Current Fishing Report

I had the pleasure of guiding Ted and his son-in-law Tommy today.  Yes, it was pretty hot - but the fishing was pretty good too!  The fish were pretty grabby during the morning - both had lots of hook-ups and both landed some really quality fish!  The fish seemed to be a bit more tight-lipped during the afternoon, but both worked hard and were rewarded by hooking into some really nice fish - too bad they couldn't bring them to net.  There's always next time!  

Fun day on the Lower Sac with Nate and his dad.   Nate was 8.   Nate was great.    He could barely see over the bow of the boat but he fished almost a complete day, learned to cast a 7 weight, mend, set the hook and strip in his first trout on a fly rod under some relatively slow fishing conditions.   His dad was teaching him, "an attitude of gratitude" and it was awesome to watch.  The heat on the river isn't too bad and nobody is fishing the lower Sac right now out of Redding.   This father, son duo with the right combo of attitude and nobody on the river had an awesome day!  

"The website makes it sound like you're going to die if you fish the Pit... let's do it."  Matt came up from San Jose to check out some fresh water and was intrigued from what he heard and read about the Pit River. Within an hour Matt landed several hard-fighting rainbows including one that filled up the net nicely (pic attached). 

Matt with a nice rainbow!

I guided Martin and Ford on the McCloud the past two days.  They fished very hard and both were rewarded with some beautiful fish.  The cold water was a welcome relieve from the heat!  Bring lots of water on these hot days.

Spent the last few days in the Intermountain Area fishing Hat Creek and the Pit River with clients Rob and Topher.  We had a great time spending the mornings on the flats of Hat Creek throwing dry flies.  We had a number of fish rising to trico spinners and baetis emergers until around 10 am each day.  We landed mostly smaller fish, but had a few brief encounters with bigger top feeders.  So much fun.  Both guys did great on their casting and long presentations.  In the afternoon, we switched to the cool canopy and deeper pools of the Pit River.  We hooked and landed solid fish both days on wieghted nymph rigs and pretty much had the river to ourselves.  Combo days are a great way to take advantage of the variety of water in the area.

Solid fishing on the Pit.

The beautiful markings of a smaller Hat Creek Rainbow.

I spent the last few days on Fall River.  The hex hatch is good if not a little on the heavy side.  There were plenty of fish working the surface from about 8:50pm until dusk, but sometimes so many bugs that our chances at a grab were limited.  Most hex fish are in the 16-21" range and put up a great fight.Daytime fishing on Fall River is up and down.  We had a very difficult day on Saturday and then a pretty good day on Sunday.  You have to keep moving to find fish, and some of the fish in big pods aren't very interested in eating.  Go around the next bend, though, and it can be a whole other story.  On Sunday we landed quite a few fat rainbows in the 17-19" range, all on nymphs.  My clients Frank and Doug had a double where they landed matching 18" rainbows.  We were able to do some sight-nymphing on the shallow shelfs and weedbed edges and we caught plenty of fish on blind casts, too.  There is a smorgasbord of PMD and callibaetis duns and spinners, some trico spinners, damsels, and water boatmen on the surface during the morning and mid-day timeframe.

I caught this one!

The evening caddis hatch is thick right now

Hex floating down Fall River with Soldier Mtn in the background

Moonrise on Fall River

Frank with a nice one

Doug with a great fish

I floated the Sac on Thursday and again today.  Fishing remains a little spotty - tough one day and good the next.  With the daytime temps beging well above 100 degrees, we've been starting early and it has been pretty comfortable.  The Sac fished very good today, Philip and Sam both hooked several nice fish - and missed some really big fish!  With the closure ending at the end of the month, I'm excepting the upper section to be in great shape in August.  Stripers are in the river as well.  I'm planning to do some scouting this week, so I'll post a report towards the end of the week.

Philip with his biggest of the day.

Sam with was pretty psyched to land this beauty!

