2-5-26 

Rating - Good

Baum Lake fishing is currently rated as good to excellent, especially for trout, with reports of big fish being caught using nymphs (like BWO patterns, balanced leeches) or dries (Adams, Hackle Stackers) for fly anglers, while stockers hit Buggers; expect cooler water (around 43F) to favor deeper tactics, but fish are active, biting near stream mouths and in clear conditions, making it a prime winter/spring spot for variety.

Sportsman's Warehouse

No updates at this time 2-5-26

1/31/26

 Snow fell in the area over the New Year, and interest in trout trolling slowed to a crawl. Once the weather clears, trollers should be back out there looking for two-fish limits with a variety of trolling flies or red/gold spoons from the surface to 10 feet. The trout season ends on February 28 before reopening during the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. 

Western Outdoor News.

2-5-26

No updates at this time

8/5/25

      We've had some thunderstorms, there are more weeds growing and dying, and not much pressure. You can find solitude, the fish are there and eating. The main hatches are Tricos, smaller Callibaetis, some Baetis, and Caddis in the evenings. For the Tricos, the Drowned Trico and CDC Trico Spinner are good choices. The Drowned Trico, Trico CDC Biot Spinner and Dun Tricos will be good to have in the mornings. Baetis and Callibaetis nymphs under the Fathead Moth is a good combination when the fish aren't rising. Strip Pine Squirrel Leeches and Water Boatmen in the mid-day and afternoons.

Hot Flies: 

• Lance's Jigged X-May

• Weiss BP Nymph

• Norman's Wiggletails

• Pheasant Tails

• Mercer's Missing Link

• Zug Bugs

• Zack's Stillwater Swimming Leeches

- Courtesy of The Fly Shop

The Fly Shop
800-669-3474
info@theflyshop.com
https://www.theflyshop.com/

8/1/25

     Salmon season is open, but numbers are still low with the occasional fish taken at the outlet of down river around Shanghai Falls.  Flows are still a bit high at 7,000 CFS.  making it difficult for bank fishing.  Striper counts remain mixed with a few decent fish taken in the early am or later in the evening on the lower river. 

-Courtesy of Western Outdoor News

https://www.wonews.com/

8/5/25

      The best chances at fish on the top end on the Powerhouse 2 Riffle will be in the morning prior to the sun peeking over the horizon and towards dark. Tricos. Lots of them. Look for a spinner fall in the morning along with a hatch. More assorted mayflies are coming off on the top end in the Powerhouse 2 Riffle area along with Yellow Sallies. Work the lower areas of the creek for the Caddis in the afternoons and evenings, you may find some areas with fish sipping Trico spinners. And bring your Rubberlegs, this creek is full of stoneflies. This is a spring creek, a full box of Adams in #12 - 18 and dark Missing Links in #14 - 16 should have you covered for any noses poking up.

Hot Flies: 

• Lance's Jigged X-May

• Rubberlegs

• Sweet Pea Jigged Baetis

• Pheasant Tails

• Mercer's Missing Link

• S&M Nymph

• Walt's Worm

• Peaches n' Green

• BP Weiss Nymph

- Courtesy of The Fly Shop

The Fly Shop
800-669-3474
info@theflyshop.com
https://www.theflyshop.com/

Note: Hat Creek is a world renown fishery. Wild trout are large and abundant!

12/7/24

     Iron Canyon can be a winter time sleeper if the road conditions are good. Might be worth checking out before the next round of storms! Balanced Swimming Leeches are always a safe bet as well as worm patterns and midges!

Hot Flies: 

Midge Flies:

Harrop's CDC Emerging Midge - #20

Nymphs/Wet Flies:

• San Juan Worm - Fire #8-14

• Chromies - #16-18

• Beaded Zebra Midge - #16-20

• Mercer's CB Micro Mayfly - #14-18

GB Half-Flashback PT - #16-20

Streamers & Leeches:

• Beaded Micro Buggers

• Freshwater Clouser - Olive/White

• Zonkers - #4

- Courtesy of The Fly Shop

The Fly Shop
800-669-3474
info@theflyshop.com
https://www.theflyshop.com/

(Image: Nor Cal Fish Reports)

1/31/26

No updates at this time

8/5/25

      The upper river has been steadily clearing all summer. Releases from Klamath Lake have been around 950 CFS for the past several weeks. Water clarity on the lower end has been good, the water temps have been bouncing between 70 and 74 F. With the numbers of adult and half pounder Steelhead and Kings in the Trinity, things are looking up for a good run of fish to be passing through the estuary in August.

