#FRMcCloudriver

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McCloud River Fly Fishing Report

John Richard reports on 5.9.19

McCloud River Fishing Report

The McCloud River is still experiencing high flows (532 CFS at Ah Di Na), but the fishing is quite good. The higher flows may limit some access and adjust the way you approach your favorite spot but it is likely that you’ll thoroughly enjoy your day. Last week our guides caught fish in a variety of ways. We were thrilled to throw the dry fly and on some days it would account for half the fish landed. The bobber went down plenty when we used the appropriate amount of weight and chose the proper fly. 

Most importantly the scenery is absolutely stunning, spring flowers, redbud, dogwood all backed by that new growth green of leafed out maples, alders, and willows. The conifers too are showing their new green tips. Along the banks our fly lines tangled around the pink clustered flowers of the elephant ear, beautifully ruining perfect cast or mends. 

The days have been warm and the mosquitos are vicious in camp and parking spots. The trail and the river are void of the mosquitos but they patiently await your return to the truck or campsite. Be aware that Ash Camp won’t have road access most of the season. You will have to park at the dam and walk. The road to Ah Di NA is in good shape but is heavily used by logging trucks. Drive slow around blind turns or you might feel like a mayfly splattered against the grill of a Mac truck. We have the best guides on the river and would love to show you around. 

Give us a call at 877-934-7466 or email info@wildwatersflyfishing.com

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McCloud River Fly Fishing Report

Chuck Volckhausen reports on 9.6.18

The Hirz Fire is still burning up the McCloud arm from Shasta Lake.  The river is still open at The Nature Conservancy and above and the fishing is good if you can take the smoke.  Some days are worse than others. 

I’ve been fishing as far North as the Williamson and as far West as the lower Klamath.  It’s hard to get out of the smoke.  The fishing is good though.  

The Klamath river has some fish coming in and we caught some.  Water temps are warm and we’ll be waiting a bit to get after those fish.  

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McCloud River Fly Fishing Report

John Rickard reports on 6.21.18

McCloud River Fishing Report.

I have to keep this short. The McCloud River is fishing the best that I can remember in my 18 years of guiding it.

 Dry flies, nymphs or streamers take your pick. It’s too easy. Best go elsewhere. 

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McCloud River Fly Fishing Report

Wildwaters reports on 5.1.19

The Wild Waters Fly Fishing crew was not letting high water conditions spoil our "traditional" trout opener last weekend. Our guides found water to fish and fish to be caught. The snow melt is making it tougher than normal but over the years we have learned where and how to successfully handle these conditions. 

The McCloud River

Although flows were very high, somewhere north of 1100 cfs we were able to get it done. However, they are dropping and today are at 700cfs at Ah Di Nah. You can fish the edges effectively but expect to move around to find good locations.

 If the flows continue to drop many more spots will open up. Hatches are not really kicking in yet but we are seeing Golden Stone nymphs getting ready to join the party. The Conservancy is open and the care taker has set up residency. There is one shaky spot in the road just past the campground where a culvert has washed out but repairs are coming. Remember too the road to Ash Camp is closed just past the dam. You can walk in if you feel inclined or take a mountain bike, scooter, roller skates, etc

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McCloud Fly Fishing Report

Rick Cox reports on 11.7.18

Fantastic Fall here in Dogpatch. The weather has been mild for the most part with the morning temps hovering around 30 degrees. Unfortunately there is no rain in sight and Mt. Shasta is down right naked with no white stuff covering any and all of her body parts. The National Weather Service is showing nothing but above normal temps and bone dry precip for the next 2 weeks. This isn’t starting off very well for me and you, so am not going to even think the D word for the time being.

McCloud River Report

The McCloud has really put on a spectacular show for us this Fall with its mosaic of brilliant colors. So with the river closing very soon (November 15), the popular October Caddis hatch and the quest for the big brown trout the river has been packed with anglers. It’s been tougher lately to bring fish to the net but there have been stellar windows where we have been lucky to experience hungry fish. 

Mornings have been the toughest due to the frigid conditions so I recommend the afternoon. Nymphing is solid but we have also enjoyed some outstanding dry fly fishing with some quality fish taking Stimulators and small mayfly patterns such as Baby Adams and Humpys. BTW too we have been witnessing the abundant leaf hatch, always popular this time of year.

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McCloud River Fly Fishing Report

John Rickard reports on 10.11.18 

The McCloud River is fishing great this fall. With all the fall colors and great fishing, we are expecting to see some crowds the next coming weeks. 

It rained hard the last few days and colored up the water at Bollibokka.

 It still fished well. Up river the Conservancy and Ah Di Na has been consistent but hatchless.

 A couple more weeks and we will have fantastic dry fly fishing. 

This is a favorite river of many anglers and it has been showing off all year. 

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Wild Water Fly Fishing Northern California Report

Rick Cox reports on 9.6.18

Needless to say this summer has been testing us all here in the north state. I wish I could give you all a glowing fishing report this week but Mother Nature is having her way with nonstop fires that are affecting us all in many ways. It seems as soon as one fire gets contained then another erupts. As you know the Carr Fire in Redding wreaked its destructive havoc, then the ongoing Hirz Fire has threatened and had its effects on the McCloud and USac watersheds. And just a few hours ago the Delta Fire has taken off and is running up the I-5 corridor burning from Vollmers/Delta and setting off evacuations up to Pollard Flat and Gibson with evacuation advisories for Dunsmuir. I-5 is currently closed from Redding to Mt. Shasta, needless to say it is a bad situation. Below are the latest updates from each.

