Trout rivers in the north state are looking pretty solid for this time of year.  Posted above are the updated flows from 1.16.2020.  Updated flows can always be found on DreamFlows website.

Rick Cox Reports on 1.15.2020

This is our favorite time of the year to be chasing chrome. January and February are THE months to be getting with it. We’re already cranking it up and getting out there from the Eel River up to the Umpqua River in southern Oregon. A major storm is just starting to begin its snow dump here in Mt. Shasta which equates to big river flows on the coast and a surge of fresh steelhead booking it into the rivers and creeks. Once it passes look for the coming weeks to be prime for getting yourself into a fresh chromer. Rivers like the Smith and Chetco will drop and get into shape within a couple of days with the other rivers to follow. Further inland we also expect to see fresh fish showing up on the Trinity, Klamath and Rogue Rivers. So far this year we haven’t had the blown out conditions of last season so the next couple of weeks will be your window to get on any or all of these rivers. Give us a shout our guides have an intimate knowledge of all of these.

Matt "Gilligan" Koles Reports on 

The clinic on the 1st is full. 

49ers are back in the NFC title game, and we’re sticking some big browns on the lower Truckee River. Can’t complain.

A few warm days last week, but still pretty cold round these parts. Some smaller storms this week, and a good one late mid-week. Looks to be nice this holiday weekend.

Flows have dropped a bit. 220 and change here, 330 or so out East. I imagine they’ll stay like this until we get some warmer bigger storms. Not much change since the last report. Trouts are mainly in the frog water. We have pushed, and hooked some huge browns streamer fishing out East on the lower Truckee River in Nevada. I have also had some good dry fly sessions on the warmer days. Surprisingly, some have been big on the dry fly. We used to have some great dry fly fishing down there before the drought, and it looks like its now come back.

Jon Baiocchi Reports on 1.11.2020

It’s been fun fishing on the Lower Yuba River the past couple of weeks. I really enjoy sharing the rhythms of the river with my guests and improving their skill set. My approach to guiding the Lower Yuba River is so much different as it is from a walk and wade perspective, where deciphering hatches and the clues that Mother Nature provides to usable information for the common fly angler. Reading water, proper presentations, casting, the best access, river history, local flora and fauna, flies, fish handling, the best flows, hook sets, fighting fish, and special leader formulas for every application known. I take pride in my trips, and not once in the last 23 years of guiding have I woke up at 4am and said “I don’t want to go to work today”. I really do love it.

Flows have been stable, right around 1,370 cubes, which is good as the trout can set up some long term homes and feeding lanes. Fishing pressure has increased, and some days are downright silly. I see way too many anglers racing upstream to try and beat the next guy, when they are passing up some really good water. All types of rigs are working right now but if want to play the dry fly game, you can take your time getting to the river ‘cause those heads and rise forms don’t even appear until after 12pm. Effective pattersn for nymph rigs include brown/gold rubber leg stones, red copper johns, Hogan’s S&M and Military May in BWO and PMD colors, and with this week’s weather and rising flows – worms in flesh, pink, and flesh colors. Swing salmon fingerlings and black egg sucking leeches near the head of runs.

So, what’s on the surface menu? BWOs, PMDs, Brown Duns, and Skwala stones. In the last week I’ve been observing more with my guests and helping them identify when a hatch is about to go off (it’s all about the song birds), the different species of mayflies, and trout behavior. The mayfly hatches have been really short, about 20 to 30 minutes, a little longer on cooler moist days as it takes longer for the mayflies to dry their wings from emergence and be able to fly off – Trout like that, they can take their time eating. One key to being more successful is to actually watch what specie of mayfly an individual trout is eating.  With 4 different aquatic insects to choose from, it varies. Here is an example; last Sunday my guest and I were fishing multiple foam line/feeding lanes in an area, and there were about eight different fish rising consistently. We were close, like 10 feet away so you could see every detail – To be honest it was incredible! Most of the fish were eating BWOs, but a few ignored them and would only take PMDs. There were Skwalas and a few Brown Duns circulating in a Merry-Go-Round foam patch, and the fish ignored both of them. Just plain weird. Trout behavior never ceases to amaze me. A classic “Masking Hatch” was happening, where other aquatic insects mask what most of the trout are really eating. To complicate matters even more, they can switch to a different preferred food item at any given moment. This is what trout fishing is all about – Solving the ever changing riddle.