Spey Camp is for everyone, and the time is almost here!  We have a just a few spots left for our 4th season of Lower Klamath River Spey Camps.  These popular camps are perfect for the following anglers:Beginners: Learn the basics of casting a two handed rod.  Learn how to read steelhead water and how to fish it.  Learn the terminology of spey casting and understand the gear used.  No need to bring gear, our camps are sponsored by Sage, Rio, and Redington...we have a mega arsenal of fun toys for you to try before you buy them.  Intermediates: Take the next step up in your casting game.  Are you just doing the same snap t or double spey over and over again?  Time to learn some touch and go casts, refine your sustained anchor casts, and get more proficient with the scandi lines and lighter summer set ups.  Bring your rod and get it dialed in with the right line, we have dozens of Rio lines you can demo to balance your set up.Advanced: We love to cast, and we love help anglers achieve their highest potential in their casting and angling techniques.  The advanced angler will enjoy the amazing home water we have right in front of camp, fishing for chrome bright fish a few miles from tidewater.  Also explore the classic swing runs that abound on the Lower Klamath Wilderness River, only reached by boat.  Demo the newest rods from Sage like the X and the Mod.  Have casting "jam sessions" with three expert instructors who's passion is spey casting and swinging for chrome bright steelhead all over the Pacific Northwest.  Everyone: All meals, spey rods, reels, spey lines, flies, and elite instruction included.  Just bring a sleeping bag and appetite!  Our wilderness camp is already set up with comfy tents, cots, and Leslie's legendary camp chef meals.  When not fishing, relax and watch the river go by or nap in the shade.  In the evenings, sit by the fire and take in the beautiful coastal sunsets are followed by superb stargazing in a place where light pollution is far, far away...you will sleep well.Open dates: July 21-23  Weekend Spey Camp.  Quick and easy trip!  Arrive Friday afternoon, settle in and fish the evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning then head back home.  August 9-12 Spey Camp, 3 nights, 2 half days & 2 full days of fishing.River flows are the best they have been in years for the Lower Klamath, giving us excellent conditons for our camps.  Spey Camp is an easy trip from the Bay Area, and the best value in the industry for a multi day instructional spey experience.  Couple this with a shot at chrome steelhead a few miles from the ocean, this experience is hard to beat.  Contact me with and questions. 

I fished a lot of water in the last 3 days here in the intermountain area.  Fishing has been tough in general with slow outings on the Fall River and some of our local small streams.  Fortunately, there has been some good fishing mixed in.  The hex hatch is really thick right now, sometimes too thick.  The fish seem more enamoured with the hex hatch some nights than others.  Tonight we had our best evening yet with guests Bill and Harvey both landing a couple of fish in the 20" range.

small stream fishing

wet wading is the best

Landed a few fish like this tonight on the hex hatch

One thing I love about fly fishing is how many ways there is to enjoy the sport.  Last week, we were drifting down the Lower Sac at 115 degrees for linbacker trout with large nymphing rigs, and yesterday I got to spend a great day with clients Lynn and Helena from Los Angeles on the Beautiful Upper MCCloud River, a perfect high altitude trout stream.  What a difference in fishing styles, but equally enjoyable.  Lynn and Helena had a great day learning all of the various techniques that can be used on the Upper McCloud to catch fish.  We fished dries, nymphs, and dry/dropper combinations. We caught wild and planted trout on all set ups and I really enjoyed their enthusiasm and interest in learning the river.  So fun.  

Lynn with a dandy!

The beautiful Middle Falls of the Upper McCloud.

Spending all day in the shadow of Mt. Shasta

After a week on a remote island near the equator, I came to a truly hot climate here in the Fall River valley.  The hex hatch has been a little erratic, but worth the effort.  It is starting late, around 9:20.  Many of the fish have been tight to the banks, so you actually need to cast to these fish to get the big grabs.  As always, opportunities to catch large fish are there, Bob from Chicago landed a fat one over 20 inches last night.  Daytime fishing on Fall is a bit scratchy and hot...The Mac is fishing decent, with some lingering salmonflies around and some mayfly hatches in the afternoon, especially when clouds are around.  Dry dropper rig and covering water will work very well, Fish the shady spots in the afternoon, or nymph the deeper buckets and pools, or get out of the agonizing sun and nap until it cools off!

Here are some photos from Peter Santley's Lower Sac trip today.

Nick with a nice one

Brian Kohlman and I guided three great guys on the Lower Sac Tuesday and Wednesday.  The air temp was a little warm (one reading said 114), and the second day we had some strong morning winds which gave us a few challenges.  The guys did great and the fishing was really good.  Being on the water provides a nice breeze all day and plenty of cold water to cool off with.  Our group had lots of hook-ups both days and we put a lot of good, quality fish in the nets.  The fishing was consistant all day and the fish were grabbing a variety of nymphs.  Don't let the weather scare you, the Lower Sac is a great place this time of year.

Dave with an 18 dandy. Wind took his hat. Small Sacrifice for the picture

Mark keeping cool with a hot fish.

Wally's hard work pays off!

It's time to fish the epic Hex Hatch on Fall River.  I have a few nights available on June 26 & 27 and July 11 & 12.  I've been fishing this unique hatch for 15 years, and it still is as exciting for me as it was on day one.  The good thing about this hot weather coming up is that the hatch should go off!

Salmonflies are popping on the upper Rogue river. Dry fly fishing at its best, the fish are really looking up for this hatch. It won't be here for too long, so don't wait to book your trip. 

Christmas Island is on every saltwater angler's Bucket List, and it will stay on mine as a place I will certainly visit again.  Our group had about as good as a remote destination trip we could get, experiencing great weather, incredible fishing, and a great time off the water.  The trophy fish in CXI is the elusive GT, which we all had multiple shots at every day.  While hunting them we would encounter and catch three other types of trevally, all of which are incredible fighters and beautiful fish.  We hunted the cool and elusive trigger fish, and the huge numbers of bonefish on seemingly endless flats CXI is famous for.  We also fished the ocean side for GTs in the beach break, which was exciting, technical and just awesome.  It reminded me chasing roosters on the beach in Baja when they still existed there. This diverse fishery is a superb saltwater trip for anglers of all skill and experience levels.  Contact me with any questions about this venue and to help you book your trip.