The Delta Fire

The Delta Fire is burning on both sides of Interstate-5 near the Vollmers Exit north of Lakehead. Interstate 5 is closed from 10 miles north of Redding at Fawndale Road to 3.6 miles south of Mount Shasta at Mott Road. Motorists are advised to use an alternate route. The Shasta County Sheriff's Office is conducting evacuations on both sides of I-5 north of Lakehead to the Shasta/Siskiyou county line. There is an evacuation center located at the Mt. Shasta Community Center, located at 629 Alder St. in Mt. Shasta. The Delta fire is under unified command with U.S. Forest Service and Shasta County Sheriff's Office.

California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (CIIMT5) is now managing the Delta Fire, in addition to the nearby Hirz Fire.

The Hirz Fire

Control lines are now around the entire perimeter of the fire, and firefighters will focus on holding and securing these lines, as well as continuing to increase containment. Crews worked overnight to hold various portions of the fire, including the northeast corner along Squaw Valley Creek where the fire has backed down slowly into established control lines. Firefighters are also monitoring several islands of burning vegetation inside the fire perimeter that are relativity close to control lines. Crews will work today to mitigate these areas to ensure they do not compromise established lines. A priority for firefighters today continues to be eliminating all heat and hazards close to the perimeter of the fire. Unneeded equipment and hose will start being removed from the fireline as areas of the fire transition to suppression repair. Crews coordinating with Forest Service resource advisors have already been successful in completing suppression repair and rehabilitation along several contingency lines. This process will continue in the contingency areas, as well as, the areas along the eastern and southern portions of the fire that are contained and cold.

The hot and dry weather pattern continues to affect the region, and vegetation remains very susceptible to burning. Dry vegetation surrounding the fire area remains a concern for firefighters, and crews are working hard to ensure that control lines hold without threat of escape.

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McCloud River Fly Fishing Report

John Rickard reports on 8.2.18

The McCloud River has been interesting as of late. The river is starting to see a little glacial silt from Mud Creek. There have been few hatches and very little bug life. The weather has been hot and smokey. 

The poison oak and black berry bushes are in full growth, the rattlesnakes and hornets are buzzing, its summertime in the canyon. 

Luckily that means big brown trout for those willing to brave the conditions. Standard fishing tactics are a bit slow right now but casting outside the box can produce the fish of your dreams. 

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McCloud River Fly Fishing Report

Chuck Volckhausen reports on 7.20.18

Summer conditions are becoming clear and hot weather tactics are advised.  The Mccloud is still fishing well.  Hatches are few but some bugs can still be found and some fish looking up are being caught. Bring lots of water with you as the heat has been hard to escape.  

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McCloud River Fly Fishing Report

Rick Cox reports on 7.6.18

McCloud River

The McCloud River is also dropping into it’s summer time pattern of early and late the most productive times. 

There is a bump in the Simms hatch this week but into next week and the rest of the summer the crowds on this river will disappear giving her a good rest. So for you summer buffs the sermon goes .... fish shaded areas, fish the fast water and fish deep my friends. 

One thing to note here, its been a poison oak year and the leaves are begging you to kiss them ... BEWARE

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McCloud River Fly Fishing Report

Anthony Carruesco reports on 6.6.18

McCloud 

We've had some super fun days out there recently throwing the dry fly. You can get heavy and fish the deeper pockets and pools and get em, but the dry/dropper game has been too much fun recently. 

A lot of Golden Stones flying and dropping down in the evenings making for quite a fun surface scene. Have yourself a few rods rigged with different methods so you're prepared for all of the scenarios that will might arise. 

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McCloud River Fly Fishing Report

Dave Neal reports on 5.24.18

McCloud River

 I’ve only been able to spend a couple days on the Mac so far and this river has haunted me lately like no other. I cannot wait to get back ASAP. I shouldn’t have to say anything. For those who know it, you don’t need any convincing right now. And, that’s all I’m going to say about that!

Bring all your fly boxes stuffed with everything because there’s a good chancethat in the evening light it will be flying and bouncing all around you. Bring awading staff, bring your dry shake powder and be ready to have sore cheeks fora long while because that silly grin you will be wearing lasts a few days. This river is magic. I only have a few dates still open May 30 th. and June 4-6, 8. It is time to get after it.

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McCloud River Fly Fishing Report

John Rickard reports on 5.10.18

McCloud River

Most of our guide days have been on this magical river. It has seen a mix of weather and is in fantastic shape. 

The best and most fun fishing has been with the dry fly, however, we have seen success on every technique. Major players are the PMD's Yellow Sallies and Golden Stones. The fish have been healthy and consistent in the 10-14 inch range. That said the river has already shown off some big ones.

 A pack of very large browns attacked our poor fleeing rainbow trout pattern making a scene at our feet worthy of any film festival. If we had footage most audio would have had to been bleeped out. The crowds have been very inconsistent and many of our days include solitude in one of California's finest trout streams. We specialize in this river and its short game tactics. Let us teach you how to turn those fish on.

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McCloud River Fly Fishing Report

Rick Cox reports on 5.3.18

McCloud River

The McCloud River awaken from her long winters rest Saturday. She presented us with her magnificent beauty, spectacular spring foliage, and perfect water conditions. Ash Camp as always had it’s opening day crowds but no problem, it was like a big group hug rather than a battle for spots. The McCloud does put out that kind of vibe for us as she should. Reports of fair to good fishing came in, it was a rainy weekend and full moon which can have an effect but our guide got folks into fish. 

Nymphing was the proven method, very little going on as far as hatches but that will turn around very soon. With the great weather predicted this river too will only improve. Expect to see some Salmonflies and a few Mayflies but not in big numbers for the time being. The Golden Stones should begin their march to the bank and rocks soon so they will be on the menu for the fish. May and June will give us some of the best dry fly fishing that the McCloud can offer. Start making plans now and give us a shout.

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LCO video report of the McCloud River from the weekend.