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McCloud River

Guide Andrew Harris with a brown trout from the McCloud River
Guided Fly Fishing Trips
Full Days: $650 for 1-2 Anglers, additional anglers $150 each
Half Days: $500 for 1-2 Anglers, additional anglers $150 each
  • Year-round
  • Walk/wade

The McCloud River is perhaps the most scenic of all the rivers in Northern California. Fishing on the McCloud commences as the runoff recedes, usually between opening day and the end of May. Once the spring flows recede the river flows at a clear and cold 200 cfs all season.

Hatches of mayflies and stoneflies are excellent in the spring. Nymphing is always productive. Dry fly action in the summer months is more limited to the late afternoon and evening hours. Mayflies and giant October Caddis provide excellent dry fly action again in the fall.

The average fish on the McCloud River is about 10 inches. Many small fish are caught during the summer months, but the average size becomes quite good in the Fall. Migratory browns supplement the population of resident rainbows in October and November. Some of these browns are over two feet in length!

Most of our McCloud River guide trips start with an early morning meet-up at the gas station in McCloud. Our guides also pick up many guests at their accommodations in McCloud, Dunsmuir or Mt Shasta City. From the town of McCloud, it takes about 15 minutes to reach the Upper McCloud and 30-45 minutes to reach the Lower McCloud accesses. Guides Brian Kohlman and Mike Wright do most of our McCloud River guide trips.

McCloud River Hatch Chart

Mayflies
Green Drakes
Baetis
PMD
Caddisflies
Rhyacophila
Glossosoma
Hydropsyche
October Caddis
Stoneflies
Golden Stones
Giant Stoneflies
Little Yellow Stones
Terrestrials
Grasshoppers
May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
 
                         
                         
                         
 
                         
                         
                         
                         
 
                         
                         
                         
 
                         

Lodging Recommendations

The McCloud River is closest to the town of McCloud and Mt Shasta City. Please visit our Mt Shasta City Info Page for ideas on lodging, logistics, and other activities in the area. Many of our guests also base their McCloud River trip out of Fall River Mills, Burney, or Redding.

McCloud River Photo Gallery

The McCloud has deep pools that harbor large trout
An angler lands a fish on the Lower McCloud
Guide Andrew Harris and guest with a nice McCloud rainbow
The water can be cloudy or crystal clear on the Mac
A young angler with a McCloud rainbow that ate a big hopper dry
Crystal clear water on the upper McCloud
Middle Falls on the Upper McCloud
A nice cast with a dry fly on the McCloud River

 

Public Lands

Some of our McCloud River fly fishing trips are conducted on public lands administered by the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

Confluence Outfitters operates under permit from the Shasta/Trinity National Forest on a non-discriminatory basis.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible State or local Agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information is also available in languages other than English.

To file a complaint alleging discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html , or at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provided in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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