Matt "Gilligan" Koles reports on March 26th, 2025

Riley Renick reports on March 28th, 2025

This weekend we will turn our focus from winter steelhead to the upcoming trout season. 

This winter season was pretty typical of what we’ve come to expect fishing for winter steelhead: working really hard to scrape out occasional opportunities. With so much rain fall this year, cancelling days and cruising 101 looking for clear water felt like the norm. The challenge of winter steelhead fishing is what makes it my favorite thing to do, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to warm days and reaching for the net a little more regularly. 

Looking ahead to spring trout fishing:
Last year on the McCloud was the kind of season you don’t write about until the road's snowed in. A few pics from last year that we’ve been holding back. 

The access road to the McCloud is accessible as of writing, water clarity and flow are ideal right now, but keep an eye on this next storm. Remember that though the McCloud is open to fishing year round, the Nature Conservancy property does not open until the last Saturday of April. You can expect a crowd that “opening weekend”, but outside of that, early spring can be a really pleasant time to be on the McCloud - weather pending. Fishing is generally consistent, and crowds don’t really start building until Memorial Day. 

Jarrett Coons of Sierra Mountain Trout Guide Service reports on March 28th, 2025

Lower Owens:

Flow-125cfs

Flows have come up, but fishing is still good. We’ve had a week of warmer air temps which will get that water temp up and closer to optimum. Rumor is we will be fishing here into April before summer flows go into effect. The BWO’s are still hatching from about 11:30AM-1 P.M. If you aren’t seeing fish coming up for them, hunt around, they aren’t always eating them everywhere. We’re also seeing more caddis showing up, small buckskin larva, Amiocentrus and Brachycentrus have been found in recent samples. Brachy’s make a square tube case and Amio’s will make a tube that looks like an ice cream cone. Trailing a soft hackle, adult or diving caddis behind your BWO isn’t a bad idea. Look for hatching caddis after the BWO’s around 3pm. This is a super fun hatch!

Streamers in the early AM and evening can be a lot of fun!! Call me to learn more about the complexities of streamer fishing! There is more than one streamer tactic that gets fish on the Lower O!! 760-920-0659

Flies:

Flashback Tiger/ Zebra Midge #22-18, Micro May #18-16, CDC Flashback Pheasant Tail #16- 18, Buckskin Caddis #18-20, CDC Flashback Hares Ear #12-16, Olive and Tan Soft Hackles #16-18, Peeking Caddis #14-18, Kings River Caddis #18-14, Partridge Caddis #14-18, Diving Caddis #18-16, Sparkle Dun BWO #18-16, BWO Dun #16-18, Rusty Spinner #16-18, E/C Caddis #14-18, Woolley Buggers #6-10, Zoo Cougar #6-8, Rabbit Strip Zonker #4-6.

Owens Valley Warmwater:

Bass
We’ve had several days of warming, a couple reached 80F! If it keeps up, look for bass to start their pre-spawn mode, as they get active more places to fish will turn on! It’s a good time of year to look for the places that warm quickly and carry a thermometer. Water temps can vary depending on where you are - look for temps closer to 55 or higher. A slow jig or retrieve seems to be the key. Flies fished under a bobber is also a great way to go.

Flies:

Wooley Bugger Variations #6-8, Baby Fat Minnow #6-8, Bunny Muddler #4-8, SMTGS, Articulated Craw #1/0, Gonga Craw # 4-6.

Carp 
We’ve been getting into them in the ditches. Flows are still low and the sun warms things quickly, getting the water-boatmen and other insects going. Water clarity is pretty bad where we’ve been fishing so take it slow, a fleeting glance or small ripple may be all you get to see of them. Look for muds that look different than the already muddy water and get your fly in the top end. The feeders have been aggressive and are chasing and pouncing on our flies! If it keeps warming, we can get out on the flats!

Flies:
Carp Coachman #8, SMT Jig Carp Damsel #12-14, Water Boatman #12-14, Sparkle Pupa #10-12, B.H. Hares Ear #12-14, Jig Pine Squirrel Leech #12-14.