Not many Skwalas out yesterday as it was too cold and not a lot of abundant sunshine. They chose to hide out under the cobblestones until a better day. They sure do like it warm. I’m amazed at how many anglers do not see them crawling around or in the drift. But then again you need to be on the water often to pick up the subtle clues and train your eyes to be able to pick up on those particular variances.

When it comes to that, I might as well be an Osprey. I just see the surrounding conditions of such so clearly – it’s all about putting in time on the water, and I’m very fortunate to be able to have those skills, and the time/job to hone them. I want to help other anglers though, and why I created affordable workshops to help increase a fly angler’s skill set. On February 12^th I will have a Skwala Workshop on the Lower Yuba River. You’ll learn identification from male to female, habitat for the nymph and the adult, where and when they hatch, plus other rivers that hold good populations of them, emergence behavior, egg laying behavior, trout response to the hatch, recommended equipment, leader formulas, flies, presentations, and a highly informative handout that covers everything within the workshop. $150 per angler, limited to 4.  You’ll walk away after the workshop with a clearer understanding of the Skwala hatch, and how to be more successful when plying the water. Shoot me an email if you want in: baiocchistroutfitters@yahoo.com I have other upcoming workshops in the mix, so keep tabs on my blog:  https://jonbaiocchiflyfishingnews.blogspot.com/ or on my website’s news page: http://www.baiocchistroutfitters.com/fly-fishing-news/

It looks like we are getting some real precipitation this week, with rain, snow, and below average temperatures. We’ll see what transpires with the flows, and just have to wait and see how much falls from the sky. Feel free to contact me with questions, it’s that time of year when I have a little more time to answer emails (ha ha! up at 3am this morning to do so and get caught up!). Put the resource first, give back, help a newbie, and I’ll see you on the water…

Captain Hogan Brown Reports on 1.9.2020

Jim Stimson Reports on 1.7.2020

We have some welcome, hopefully wet weather rolling in this morning. It has been weeks since we have had any significant precipitation. We can use some new snow for the ski area and the spring runoff. The fishing is solid on the Upper Owens, not great numbers of trout, but the fish that are actively feeding are large and fat. The Lower O has been great. It is nice to be able to fish down in the valley again. Enjoy!

East Walker

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

West Walker

The river has dropped considerably thru the canyon and is at perhaps 30-40 cfs? The USGS gauge is not working now so this is merely a guesstimate. The river is looking very boney up high but as you drive down the canyon, there is more water as side streams add to the flow. Try patterns like zebra midges and small mayflies. Dry droppers work really well at these flows. May stealth be your guide as the river is not only low, but gin clear. Keep a low profile… if you can spot fish in the river, they can certainly see your movements.

San Joaquin

The road to Devil’s Postpone is closed for the season.

Hot Creek

The creek is flowing through the canyon at roughly 44 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

Just a reminder, the Upper Owens is closed for the season BELOW the bridge to the reservoir. The flows are 94 cfs but these are readings taken high in the river system. Once Hot Creek dumps into the mid-section the flows are closer to over 140 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. And beware of any new snow as it will impact the driving approach.

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, caddis worms…. Thank God for Bishop. It is a nice break from winter when you need to see some dirt again and feel some warmth.

Good last week on the Truckee River.

Warm temps got the fishing going. We had some days in Reno near 60. Gonna get colder this week, not too bad though for January. Smaller slider type storms will brush us. As long as you don’t have that East wind, won’t be too bad temp wise. Hopefully, we get get some big storms by the end of the month. Fingers crossed.

So, not much change in the fishing, or flows. Like I say, last week was great, even got some fish on top. When you can get those warmer days this time of year, the fishing can be good all up and down the river. Saw some good pods of fish eating on top every afternoon last week. Baetis of course. We missed a few thumpers on the streamers. Just all around good. Remember trouts are in the frog water, you can bypass a lot of water this time of year.