Lost Coast Outfitters crew reports on August 19th, 2025

The Trinity and Klamath are in excellent shape and putting out fresh summer steelhead right now. This is the time of year to fish Muddlers and skaters on top and get some chrome to look up. 

It's hot right now, so stick to the low light hours for dry line fishing and get after it with a sink tip when the sun is up. Or, just drink some beer and take a nap until evening. 

Fish are spread out through the system, but the middle to lower ends of both rivers are holding more, fresh and grabby fish. 

To maximize your fun and effectiveness, go with a switch or Spey rod 11'-12'6" in a 5 or 6 weight. Scandi style lines are the most fun way to skate or swing small wet flies and Skagit lines are better for sink tip work.

Single hand rods are in play too and can offer better fly control for skaters. Think 9'6" in a 7 weight with a floating Salmon/Steelhead line for the most optimal setup.

LCO crew reports on August 18th, 2025

Mostly good things to report from da beach. Stripers have returned to Ocean Beach and Pacifica. It seems the water has finally warmed up after the coldest summer in 40 years. The bait had been staying out offshore with the stripers in tow. We've been finding some solid sized fish in the surf lately and we're stoked! The surf perch fishing has been solid all summer. In the last couple weeks, we've seen some of the largest perch of the year 

It's been a windy summer too, and some days have just been a no go out there. HOWEVER! most early mornings have been relatively calm lately, with the breeze picking up late morning. Get out at first light and you've likely have 2-3 blissful hours of fishing. 

The oceanside fishing will remain strong for a few more weeks and then we will transition into full on Bay striper season.

There's a ton of bait in the Bay right now, with anchovies accounting for the largest tonnage. The boats have been doing ok to great depending on conditions. Crissy field has been hit of miss of late, but certainly worth your time and will only get better as we transition into fall mode. Same goes for East Bay and Marin. 

Adachi Clousers in surf brown and chartreuse have accounted for the most fish lately. Fly color is not necessarily critical though. Keep it simple: clear water go with a brighter fly, dirty water go with a darker fly. 

Johnny Feaster reports on August 15th, 2025

Lake Berryessa

Water Temperature: 75-80

Target Species: Bass

Fishing Method: Top water and streamers

Leader Length: 6 to 9 feet

Fishing overview:
With the recent high temperatures, the best opportunities for topwater and streamer action are in the early morning and late evening when the water is cooler and fish are more active. We’re currently not using the float-and-fly method, as conditions aren’t ideal for it. While it’s not a numbers game right now, there’s a real opportunity to connect with some big, quality fish.

Techniques & gear:
Topwater in the early morning and in the late evening seemed to be the best chance at getting one of those major blowups. Throwing a streamer is a preferred method in the later hours of the day. Chartreuse and/or white Clousers by Ryan Williams or Steve Adachi are my go to flies this time of year.

Fishing patterns & tips:
The early morning topwater bite has been very productive. Look for trees. The second drop-off around 8 to 15 feet is a prime spot for streamers. Look for the flats that drop off
when getting into the late morning /afternoon.

Conservation issues:
Golden mussel awareness continues! Golden Mussels have started showing up in California's reservoirs, and local water agencies are taking action. A quarantine is in place to try and slow their spread, with decontamination stations set up at Steel Park and Markley Cove. Please remember to clean your boat thoroughly, especially if you are moving between different bodies of water, like from the Delta to any freshwater lake. It’s crucial to help prevent the spread of these invasive species.

Hot tip:
If you find any land bridges make sure to throw some top water around the ledges!

Putah Creek

Target Species: Rainbow Trout

Fishing Method: Nymphs with Indicator

Leader Length: 7 to 12 feet

CFS: 500-650

Fishing overview: 
With elevated flows across the system, effective weight management is critical. Drop your split shot accordingly to maintain a natural drift and stay in the zone. Fish are still holding, but they’re often pushed to softer edges, inside seams and slower troughs. Increased flows also mean the water can support larger meals, so don’t hesitate to size up your flies—larger stonefly nymphs, worms, and attractors are all in play right now.

Dry fly alert: 
While surface activity is limited, there are still opportunities for the dry fly angler. Look for risers in softer water at the tops of runs and in the tail-outs during lower light periods. Sparse mayfly and caddis activity has been enough to bring a few fish up, so keep a small selection of parachutes, emergers, and CDC patterns on hand in #14–18.

Techniques & gear:
In higher flows, a longer leader paired with increased weight will dramatically improve your ability to get down quickly and maintain a natural presentation. Aim for a leader in the 10–12 ft range, and don’t be afraid to adjust your split shot until you’re ticking bottom. This setup helps keep your flies in the strike zone longer—crucial when fish are pushed deep into slower, more protected holding water.

For fly selection: golden stone flies, hot spot flies, Blow Torch, TJ Hooker, and the caddis green pupa have been my go to flies. All mayflies are working as well. They’re also keying in on anything small and black.

Fishing patterns & tips:

Dead drift catches fish, presentation is key. Make sure to show some stealth when approaching the runs the fish will be holding more shallow then you may think. Don’t be afraid to throw some bigger flies to help present to the fish hanging at the bottom.

Captain Bryce Tedford Reports on August 14th, 2025

August has been a bit of a grind. We've been finding good numbers of smaller fish, but not seeing many of the larger bass I have come to expect this time of year. For me, fishing has been decent, but not great on the CA Delta this summer.

