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Wow. Mike & Jack and I had an insane morning on Fall River. The fish are as thick as I've ever seen. They aren't everywhere, but if you know where to go you can fish to schools of 100 or more within sight of the boat. We started off with some small fish today, but from 11am through 2:30 the grab was wide open and the big boys were biting. We landed tons of fish with the best being around 18. We landed fish on nymphs, dries, and sinking lines. I haven't seen better fishing on Fall River for a long time. July and August should be incredible.
The hex hatch has been pretty good, too. Mike hooked two really nice fish last night and we're going to give it a shot again tonight. The hatch has moved up into the upper river, but not all that far up just yet. It's still going strong down around the dredge run.  Mike with a nice rainbow  What a great view! |
Aside from the fine Hexing on the Fall and killer stone fly hatch we encountered on the Upper McCleod, I have to report that I finally got a camera! Here's a few recent pics from some Clearwater destinations.  Dan hexing with eyes closed  Hex mascot and Mt. Shasta  Arnie about to net Pam Shier's mystery fish |
We are getting good early returns of summer steelhead on the Rogue already. Last count I heard was over 1300 fish. That is usually a number we see in late July. I have been out a couple times over the weekend. Still looking for the big tug. Heading out tonight with a couple of bros. I'll report back soon....
As the steelies come in, Gold Ray Dam is on it's way out. Demolition of the dam and the construction of a coffer dam are underway despite appeals from landowner groups concerned about things like duck habitat. The fewer ducks we have in this valley, the better! Go Beavers!
Completion of Gold Ray Dam removal should be complete this fall. We are excited to soon have 150 miles of free flowing river. We'll look forward to having more steelhead water!  Coffer Dam above Gold Ray Dam |
Here are some more photos from Bernard and Catherine's excellent Fall River adventure.  Fattie!  Bernard with one of his big bows  Hex fish |
I took out Bernard and Donn from the Bay Area today. We didn't have the greatest hatch today, but we were able to find one huge rainbow cruising a flat. Donn hooked him on a long downstream drift. The big bow ate a size 16 olive comparadun. Donn landed another nice one on a nymph, and Bernard broke off another that looked to be about 19. The nymph grab is great right now on Fall River. Anything small (size 18-20) and flashy is working great.  Donn with friend Bernard and big rainbow |
We worked for our fish today on Fall River, but they were big! I guided Scott from southern California today. Scott and wife Pam have been coming to Clearwater Lodge for many years. We started on upper Fall River looking for rising fish. We got a lot of grabs from small fish, but Scott hooked a really big one on a PMD dry. It was about 18, but didn't make it into the net. We worked our way downstream throughout the day, landing a 20 rainbow on a nymph before meeting up with Scott's friends Dave and Fred who were being guided by Jay Cockrum. We watched Dave land a taped 22 rainbow after a prolonged battle. Scott then landed one of his own about the same size. The fly of the day was a black copper john size 14.  Scott with a toad  Jay and client Dave with a huge rainbow |
Everything is fishing great right now around Clearwater Lodge. The only exception is the Lower McCloud, which is still a little high and off-color. A few more days and it should be in great shape. The Upper McCloud has a great stonefly hatch right now. Pam, Scott, Arnie, and Wade had a great dry fly day there today. The Hex hatch is very consistent on Fall River right now also. Lots of bugs each night - sometimes too many. The PMD hatch on Fall has been up and down each day. Some days we have great dry fly fishing mid-day and others it's challenging. The nymph grab has been really good most days until 3:30pm or so.  Pam with a big fish  Pam's big brown  Fishing the McCloud |
The hex hatch is going off. Last night produced lots of grabs for Dennis Windsor, and we boated a fat 16 incher. What a great way to spend the evening...watching the sunset over Mt.Shasta, enjoying good conversation, and watching one of the most spectular hatches on Earth. After 9 years of fishing and guiding this hatch, I still get stoked to get out there every night to see what happens.
The hatch will last into August this season. If you want to fish it, you need to book well in advance. Clearwater, by far, has the best access and most dedicated hex guides on the Fall River.  what an incredible insect  Golden light moment before the hatch  the world's biggest mayfly |
Get ready, the steelhead are coming. This is the biggest water year in a decade. Glowing reports from Nor Cal and Oregon rivers are pouring in about the great numbers of springers and early steelhead trickling in. The moments are going to happen with more frequency this year.
My Trinity guide season starts in a few weeks with superstar client Dennis Taniguchi. We will be wet wading, skating drys for steelhead, and having evening bbq sessions around the campfire....can't wait. We might even do a multi day float camp trip if conditions permit.
My October and November available dates are already starting to trickle in, so book soon. I am not going to work every day this season, due to personal angling needs.
Check out my latest article in Sierra Fisherman about New Zealand. I also have another superb piece on NZ, which will be the featured article in the July issue of This Is Fly, one of the most popular online mags in the world. The article will ruffle a few feathers, so don't read it if you are a sensitive gaper.  Summertime Chrome  Summertime on the Trinity  Shorts and summer steelhead on the Trinity |
I had a great day on the water with Jon Sr. and Jon Jr. from Mill Valley today. Jon Sr. landed the biggest fish of the trip so far, a 20 fattie on Fall River. The hex hatch is also happening, albeit late and for a short period of time. Last night it started around 9:15pm and lasted for 20 minutes. We got a few grabs prior to the hatch, too. We also caught one of the best sunsets I've seen in a while. I expect the hex hatch to get better as the weather warms up this week.  Jon with a toad  Sunset over Mt. Shasta |
The fish around Clearwater are glad Mark Stephenson's crew from Palo Alto are gone. Man, some serious fish were hooked over the last 3 days, and we even managed to land some of the true monsters that reside in our local superb waters.
