McCloud River & Upper Sac Fly Fishing Report

Riley Rennick of Wild Waters Fly Fishing Reports on May 18th, 2025

McCloud:

The McCloud is back down below 300 at Ah DI NA, with some of the creeks still pushing a good bit of water. Water clarity is fantastic. Fishing has been solid lately. We are seeing more midday dry fly action than we are used to. There has been no shortage of aggressive cookie cutter sized fish. Rubber legs are working, as per usual. They seem more interested in the caddis nymphs than the mayfly nymphs at the moment. Think hare's ear-esk flies in size 14 and 16. The crowds haven’t quite shown up, but I don’t expect that to last much longer. The rattlesnakes and poison oak are back.

Upper Sac:

After a few cooler days, the Upper Sac is sitting at 1140cfs. This is right on the upper end of a nice level. However, there is still plenty of snow to melt off – expect the river to bump up a bit on warmer days. The middle to upper stretches of the river should remain fishable regardless. Focus on sections of the river with less elevation drop. Find areas with soft edges that allow for a good presentation. Stoneflies should get going soon, and the upper stretch around Dunsmuir is one of my favorite places in the area to get out and fish the big bugs.