are more active. Using a slow sinking line, like an intermediate will get you down and keep you at the zone that the fish are the longest. Still bring a floating line, as there can be some great dry fly fishing and some anglers will produce fish on nymphs under indicators. 95% of the fish are caught near the shorelines, where food is the most plentiful. Also targeting the area around the inlet and outlet can provide some great action. If you are retrieving your flies, slow retrieves tend to produce the most fish.

The Fly Shop'sŪ Tips: Sinking lines as well as floating lines useful here, as the fish will suspend at varying levels depending on water temperatures and available food sources. There are some really huge trout here-recent sightings by clients and staff have confirmed the existence of rainbows over 12 pounds!



"The Fly Shop
4140 Churn Creek Road ,
Redding , CA , 96002
http://www.theflyshop.com
tim@theflyshop.com"