From June 15-September 15 I turn my focus to topwater largemouth & smallmouth bass excursions. These 5hr 1/2 day trips are a great way to get newer anglers into the sport as well as a blast for seasoned veterans who just want to watch largemouth & smallmouth explode on a fly.

Smallmouth fishing has been picking up the last few weeks so I have been chasing both smallmouth & largemouth depending on the day & the guests interest. My remaining summer dates are booked up & I will be turning my attention to stripers come early to mid September. Looking forward to a great fall of striper hunting throughout the Delta!!! 

Captain Gregg Holland Reports on August 14th, 2025

SF Bay is holding good numbers of stripers, both North & South Bay. We have been focusing on North Bay islands fishing the beaches and rocks. The bass are gorging on anchovies that are getting pushed up onto the beaches. We fish a couple different colors of 4" Clousers in pink, white, black , yellow over white and black over white. Our boat is generally in 8 feet of water and we are casting right up to the water's edge. Interegrated lines in sink 3-5 are best on 7 & 8wts. For best results, strip hard with long pauses and mix up your cadence. 

Captain Ben Thompson Reports on August 14th, 2025

Lake Berryessa & Putah Creek Fishing Report - July

By Local Guide Johnny Feaster

Lake Berryessa

Water Temperature: 75-80

Target Species: Bass

Fishing Method: Top water and streamers

Leader Length: 6 to 9 feet

Fishing Overview:
With the recent high temperatures, the best opportunities for topwater and streamer action are in the early morning and late evening when the water is cooler and fish are more active. We’re currently not using the float-and-fly method, as conditions aren’t ideal for it. While it’s not a numbers game right now, there’s a real opportunity to connect with some big, quality fish.

Techniques & Gear:
Top water in the early morning and in the late evening seemed to be the best chance at getting one of those major blowups. Throwing a streamer is a preferred method in the later hours of the day. Chartreuse and/or white Clousers are my go to flies this time of year, tied by Ryan Williams or Steve Adachi.

Fishing Patterns & Tips:

The early morning topwater has been very productive look for trees. The second drop-off around 8 to 15 feet is a prime spot for streamers. Look for the flats that drop off when getting into the late morning /afternoon.

Conservation Issues:
Golden mussel awareness continues! Golden mussels have started showing up in California reservoirs, and local water agencies are taking action. A quarantine has been put in place to try and slow the spread, with decontamination stations set up at Steel Park and Markley Cove. Please remember to clean your boat thoroughly, especially if you're moving between different bodies of water, like from the Delta to any freshwater
lake. It’s crucial to help prevent the spread of these invasive species.

Hot Tip:
If you find any land bridges make sure to throw some top water around the ledges!

Putah Creek

Target Species: Rainbow Trout

Fishing Method: Nymphs with indicator

Leader Length: 7 to 12 feet

CFS: 500+

Fishing Overview:
Flows are up, weights need to go down. Fish are still there, but sometimes can be tricky to find in bigger flows! This is the time of year you can get away with some bigger flies!

Techniques & Gear:
With the bigger flows, using longer leaders with more weight to help you get down to present these fish will immensely help your opportunity of finding the fish. For fly selection, a golden stone flies, TJ Hooker, green caddis pupa have been my go to flies.

Tips:
Dead drift catches fish, presentation is key. Make sure to show some stealth when approaching the runs, the fish will be holding more shallow then you may think. Don’t be afraid to throw some bigger flies to help present to the fish hanging at the bottom.

Captain Ben Thompson Reports on July 22nd, 2025

 

 

Captain Patrick MacKenzie Reports on July 21st, 2025

Cpt. Patrick MacKenzie
MacKenzie On The Fly
707-721-6700
www.mackenzieonthefly.com

 

Riley Renick of Wild Waters Fly Fishing reports on July 22nd, 2025

Dog days of summer are here. The beginning of July had unusually cool temperatures, which led to excellent fishing conditions. Since then, the more familiar heat and smoke have rolled in. For the most part, our local rivers have shifted into summer mode. Tactics are changing, but there are still some decent trout fishing opportunities. Be sure to check the Watch Duty app and air quality reports before heading off on an adventure. The Green Fire is burning near the Pit River and air quality has changed day to day based on the shifting winds.

McCloud
The McCloud has shifted to a quality-over-quantity game. The little fish are no longer climbing on recklessly. The fish are generally less bitey and harder to trick at the moment. However, we are having more encounters with the 18"+ class of fish. This all bodes well for another good fall season as well.

Upper Sac
Pay close attention to water temperatures. For the most part, the lower stretches of the river are going to be off-limits, particularly in the afternoon. The fish have grown quite weary. But a careful approach and good presentation can still produce good results. When fishing gets tight on the Upper Sac, I like to go with smaller dark-colored nymphs. The last 30 minutes of light still offer good dry fly fishing opportunities.

Fall Steelhead
Looking ahead to our fall steelhead season, there is a lot to be excited about. Following the dam removal, the Klamath is starting to clear up. Currently, the Klamath is at 5 FNU below Iron Gate. In general, I would consider anything below 10 fishable. I am very excited and optimistic about getting to fish the newly undammed Klamath. That being said, it is difficult to predict if the water clarity will hold up. Therefore, if planning on fishing the Klamath, I suggest staying in Ashland, which puts you at a 35-minute drive to either the Klamath or Rogue. We have a few openings, mostly midweek, for this coming fall. If you would like to get on the calendar, please reach out.

Cheers,
Riley Renick
Wild Waters Fly Fishing
info@wildwatersflyfishing.com
www.wildwatersflyfishing.com
877-934-7466