My first and best fish of the trip

you can catch these fun little bones at will on cxi

Doug was the top rod of the trip, landing the most GTs

We weren't under gunned for gear!

Jon with a larger bonefish

The flats in cxi are vast and beautiful

One of the most remote and beautiful places on the planet

Our taxi to the endless flats

Stalking multiple species in perfect conditions

Well...it was pretty darn hot today, but reasonably comfortable on the water.  Fishing has been up and down the past few weeks, but the fish were very grabby this morning, then it slowed down late-morning, but then picked back up this afternoon.  The key is to start early on these really hot days.  Everything landed today was over 16 inches!

I'm on the eve of heading north to Alaska for what promises to be an adventuruous summer of guiding and backpacking, but before I go, I wanted to share some flies and thoughts for targeting Trinity River Steelhead. Every summer we all have to hold our breath in anticipation of the first returning summer run fish who make their way to the Trinity by way of the Klamath. There are fish in the river all year long, but it usually isn't until some time in mid-August that they start to show up on the Trinity en mass. By October the river is loaded from top to bottom. During this time finding water that hasn't been pressured can become as difficult a task as bringing one of these storied fish to hand. While most guides prefer to focus on the upper river, my favorite beats are mainly between Hawkins Bar and Willow Creek. I like this stretch for two reasons:1) It doesn't get anywhere near the amount of pressure that the upper river does.2) It offers the perfect venue for presenting a swung fly to Trinity River steelhead. This river, and specifically this stretch of river, offers one of the best places in the lower 48 to find success fishing a traditional down and across method with a classic pattern tied onto the end of your leader. To borrow a well worn phrase, these fish come to the fly well. Grabs are explosive, on or near the surface, usually accompanied by an acrobatic display that'll leave you grinning ear to ear.  Coupled with mild weather and the beautiful backdrop of fall, come October, there is no place I would rather be then on the Trinity.  A quick word on tackle. For swinging flies on the lower Trinity a scandi line with an assortment of floating versi leaders will get the job done 9 times out of 10. There are times when I like to fish an intermediate tip, especially if the sun is high on the water.  3x tippet or 8 pound Maxima Ultragreen is as light as I'll go (I had to learn that lesson the hard way). To bring a Skagit head or not? Sometimes the afternoon thermals will make you wish you had, especially earlier in the season when the mid day temps can climb into the 90's and the fish are in the dumps. Rods. A 7wt in my opinion is too much rod for 90% of the fish you're likely to catch on the Trinity. A 5wt spey up to 12'6 ft is perfect. Switch rods ranging from a 4wt to a 6wt are perfectly suited to TR Steelhead. Now, A few flies for your consideration. Part of what makes this fishery so unique is that these steelhead really love eating flies. They aren't particularily choosy either. This gives the angler a unique opportunity to fish different methods and try flies that normally would stay in the box. For me, there is nothing more exciting than trying to entice a surface grab on a waked or skated fly. The Trinity also presents the angler with the perfect venue to fish the timeless patterns that make fly fishing for steelhead such a unique sport. Tie on a Silver Hilton, a Royal Coachman, or a Greaseliner and never think twice about your fly. I'll be back from AK just in time for the Trinity to really start heating up towards the end of September. I offer both walk/wade and float trips out of a 13 ft raft.     Looking forward to getting on the water with you! 

The Copper Coachman. When sun's on the water, throw copper

A simple feather wing for early and late in the day

The Peacock Hilton. A variation of the timeless classic.

Bretts Klamath Skater. For toilet bowl flush grabs on the surface

Soft Hackles, the bread and butter of the Trinity

A traditional Spey Fly. Nothing says classic like a feather wing.

A hidden gem deep in the Trinity River drainage.

We have just set our 2017-18 schedule for Eagle Canyon.  Last year was so busy that we couldn't fit in everybody that wanted to come, so this year we're adding an extra month to our season.  Opening Day is December 9th, 2017 and we will be open through mid-April of 2018.  We are taking reservations for the 2017-18 season now, so jump on your preferred date soon!  Everything other than the schedule is the same as last year - same rates, same rest day before every party, and plenty of big trophy trout!

The river has been fickle recently.  One day the fish are super grabby - and the next day you're working hard for every hook-up.  All and all, the river is fishing well!  With the closure of the upper section, I expect the fish to be in great shape and very willing to eat flies in August.  Today, we had the pleasure of guiding a Project Healing Waters group coordinated by the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club.  Everyone in the group landed fish, and some landed quite few!  It was a positve experience for everyone and I look forward to working with them all again in the future.  All our area waters are fishable now, so let's get out and go fishing!