AC Flyfishing Reports on 2.20.20

We're experiencing some incredibly nice Spring-like weather recently here in Northern California. The day time temps in Redding have been in the mid to upper 60s and it's been downright pleasant outside and on the river. Trout fishing is starting to get good and river conditions on the Lower Sac are the best we've seen in 3 Springs. As much as we're looking forward to trout fishing becoming our mainstay -

Steelhead season isn't over quite yet.. We still have 3-4 weeks left of chasing these giant anadromous rainbows on the coastal rivers.

Conditions for Winter Steelhead have been good for us recently and the coming two weeks look to provide the same. Trout fishing on the Lower Sac and Steelhead fishing on the coast should be the two trips on your radar in the coming weeks. If you've got any sort of fly fishing itch to scratch, now is the time to do it..

We're extremely excited to have great river conditions for our Spring trout fishing this year on the Lower Sac. The past two years have dealt us high and unfavorable flows for a lot of March and April.

Currently, we're staring down the barrel at ideal river conditions and exceptionally nice weather patterns. Sure, we'd love to see another storm system or two move through and put snow in the high country but we're going to enjoy the favorable river conditions and great weather in the forecast. Flows on the Sac are just under 4k cfs right now. Even with the lighter than average Winter we've had, there is a lot of water still in Lake Shasta to set us up for a great year of trout fishing on the Lower Sacramento River. The warmer weather will get the bugs going - Spring Caddis, PMDs, March Browns and Stoneflies should all be primary food sources in the coming weeks. We may even have the opportunity to throw the dry fly some if hatches pop off like we're expecting them to.. Those of you that have experienced similar Spring conditions on the Sac know just how awesome the fishing can be. Now is the time to setup your Spring trip and take advantage of the favorable conditions we have. 

If you haven't heard yet - we've had a pretty solid window of chasing Winter Steelhead on the coast of California the past few weeks. Chasing these fish is never an easy game but the conditions have been excellent recently and look to continue to be in the coming weeks. Some of our guests this year have run into some truly memorable fish with us. With the high pressure persisting on the coast and lack of big storms in the forecast; We're expecting the opportunities to continue into mid-March. 
 
**It is important to note that fishing the coastal rivers for these fish is not for the thin skinned. Prepare to be humbled by these rivers and fish. Chasing Winter Steelhead on the coast is fast paced, technical fly fishing that demands next level casting, mending, line management and fish fighting skills. There is very little margin for error when pursuing these fish. These trips are recommended for the most experienced anglers. 

Dave Neal Reports on 2.20.20

I’m not really quite sure what to make of the weather lately… I’m conflicted. On one hand it has been wonderful soaking up spring like sunny weather every day. It’s been beautiful for weeks!!!

But deep down inside I know that we should be dealing with ice in the snake guides, frozen anchor ropes and numb fingers at this time of year. It’s winter steelhead season for F&%$# sake! We should be swinging flies with dredging tips and dumbbell eyes. All the while questioning our sanity for being out there - in horrid conditions - understanding that all the rain and snow we are enduring is exactly what our wild trout and wild steelhead need at this time of year and for the long hot summer ahead.  

So, as nice as it’s been fishing and working in these wonderful sunny conditions lately… winter should be wintering right now. It shouldn’t feel like spring, yet. 

Trinity River:

Fishing the Trinity River for steelhead has been very good these past few weeks. We have had some of our best days of the season in early to mid February. The wild fish have slowly trickled in and I suspect we’ll see more arrive when we get some rain and another good flow bump. It seems that a lot of anglers gave up on the Trinity this winter (as the Coast turned on). So, it has been real quiet lately. Many days we were the only boat on an entire stretch of river along with maybe one bank angler. The fish are around and they have all been wild. Swinging flies can be a good time right now…

The water conditions are back to very low and clear. It’s been on a slow drop for a while. I imagine things will be much tougher from here on out until we get rain. The fish in the river system will hunker down in the holes and deeper water, waiting for rain and flows to rise in the tribs.  

Keep an eye on the forecast and I would say Game On when we finally get some rain.

Lower Sacramento River

The Lower Sacramento trout fishery is decent right now. The window is short… more like a half day 4-5 hours when the fish are most active. 11-4pm is solid and you can look for the small caddis, midges, along with midday PMD action.

Who knows what’s in the forecast? Will we have a Miracle March? Odds are good that rain at some point this spring will return. Don’t put away the Gore-Tex yet. For now, I suggest getting out and fishing! 

March-May is a great time on the Lower Sac (probably my favorite time of year on this river). We will soon see developing PMD emergence & the Pink Alberts, March Brown mayflies, and random drakes along with little yellow stones, GS stones, and ubiquitous caddis. If you haven’t experienced a trip on this river, ever, or it has been a while, you should do so this season.

Jim Stimson Reports on 2.20.20

We continue to live under a dome of high pressure which is nice if you like endless days of blue skies and mild temperatures. The remainder of February looks to continue along the current path, drought mode. Hopefully we will have a Miracle March that will blanket the Sierra with snowfall. We could use some moisture for the summer not only for the health of the fisheries but also to mitigate fire danger. Keep your fingers crossed.

Fishing continues to be good with nice fish being caught along our open fisheries; the Upper, Lower Owens and Hot Creek. It is fun skiing on the Mountain in the mornings then dashing down to the river and hooking into some nice trout. If the cold temps are something you don’t care for, drive down the hill and fish the Lower Owens. It is a “banana belt” down there and the fishing for brown trout is fabulous.

