Norcal Fly Fishing Report

Brian Clemen’s Reports on 9/5/2016

Yuba River 

• Rating: Good to good++
  
• Flows: 800cfs
  
• Temp: high 50’s lower 60’s
  
• Clarity: Clear
  

Report: This is where I have spent a few trips on as of recent. Prior to me leaving for Alaska, the Yuba was on fire, and its still fishing pretty good. While the dry fly fishing has become a bit more inconstant, it will still produce a few fish a day, the nymphing game has been on point, producing some good to great numbers of hooked fish. Average fish is still 14-17", but we are still seeing a few of those 18"+ fish as well. Look for the Yuba to continue to produce some great fishing from now until the end of the egg bite, which is just around the corner. Now is the time to start hitting the Yuba as the traffic is low, and the fishing isn’t slow.
Guide Quote: The Yuba is a sweet place to be fishing right now, especially during the week. Weekends are a bit crowded, but still not that bad. In a few weeks, the salmon will be spawning, and the egg bite will be on like donkey kong. Don’t wait to book your fall guided trip. Also river is closed above the hwy20 bridge

Feather River

• Rating: Fair to Good
  
• Flows: 1300cfs low flow
  
• Temp: high 50’s low 60’s
  
• Clarity: Clear
  

Report: I have had a few days here as well, and while you wont see a soul out there, this doesn’t mean there are no fish in the system, its actually the opposite. The salmon are slowly making there way in, and we did hooked about a dozen in 3 spots, another week or so, and it will be time to hook some monsters on the fly. Most of the salmon are 15-25lbs, however we did hook a few that where pushing the 30lbs. The steelhead are throughout the system, and there is plenty to go around for those looking to hook into some spunky summer run steelhead. Most of these fish average 14-18", but we have hooked a few in the 18-24" range as well. As always the egg bite is just around the corner, and you know what that means.

Guide Quote: This place is as close to Alaska as you are going to get. If you have never experienced the egg bite, this is the place to be. If this season is anything close to last year, start thinking about booking your trip now for October and November. If you want to battle some monsters, give it another week or so, and give these Feather River salmon a try. I still have a few days available between now and the end of the month. Salmon and steelhead in one day, sign me up.

Lower Sac:

• Rating: Good to Great
  
• Flows: 9500cfs
  
• Temp: Mid 50’s
  
• Clarity: Clear
  

Report: The Lower Sac never disappoints, and it still keeps pumping out a lot of fish, and a lot of big fish, almost “epic” fishing to be had right now. This has been a stellar year on the Lower Sac, and if you missed out on any of the great fishing, you definitely don’t want to miss out on whats just around the corner, fall fishing during the egg bite. Lots of eager bows, looking to fatten up for winter on eggs and legs, no need to fish anything else from Oct to Nov. This is and always will be the place to be, especially during the fall.

Guide Quote: Big fish, lots of fish, what more could you ask for. Book now as dates are filling up fast.

Trinity River:

• Rating: Good
  
• Flows: 1200cfs
  
• Temp: mid 50’s
  
• Clarity: Perfect
  

Report: If you are not fishing the Trinity right now you then are truly missing out. The have raised the flows up to cool down the Klamath, and that only means one thing for us, “STEELHEAD!” They are in and eager to take a swung fly. I love this time of year as it is not a zoo, you have the place almost to yourself and the fishing can be absolutely awesome. Typically this time of year yields lots of fished hooked in the 18-22" range, but fish pushing 10lbs are also waiting for your fly too. I personally think this is the best time of year to swing for steelhead on the Trinity for several reason. 1) the water isn’t freezing cold, so the fish will move for your fly 10ft at times 2) you can get them on top with muddlers/foam skaters and even dries, lastly 3) its not a zoo, did I mention that yet. So bring those swinging sticks and hook you some chrome domes. Nymphing is also a great option of course, as this will give you the most opportunities at fish, but if you are wanting to swing, this is the time and place to be for the next month.

Guides Quote: If you are looking to get away for a few days, this is the place to be.

“To swing is the thing, and the tug is the drug”

American River

• Rating: Good
  
• Flows: 1800cfs
  
• Temp: high 50’s low 60’s
  
• Clarity: Clear
  

Report: We are still seeing good numbers of shaker stripers, but also some bigger ones too. The striper fishing will start to slow down in the next few weeks as the water temps drop, so get out now while the striper fishing is good. The salmon are slowly coming in, not in great numbers yet, but they are making their way in. The good news is there are a good amount of half pounders in the system, which makes for a fun day on the water. Between the stripers and steelhead, you couldn’t ask for a better time. If the flows stay higher than it did last year, the American should be a good place to get away for a few hours, especially below the power lines after the upper closes. Mid river has been holding a few more fish over the past few years, shhhhhhh, which is nice to see, so come mid Oct to mid Dec, give mid river a try. Also, don’t forget, the upper section closes Nov 1st, and reopens up Jan 1st, I already have a few dates booked around the opener, so don’t miss out.

Guide Quote: Don’t give up on the American, there are very few ppl fishing it, and you would be pleasantly surprised what you can hook into right now. Get out and give it a try

There you have it folks, the salmon are finally showing up in good numbers, the trout fishing couldn’t be better, and furthermore there are a good amount of steelhead in the rivers. It will only get better from now until the end of the year. Just a heads up, last fall was my busiest to date thanks to you all, and I had no available dates come the end of Sept. So if you are looking to book that fall egg bite trip, or just in the next few months in general, starting looking and booking now, before its to late.

My Local Available Dates:
Sept: 7,8,9,19,20,21,22,23,26,27,29,30
Oct: 1,2,3,4,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18
Nov: 2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,25,26,27,28,29,30
Please email me for later dates

My Trinity Available Dates:
Sept: 13 (more available upon request, starting 19th)
Oct: 21,26 (more available upon request, starting prior to 19th)
Nov: 15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22
Dec: 9,10,11,12,13,14