What a great crew of dedicated anglers who know how to have a good time on and off the water! I could guide these guys every day, but I don't think the fish would be able to handle the relentless pressure, and my truck would end up destroyed.
A rainbow formed around the sun yesterday, creating a halo...unreal. During that time, I watched Chris and Dean have one of the most epic 2 hour sessions of angling for large trout I have ever seen. Insane, all time guide day.  Chris, this fish is insane  Dean's insane fish..are you serious?  Chris & Dean, Fall River double |
Baum Lake fished great for us today. Today was my second day with Jimmy & Donny. They nymphed up a bunch of fish today, including some really big ones. We landed a few browns up to 16 and several rainbows 18-20.  Donny with his big fish  Jimmy with a big rainbow |
The Fall River system is simply one of the finest venues in the country to catch superb native rainbow trout. Seasoned anglers Dick and Ron both landed multiple fish over 20 inches today, and had many other opportunities that were not capitalized on...exciting moments though!
Spring creek dry fly fishing opportunities for keen anglers doesn't get any better than the waters that surround Clearwater.
Oh, the hex hatch is coming up too. July is shaping up to be all time on all area waters.  Ron's giant fish  Dick's giant fish  A Fall River dry fly specimen |
I guided Jimmy and Donny from southern California today at Clearwater Lodge. We had a good time on the Pit River, landing several big fish and hooking lots of normal size fish. Anything green worked well today. Hat Creek has been fishing well for those who know where to go. We have some golden stones flying around in the evenings, bringing some bigger fish up to the surface.  Golden stones are hatching!  Donny's big fish |
More fun was had by all today at Clearwater Lodge. Today was day 3 with brothers Rich and Tom. We started on Hat Creek and had the whole place totally to ourselves. Rich and Tom both hooked fish on nymphs, but neither made it to the net. Rich had some excellent grabs and hookups on huge stonefly dries, too. We fished Burney Creek after the lunch, where the stonefly grab was also going off big-time. A big foam stonefly with a dropper nymphs was very productive.  Rich landing a fish on Burney Creek  Tom with one of many  Yes, we still fish Hat Creek |
I got to see Mt. Shasta for the first time in a few weeks today. We finally have good clear weather and it looks like it's here to stay for a while. Conditions were perfect today - calm and clear with tons of PMDs hatching. I guided brothers Rich and Tom and they had a great time on Fall River. We started off with a bang, catching quite a few fish on nymphs in the first hour of the trip. We then pursued big fish on dries for a couple of hours. Tom almost sealed the deal on a really big fish hooked in the shallows. Rich landed the fish of the day on a nymph.  Rich with his big fish  Going under the bridge  They ate this one a bunch |
Cameron had a terrific day today at Clearwater. He landed 10 trout, both browns and rainbows. Mom did pretty good too, landing 4. The day before, Grampa landed 4. Bring the whole family up, and enjoy the great food, lodging, and fishing Clearwater has to offer!  Cameron's fattie |
Fall River: Technical, excellent dry fly fishing at some point on a daily basis..good sly line grab too at times if there isn't grass all over your fly
Pit 3: The grab is on, for Clearwater clients...especially on overcast afternoons. Lots of various stoneflies around, some fish eat dry immitations if presented well. Avoid hornets, rattlesnakes, and sore shins while having fish catching opportunities by hiring a Clearwater guide
Hat: Lots of people around popular spots, less around other spots providing better fishing
Small Creeks: Some are blown, others are providing superb dry fly angling all day long, hence, hire a Clearwater guide  Somewhere in the Fall River valley  one of Izzy and Kim's pillage victims |
I had a great time guiding some fellow Gridleyans on Fall River today. Erin hooked three big fish on dries on her first day of fly fishing, and Carrie landed a nice 16 rainbow on a nymph. Dry fly fishing was great from about 10am through 2pm. The PMDs were plentiful in about a size 16. Loopwing dries worked particularly well. Once the dry fly action was over we spent a couple hours nymphing. The nymph grab was good through about 3pm and then slowed down. Lots of grabs and lots of fun today!  Carrie's big fish |
The frog hatch can be in full swing any day now on Fall River. Mike Peters is working on a signature Fall River Frog pattern, called the FROG SKATER.
Here is the Recipe.
Step 1: Prepare materials, open a can of Hamms
Step 2: Tie your weedguard in with 30lb Hazel Maxima
Step 3: Tie in some squiggily legs
Step 4: Tie in some foam by the back of the hook
Step 5: Sip of Hamms
Step 6: Dont pull foam over yet, knuckleheads (referring to assorted observing guides)
Step 7: Run some more squiggly legs
Step 8: Dub with cactus chenille, heavy
Step 9: Sip of Hamms
Step 10: Tie weedguard in
Step 11: Tie in some more crazy legs to immitate crazy frog like movements...maybe tie some knots in em if ya want
Step 12: Pull foam over, whip fininsh, sip of Hamms
Step 13: Tie on a hand made leader to fish you hand tied fly, and behold the frog madness youself!  The Frog Skater  The innovator in contemplation  Frog Victim |
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