Hot Flies: 

Eggs:

• Clown Egg

• Micro Spawn - Shrimp Pink or Salmon Egg

• Boles Bazookas

Nymphs:

• Pat's Rubberlegs - #4-8

• Coppertop Duracell - #16

• Red Copper Johns - #14-18

• Gordon's Amber Wing Prince - #14-18

• Beaded Assassins

 -Courtesy of The Fly Shop

The Fly Shop
800-669-3474
info@theflyshop.com
https://www.theflyshop.com/

12/31/25

Almanor is still fishing well into December due to generally mild weather and conditions. Water temps have slid into the mid-40s, though trout are still roaming and feeding instead of tightening up in their winter pattern. Pond smelt remain the main driver, which is keeping fish spread through the water column from the surface down into the 30-foot range. The bite is increasingly number-heavy, with smaller aggressive rainbows showing up often and better browns and heavier rainbows mixed in. Trolling techniques remain the same as the last report... worms, plastics, trolling flies, and spoons in baitfish patterns. Calm conditions have pushed the bite toward slower presentations across the board, and anything rushed is getting mostly ignored.

Fishcaddy.com

12/31/25

Oroville’s water temps are sitting in the mid to low 50s, but the bass clearly haven't gotten the memo. Local reports say the spotted bass bite has been on fire the last couple of weeks, with fish hitting throughout the water column. T-rigged soft plastics, dropshots, and especially small jigs have been crushing fish off points, rock structure, and drop-offs, from 5 feet down to 30+ feet. The average fish has been chunky too, some pushing 3-to-4-pound range, all with full bellies. Mostly spots, but a few smallmouths are being caught as well.

Not many positive reports coming from trout/salmon trollers, the bite has been very sporadic, although there is mention of the rainbows starting to move up the water column as water temps continue to cool.

1-8-26

Fishing conditions:  Good

Report: Recent reports indicate that you can get a lot of fish on midge pupae like #18 - 20 Zebra Midges in black and red, and the BP Weiss nymphs as well. Bring your Woolley Buggers too as you can get fish stripping them with your I-line setup, black, olive and brown all can work depending on the conditions. This lake has a lot of Callibaetis and fishing a small, #18 Pheasant Tail nymph on an I-Line or under an indicator an work very well. Look for cruising fish and if they are eating up to, use a #18 or #20 Adams.

The lake is a good option if you are in the area, with intermittent releases from Trinity Lake, fishing right below the outflow can produce some consistent hookups. With the number of Damsels and Dragonflies in this system, Wooly Buggers stripped in brown, black and olive, and Balanced Leeches the same color stripped or fished under an indicator are solid approaches. And Zebra Midges in #16 - 18, black and red, are a staple here. We've got guides who can get you out on Lewiston, give Bryan a call to set up a trip!

Hot Flies:

Dry Flies:
• Hackle Stackers - BWO #18
• Parachute Adams - #14-18
• Mayfly Cripples

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
• Ultra Scuds - #16
• Chromies - #18-20
• Mercer's CB Micro May - Black #18
• Flashback Pheasant Tail - #16-18
• Beaded Zebra Midges - #18-20
• Mercer's Gidgets

Streamers & Leeches:
• JGF Translucent Wiggle Tail
• Woolly Bugger - Any
• Beadhead Crystal Buggers - #8
• Zack's Swimming Leech - #8
• Zack's Damseleech - Orange/Olive

The Fly Shop
800-669-3474
info@theflyshop.com
https://www.theflyshop.com/

2-5-26

No updates at this time

2-4-26

   We have not heard lately how it is fishing, but this is a good time to go historically. Balanced Leeches, worm, and midges under an indicator are go-to patterns, but those who know how to fish Zack's leeches or damsels on a sinking line can do very well!