530 Outfitters reports on March 28th, 2025

The Lower Sacramento River is shaping up beautifully for what promises to be an outstanding spring season! With only a few more showers in the forecast, we’re seeing prime conditions unfold right before our eyes. If this past week’s fishing is any indication, we are gearing up for some exceptional days on the water.

Current Conditions & Outlook

The river has been steadily dropping into perfect shape. The water clarity is great, and we can always count on consistently choice water temps. While the recent rains brought a slight bump in flows, the flush of clean water was a great thing. Prior to that, the water was coming out of the bottom of the lake with about 1.5’ of visibility. Now, the river is flowing the perfect shade of green, allowing us to fish many different techniques.

What’s Hot

Spring means the bugs are on the move! 

• BWO (Blue-Winged Olives)

• PMDs (Pale Morning Duns)

• Caddis

• Stoneflies

Best Techniques for Success

Nymphing is the standard technique for the Lower Sacramento River, and we know the game well. We are seeing more bugs this spring than we did last year, and that’s promising. We’ve already been playing around with other techniques and can't wait to do more as the hatches take off. If you want to know more, please give us a call.

Looking Ahead

March and April are the two months that launch us into our trout and bass seasons. It’s a great time to start thinking about your group trips with co-workers, family, and friends. We can accommodate large parties and enjoy taking care of all the details.

Bass fishing on Lake Oroville is in full swing, and we have the team to get you hooked up—a lot! This is a great trip for 2-3 anglers with plenty of action for all. The scenery and boat rides are worth the price of admission, but the fishing can be fun and fatiguing.

Lower Sacramento Campouts will be offered again at our private riverside campground with secured parking, camping equipment, and meals provided. There is no better way to enjoy the river and tune out than a two-day, one-night campout.

Fly Fishing Schools are our favorite way to help everyone get what they are looking for in this great sport. We offer beginner to advanced programs and can help everyone get better and fine-tune their skills. Please give us a call to talk about our school programs, and we will steer you in the right direction.

Matt Heron reports on February 12th, 2025

Well, winter has finally hit the peaks in Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River area. It only took until February. Better late than never as they say. We’ll take it!

It was hard to imagine that winter fishing on the Truckee could get any better after an amazing January. But it did. The first week of February brought us low pressure, rain, snow, sleet and anything else you can imagine. And boy, did it pay off.

Although the mountains above 7500ft got a lot of much needed snow, Truckee stayed relatively wet with lots of rain and very little snow as far as accumulation goes. Not ideal, but after two months of the region being dry, anything helps.

The Truckee River even got a huge push of water, a much needed “flush” if you will. The river peaked between 1,000 and 1,700 cfs last week and got pretty muddy for a day or two. As it should, it dropped and cleared to “fishable” visibility pretty quickly. Just the way we like it. 

Here are a few more details on conditions…

Flows: Water levels have stayed up, from downtown Truckee to Boca, and have hovered around 600-500 most of the week. We’re at 482 as we speak. Normal winter flows, pre-storm were 100-250 most of the winter. So bring your high water rigs the rest of this week.

Flows in the canyon are slightly higher at 624. They have been a bit higher than that most of the week leading up today. Flows prior to this week were around 400 or so. So, in reality, the canyon has only come up a bit and is in great shape.

Flies: We’ve gotten fish on just about everything this week, not unusual for water that has been slightly off color. Baetis 18-20s, rubberlegs 10-12s, leeches (any size), midges 18-20s, eggs and worms.

TECHNIQUES:

Nymphing: No secrets here, bobber and Euro techniques are putting the most fish in the net this time of year. If the water has any color, you don’t need to fish anything lighter than 4X. Go heavy or go home.

Dry Fly: There was some scattered dry fly fishing before the storm, but that mostly went away. That said, the midge hatches were really good and should come back into shape. Keep an eye on BWOs and maybe an early skwala or two.

Trout Spey: Swinging was a bit slow this week, the water was cold, and the fish didn’t want to move much to eat. That said I recently left town for a bit, and I can guarantee it turned on a bit with the water color. I’d be tossing small streamers and hold on!