Enjoy!

East Walker

The East Walker is still flat lining and dribbling below 21 cfs. Until the river flows pick up, I recommend giving this fishery a rest….. 

Hot Creek

The creek is flowing through the canyon at roughly 42 cfs. Target your casts to the feeding lanes between the weeds and rocks, plus the overhanging grasses along the margins. You may not see fish, but they are there. Try a dry-dropper setup with a caddis above and a midge or small mayfly below. Hot Creek is always a fun place to fish especially now that the crowds have gone home. 

Upper Owens River

The flows are dropping and sit at about 94 cfs high in the river system. Once Hot Creek dumps into the mid-section the flows are closer to 150 cfs. More and more trout are pushing up into the river system from the reservoir. There are some really nice fish to be had with SJ worms, small baetis, and balanced leeches. Work the deeper buckets relentlessly…. they are in there. Currently, the driving approaches to the river are no problem but beware of any new snow or precipitation.

Lower Owens River

The river is cruising steady at roughly 150 cfs and is fishing well with all of the traditional patterns; PT’s, Hare’s Ears, midges, Frenchies…. Thank God for Bishop. It is a nice break from winter when you need to see some dirt again and feel some warmth.

Get out there! You cannot catch fish if your line isn’t in the water.

Matt "Gilligan" Koles Reports on 2.20.20

Good solid fishing on the Truckee River.

Feels almost like spring in Tahoe/ Reno. Super balmy for mid-Feb.

When I say good fishing, I’m talking the Nevada side of the Truckee River, not in Ca. That’s where I’ve been spending my time. The water is low and clear and cold still in Ca.

So no more dry fly fishing down on the lower river. Lots of bugs, but not that many fish looking up. Not sure what happened. Still hoping for it to pick back up again. I did put on some nymphs and we did catch fish though. We caught fish in every water type. Not just the winter type frog water. Climate change.

Of course if you want to go hunting for big fish, you got to streamer fish, and stay committed. Luckily, we got a few on Saturday, thanks to some cloud cover and a falling barometer. That was after 2 days of nothing. It just takes the right pressure/ weather, to get trouts to turn on and chase. Sometimes you can nail those days down, but you just don’t know when, or what day that will happen. You just got to throw those things around until it does. I wish I had an app for that.

So enjoy the spring weather in February. 4 years ago we had the driest Feb. to that point on record, and a pretty good wet March. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Aaron Grabiel Reports on 2.17.20

Trinity

Lower Sacramento

Fishing is steady with fish eating drys and swung soft hackles.   This is a great time of year to explore the “lower Sac” as with the low water wading is effective in many areas.  Get out and fish this place it’s a trout factory.  Size 12-16 tan poopahs, peaches and cream, size 16-18 black micro mays, various May flies.   On top the Mercer’s missing link in black size 16 has been great. 

Coast

Capt. Steve Santucci Reports on 2.20.20

Fishing bounced back this week.  Wind dropped and the water warmed and we had some nice fishing.  This has been a strange year to all Delta anglers.  It's really hard to find schools of Striper but it can be good if you find them.

Rick Cox Reports on 2.13.2020

Jim Stimson Reports on 2.13.2020

Brrr…… 17º on the thermometer this morning! This will make driving out to the Upper Owens considerably easier with the frozen ground BUT, beware of the afternoons. That deep muck will eventually thaw. I would recommend at the minimum using a high clearance truck, preferably with 4WD. With these frigid temps, make sure your fishing line has been cleaned with one of the many line cleaning solutions from Loon, Rio, Umpqua. A clean, slick line not only makes casting and mending easier, but also helps with the buildup of ice on your fly line. Also, you should put a smear of Loon ice off paste on your guides. Then as always, check and clear your guides of ice buildup with your fingers. It may be cold, but the trout are still in the stream waiting to eat. Be persistent, keep casting, and exercise some patience. They are there but sometimes it takes a drift that lands right in their face before they commit to a grab.

If the cold temps are something you don’t care for, drive down the hill and fish the Lower Owens. It is the “banana belt” down there and the fishing for brown trout is fabulous.

Enjoy!

East Walker

The East Walker is still flat lining and dribbling below 20 cfs. Until the river flows pick up, I recommend giving this fishery a rest….. 

Hot Creek

The creek is flowing through the canyon at roughly 41 cfs. Target your casts to the feeding lanes between the weeds and rocks, plus the overhanging grasses along the margins. You may not see fish, but they are there. Try a dry-dropper setup with a caddis above and a midge or small mayfly below. Hot Creek is always a fun place to fish especially now that the crowds have gone home. 

Upper Owens River

The flows are dropping and sit at about 94 cfs high in the river system. Once Hot Creek dumps into the mid-section the flows are closer to 150 cfs. More and more trout are pushing up into the river system from the reservoir. There are some really nice fish to be had with SJ worms, small baetis, and balanced leeches. Work the deeper buckets relentlessly…. they are in there. Currently, the driving approaches to the river are doable, though muddy, with only a few icy puddles to worry about. Beware of any new snow or precipitation.

Lower Owens River

The river is cruising steady at roughly 148 cfs and is fishing well with all of the traditional patterns; PT’s, Hare’s Ears, midges, Frenchies…. Thank God for Bishop. It is a nice break from winter when you need to see some dirt again and feel some warmth.

Get out there! You cannot catch fish if your line isn’t in the water.