7/29/25

      The river is clearing, there was a spike in flows on the day it blew, we are pretty sure it was a thunderstorm that parked on a burn scar. Lower in the river on Tuesday it was fishing okay with larger black patterns. We expect it to continue to clear as we go through the week. As we are approaching the warmest part of summer you can look to see more Caddis hatching toward evenings, the October Caddis pupa migration will be happening as well. If you are Euro Nymphing, try the UV Sallies, your favorite Perdigon, and a Rubberlegs. For dry/dropper use the larger brown Chubby Chernobyl and a Olive Hotspot, UV Sally, Iron Sally, or a Jigged Bird's Nest. Fishing tailouts with streamers like Barr's olive or black Slumpbuster or your favorite Sculpin will produce.   

Hot Flies: 

• Pat's Rubberlegs

• Olive Hotspot

• Coppertop Duracell

• Sweet Pea - #16

• Copper John Red - #16

• Jigged Birds Nest - Natural, Hot Spot #14-16

• Walt's Worm

- Courtesy of The Fly Shop

The Fly Shop
800-669-3474
info@theflyshop.com
https://www.theflyshop.com/

Report provided by Modoc Outdoor Recreation and Tourism:

The drought is hitting Modoc hard. Some lakes that are at the basis for great fishing in Modoc County are low enough to challenge boaters at the launch and the river has not run high all year. Surprisingly though, the fishing has not suffered… yet. As a mater of fact, low lake levels have made targeting bass and other warm water species like, well, shooting fish in a barrel. A fly angler recently landed a 5.5 pound largemouth from shore on a Devil’s Garden lake. Kids get hooked on the lifestyle when 20-fish days are common, as they are right now. Trout are kegged up in deeper holes in rivers and streams making them almost too easy to target. All in all, it is a great time to be an angler in Modoc County. Just pray for rain before it all goes away…

Here are a few tips for low-water fishing:

•Please remember fish do not do as well when released in warmer water, especially trout and other cold water species.

•Play fish intended for release as quickly as possible, wet hands and keep fish in the water to maximize survival after release.

•Think about keeping a few smaller fish where regulations allow to lessen the drought’s impact on others left behind.

•Remember fuels are dry! Don’t start a wildfire that could impact all kinds of habitat, including already-stressed fisheries.

•Always leave an area better than you found it. Increased visitation means increased trash and other waste. Public servants cannot always keep up due to declining budgets and soaring demands. Please do your part!

5/23/22

Over the past three weeks, I’ve had several trips on Hat Creek, the McCloud, and the Upper Sac. The flows are very wadable, the water temps are in the low-mid 50’s, and all three rivers have fished very well for my guests. Euro nymphing has been the most productive technique for my guests, but we’ve also done very well fishing dry-dropper rigs, and you will always catch fish on an indicator rig. The dogwood trees are blooming along the McCloud, which always makes this a special time of year. If you’re interested in learning a new technique, or perfecting what you have already learned – let’s book a walk-wade trip on any of our amazing rivers!

- Courtesy of:

Confluence Outfitters
Andrew Harris
888-481-1650
andrew@confluenceoutfitters.com

https://www.confluenceoutfitters.com/

7/29/25

       The flows from Britton remain around 360 CFS and this is a little high, you can fish it, but be careful wading. Flows from below the Pit 4 dam continue to be high around 450 CFS and 680 CFS at Big Bend. Apparently the road between Lake Britton and the Pit 4 Powerhouse will be closed during the day on weekdays for PG&E work. This work is scheduled to be completed in December.

This is a great river to fish a Euro rod and we highly recommend it. Be careful though, this can be a slippery river to wade. We recommend a wading staff when fishing the Pit.

Be aware that the flows on the Pit can and will change without notice, so definitely check before you go! And be prepared to get out when the river begins to rise.