Streamers: Again, cold water had the streamer bite on the slow side, but don’t overlook big meals in the winter months. Use 10 or 12 pound and fish the edges, drop offs, or even dead drift one. Trust me.

What’s Next?: March and skwalas will be here before we know it. One of my favorite times of year to get a big fish on a dry. Don’t miss out!

Looking for a Truckee River guide this winter or spring? Drop Lu and I a message. We’d love to set you up for an unforgettable day on the river.

-Matt

Bryce Tedford reports on February 12th, 2025

Been on the Delta breaking in my new engine & dialing in the new boat for 2025!

Fishing has been decent, but it’s still winter fishing on the CA Delta. I have done about 7 days over last few weeks & averaged 5-12 stripers up to 10lbs, over 5 hrs each day. Found all these fish in the shallow water using type 3 & intermediate lines, so that has been fun!

Might be dry docked for a bit with all this rain, but the boat is ready to rock in 2025! Depending on the rains I will be getting out there in Feb./March just looking for that elusive winter grab of a big fish! 

Fishing will improve as we approach the spring spawn in April/May. Water temperatures are currently hovering around 50 degrees, as those temperatures get closer to 55-60 it’s game on! Also, water clarity will be the name of the game over the next few months, too much rain/dirty water could be a challenge, but find some clarity/fish & you are in business. In addition, smolt drops are currently dropping throughout the local rivers, find those drops, a few stripers, a bit of clarity & you will find some amazing fishing.

Other than that, I plan to do a bunch of tying using my Loon Outdoor tying tools to make a bunch of Steve Adachi style Clousers. Definitely a bit of off season time, but will be getting on the water when weather & conditions permit. Prime Spring fishing is just around the corner so get ready!!!

John Feaster reports on February 12th, 2025

Water Temperature: 51° to 54°
Target Species: Bass
Fishing Method: Float and Fly
Leader Length: 9 to 11 feet

Fishing Overview: February has started out wet and wild. The glory hole has officially popped! Lake levels are high. With the big storm that just came through, bait has been pushed up into more shallow waters, as a result we are slowly starting to see those Spring numbers. 

Techniques & Gear:

• The Float and Fly method is my preferred technique on the lake. 

• For fly selection, the Black Leech and Williams Wagasaki from North Valley Fly Fishing have been producing excellent results.

• A 9 to 11-foot leader is working best to keep your presentation in the strike zone at the proper depth.

Fishing Patterns & Tips:

• Focus on working the bank with bold steep rock structure and the outside of the flats around the 12 to 15 ft range. 

• The second drop-off around 8 to 15 feet is a  prime spot. These areas are often overlooked but can hold a lot of fish this time of year.

• I’ve been having most of my success inside the Markley and Pleasure Cove areas.

Bonus Species:

• This is also the time when you might encounter trout while targeting bass with the float and fly rig.

• The trout takes are subtle, make sure to set on everything!

Conservation Issues: 

Golden Mussel Awareness Continues! Golden Mussels have started showing up in California's reservoirs, and local water agencies are taking action. A quarantine has been put in place to try and slow their spread, with decontamination stations set up at Steel Park and Markley Cove. Please remember to clean your boat thoroughly, especially if you're moving between different bodies of water, like from the Delta to any freshwater lake. It’s crucial to help prevent the spread of these invasive species.

Hot Tip:

• With most of the surrounding rivers blown out due to the storm, it’s a perfect time to lake fish for bass!

Matt "Gilligan" Koles reporst on February 12th, 2025

Been a cold week on the Truckee River. Lots of rain and snow though the next few days, and some warmer temps on out. 

These low temps mainly kept me off the river much of this week. Now that we'll get some weather again, things look good. The Truckee River always fishes well during and after these big storms. Remember, much of this snow does not reach the Eastern side of the pass. In fact we're snow free here in Hirschdale. It rarely snows in Reno as well. We can get some good snow here in Hirschdale, but this year not the case. All the snow is above 7,000 feet. 

So rig up those streamer and nymph rods because it'll be good. Both sides of the river should be firing.