California Fall Opportunities

LCO staff reports on October 23rd, 2026

A multitude of fun opportunities are waiting for you across the state this fall. While we've largely experienced a warm, dry fall, the water temps are cool and the bugs are hatching and the fish are eating. It's high time to go get in on the action before winter El Nino storms take a bite out of the fun. Take a gander at the following options to get your game on right now!

Putah Creek: Running a mellow 111 cfs right now, the creek is plenty wadeable and putting out a few really nice fish. All the standard small nymphs will get it done: WD40, Two Bit Hooker, Juju Baetis, Zebra Midge, Peaches n Cream. Word has it you should have a few #16 Bird's Nests in your box too. Look for fish rising to caddis and mayflies in the slicks. #18 E/C Caddis or a Sparkle Dun will do it. Remember, the creek voluntary spawning closure begins Dec 1st. Get it in now, before it ends.

Yuba River: The Lower is low and cold and full of hungry fish. at 569 cfs, the river is fully wadeable, but remember, the river above highway 20 is closed for salmon spawning. Salmon are unaware of the closure, so plenty of them spawn below the bridge too. Beware of salmon redds (egg nests) and steer clear of any clean, oval shaped patches of gravel. The fish are getting keyed in on salmon eggs, so if you're into that kind of thing, a bead or Glo Bug will get fish all day long. More traditionally, BWO's, a few October Caddis, stonefly nymphs, caddis pupa and even a few leftover hoppers are all viable options. 

The North Yuba is low and clear and cool. Go with standard dry/dropper selections, like a #12 Rubberlegged Stimulator/#16 Peaches n Cream, or #14 Purple Chubby Chernobyl/#18 Two Bit Hooker. Use your imagination. The fish are hungry.

Lower Sac: Salmon spawn is in full effect and the fish are chowing egg patterns from Sundial to Jellys. If that doesn't float your boat, stick to small mayfly and caddis beadheads and you'll still catch fish. Make sure you have a good selection of #16-18 Perdigon style nymphs in dark olive and black. These fussy trout often only want to eat tiny mayfly nymphs. 

Upper Sac: Fishing well top to bottom. Cool nights are keeping the water low & clear & cold and the bugs and the fish are happy. An #8 Burkus October Caddis with a #18 Darth Baetis dropper is a killer searching rig for fall. October caddis pupa and your favorite small mayfly nymph under a bobber is a good way to find fish in fall too. Get up there before winter sets in, this is the tiem of year to see what the Upper Sac is capable of putting out.

McCloud River: The lower McCloud water is cold and the fishing is hot right now. Migratory browns are spread throughout the system and they're eating streamers, October caddis pupae and stonefly nymphs. You gotta get down to these fish in the pools and runs. Use a sink tip if you're streamer fishing and us e tungsten if you're nymphing. If you want to have a blast and catch rainbows and possibly a big brown, fish your favorite October Caddis dry fly with a small mayfly nymph or caddis pupa off the back and just cover water. October caddis are ubiquitous right now and the fish want to eat them.

Trinity River: Everyone hoping for a repeat of last year on the Trinity has been disappointed. Everyone who knows that steelhead fishing is unpredictable and forces anglers to adapt and grind has been happy. The river seems to be hot one week and slow the next. As steelhead do, the fish are moving up river in waves, so what stretch fishes well one week won't the next. The fish are there and new fish are moving up river every day. Cover water, fish hard and you will be rewarded. The river is at base flows for the winter now, about 300 cfs outta the dam. Good for crossing the river and wade fishing. 

Klamath River: Mixed reviews on the Klamath. Earlier in fall, the lower river was red hot. Now, it seems the fish have spread out and are only found here and there. our most recent report from the Happy Camp stretch was lacking in steelhead, but full of half pounders to 18", so not a bad result for sure. Again, cover water and fish hard & you will be rewarded. And, if you want a bit more solitude than the Trinity, head to the Klamath. 

Truckee River: Good fishing up there, now that fall has really set in. We've seen some pics of really solid browns caught recently and plenty of rainbows, bulking up for winter. The entire river is fishable right now, from the highway 89 stretch all the way to east of Reno. BWO nymphs, stonefly nymphs and streamers are what will take fish right now. Don't forget the crawdads either. If you don't have a selection of BWO emergers in your pack in fall, you are doing it wrong. Stock some #18 Sparkle Duns, Last Chance Cripples and Hackle Stackers and look for heads in the slicks. Dryfly action happens on that river more often than you think.

East Walker: Good reports from the East Walker on streamers and the normal nymphs. Flows are low and cold and the fish are packing on the pounds before winter. Sculpzilla, Dolly Lama, Peanut Envy will all do it for streamers. #18 Peaches n Cream, Hogan's S&M, Zebra Midge or any other small mayfly or midge are all worth trying. If you're lucky, you might even see a few heads. 

Bishop Area: The Upper Owens is perfect right now, and everyone knows it. This cool weather will bring big browns and bows up from Crowley and get the bugs charged up. Loads of dry fly action on smaller fish, and keep your eyes out for bigger heads too. BWO's rule the fall. 

Lower Owens is low and fishy. Fewer reports from there, but it's worth checking out, some chonky rainbows that call that river home. 

Hot Creek is fishing decent and the weeds should be just beginning to die off now. Streamers in the open water and dead drifting small midges & mayflies in the channels will produce fish of all sizes. 

The foothills creeks are all in prime fall shape and the aspens are brilliant orange. What excuse do you have not to go? 

Pyramid Lake: Early season has been good at the 'mid. Even with the warm weather, the fish are eating streamers and midges. The next round of storms should make for some biblical fishing for portly cutties.