Here are some useful links to monitor the flows:

Pit 3 - Below Pit 3 Dam

Pit 5 - Through Big Bend

Hot Flies: 

Dry Flies:

• Stimulator - Orange

• Foam October Caddis

• Potter's October Caddis

• Mercer's Skating October Caddis

• Adams - #14-18

• Mayfly Cripples - #12-16

Nymphs/Wet Flies:

• Mercer's Tungsten October Pupa

• Skip’s TB October Caddis

• Dark Lords - #12-16

• Flashback Pheasant Tail - #14-16

• Beaded Zebra Midge - #18

• Mercer's Poxyback Dark Stone - #6

• GB Black A.P. - #10-12

• CB Micro Mayflies - #16-18

• Red Copper Johns - #16-18

• Pat's Brown Rubberleg - #6-8

• Gordon's Amber Wing Prince - #14-18

• Jigged Birds Nest - #14-16

• Walt's Worm

Streamers & Leeches:

• Zack's Swimming Leech - #8

- Courtesy of The Fly Shop

The Fly Shop
800-669-3474
info@theflyshop.com
https://www.theflyshop.com/

Privately owned waters represent an appreciable portion of California’s fishable waters. This includes flowing waters, privately owned lakes, and ponds. California’s private waters provide a great amount of fishing opportunity, produces quality fisheries and are important habitats for native wildlife species. Book with one of our amazing members here:

The Fly Shop

There are several hundred miles of rivers, creeks, lakes and streams within easy striking distance of The Fly Shop® in Redding. To book a guided trip on one of our private waters or regional lakes or streams you can call or send a message at info@theflyshop.com. 

https://www.theflyshop.com/adventures/private.html

Reports from The Fly Shop Private Waters:

https://www.theflyshop.com/streamreport.html

Confluence Outfitters

We guide the best trout and steelhead destinations in northern California and southern Oregon. The guide team at Confluence Outfitters has the expertise, local knowledge and versatility to make your next fly fishing trip a trip to remember!

https://confluenceoutfitters.com/destination-map.aspx

8/5/25

      The opener on Friday was good for most above the 44 bridge with a lot of fish caught on eggs. Since, it slowed somewhat on Saturday, but there are fish up there eating Bird's Nests, Olive Hotspots, Weiss Nymphs, Rubberlegs at times, and the usually summer Lower Sac bugs. Flows and temps from Keswick have been rock solid at 14,000 CFS and in the low fifties. We are seeing good Caddis, Yellow Sally and PMD hatches. Again, current flies are the dark brown or black Rubberlegs in #8 & 6, Olive Hotspot, the Jigged Bird's Nest, UV Sally, BP Weiss Nymph and egg patterns. You can swing soft hackles for big fish in the evenings or throw a dark Missing Link.

Access To the Lower Sacramento

The Lower Sacramento has many publicly accessible areas with good wading opportunities when the flows are below 7,500 CFS. Stop by the shop and we'd be happy to point you in the right direction.

Fishing Large Rivers Can be Frustrating

There are many great places you can get in and wade this blue ribbon tail water. Having said that, the absolute best method to fish the Sac is from a drift boat. Aside from being able to access all of the water, you can fish the long runs on a dead, perfect drift which is deadly on these legendary wild rainbows. And who would be a better oarsman than one of our Professional Guides? They know every nook and cranny of the river, what insects are and will be hatching, and the setups and methods that will get you onto the fish of a lifetime.

Recommended Equipment & Setups

Most of our fishing, whether from a drift boat, or wading when the releases are low enough, is done dead drifting nymphs. The Fly Shop's Signature Indicator Rod is nine and a half feet of indicator nymph fishing perfection designed by our professional staff right here on the Lower Sac. Teamed up with a 6 or 7 weight Scientific Anglers Amplitude Anadro Floating Fly Line or a Rio Intouch Xtreme Indicator Fly Line it will put a center pin rig to shame.

Hot Flies: 

Dry Flies:

• Mercer's Missing Link, Dark

• Spotlight Caddis Emerger - Spotlight Caddis Emerger

• Comparadun - BWO, PMD

Nymphs/Wet Flies:

• Jigged Birds Nest - Natural, Hot Spot #14-16

• Fox's Poopah - #12-14

• Bubbleback Caddis, - Amber #14

• Olive Hot Spot, - #18

• Weiss Nymph, -

• Peaches n' Green, -

• Peaches n' Cream, -

• Ginger Snap, -

• Pat's Rubber Legs - #4-8

Eggs:

• Micro Spawn - Peachy King, Shrimp Pink

• Boles Bazookas - Shrimp Pink, Peachy King

- Courtesy of The Fly Shop

The Fly Shop
800-669-3474
info@theflyshop.com

8/5/25

    Fishing on the top end of the river continues to be quite good, lower down the fish are getting into their summer game of refusing everything but your little black offerings. If you are planning to go bring a thermometer, the low end of the river has water temps topping 70 F daily. This is small black stuff season, the main fare for these fish will be midges tossed in the frothy stuff when there is sun on the water. Midges, Blue Wing Olive nymphs, and the occasional Hydropsyche Caddis will be what these fish will key on. Black and Red #16-18 Zebra Midges, BP Weiss Nymphs, Rubberlegs (at times), #14 Fox Poopahs, small Dark Lords, Olive Hotspots, and Duracells can be high-sticked, Dry Dropper underneath a Chubby Chernobyl, or under an indicator. Euronymphing will work too. Bring Adams, Elk Hair Caddis and Missing Links #14 - 18 for the evenings. The October Caddis should be moving to the slack water soon, so a tan/orange Mop Fly or #10 Posse Bugger should be in your future.

Upper Sacramento Flows at Delta

Hot Flies: 

Dry Flies:

• Sedgeback October Caddis - #10

• Low Water Baetis - #18

• Adams - #12-20

• Mercer's Missing Link - Dark #14-16

• Parachute Adams - #14-18

Nymphs/Wet Flies:

• Mercer's Tungsten October Pupa

• Skip's TB October Caddis

• CB Birds Nest - #10-14

• Red Copper John - #16-18

• Zebra Midge - #18-20

• Mercury Black Beauty

• Mercer's Glass Bead Micro May - #22

• Mercer's GB Dark Stone - #8

• Mercer's Dark Stone - #6

• Pat's Rubber Legs - Brown #6-8

• Jigged Birds Nest - #14-16

• Gordon's Amber Wing Prince - #12-18

• Mercer's CB Micro Mayfly - #16-18

• Walt's Worm

Streamers & Leeches:

• Sheila Sculpin

• Woolly Buggers

• Zack's Stillwater Swimming Leech - #8

- Courtesy of The Fly Shop

The Fly Shop
800-669-3474
info@theflyshop.com
https://www.theflyshop.com/

12-31-25

Shasta continues to cool off, with temps now in the high 50s across most of the lake. Bass are still moving, but the patterns are a bit all over the place. Some fish are chasing bait balls shallow with morning boil activity around the Pit Arm. Others are pushing up the McCloud Arm and either pinning themselves to submerged structure or sliding into the backs of coves. Crankbaits, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits are all working well when covering water in these areas (and especially if the wind is up). In calmer conditions, though, a dropshot is still a near-guarantee for a few fish.

Rainbows are showing in the Pit Arm too, high in the water column. Some quality fish, but also a lot of stockers.

12/1/25

Lake Siskiyou is putting out a serious trout bite right now, for both numbers and size. Browns and rainbows to 5-6 pounds are hammering trolled spoons in the top 25 feet of the water column. Folks are reporting excellent catch counts, upwards of 10-20 fish a day with plenty of size mixed in. Flat water and clear fall conditions have made this an ideal time to get on the water.

 Fishcaddy.com 

12/31/25

Trinity Lake has been hit-or-miss lately. temperatures are very cool, both in the water and the daily temps. fishermen. Cold water temperatures have slowed bass activity. Still, patient anglers putting in the time are landing quality fish. Bass action has been best on primary and secondary points, worked very slowly with drop-shot worms, grubs, or slow-rolled swimbaits. Most fish are well worth the wait, in the 3-to-6-pound range.

For trout, a few holdovers are being nailed near the surface by anglers casting spoons. Trout stockings should be coming at any time.

Fishcaddy.com

1/24/26

Flows on the Trinity River have come up with recent rain, but the river is still producing. That bump in water has helped new steelhead push in, and there’s now a noticeable mix of wild fish alongside hatchery returns. When flows rise quickly, steelhead stop traveling and settle into softer holding water… inside edges, depth breaks, and protected tailouts where they don’t have to fight current. As flows stabilize, movement resumes and fish become more willing to eat.

Black and silver plugs continue to draw grabs when worked through defined travel lanes. As flows settle, deeper nymphing has been more consistent, picking off steelhead holding in buckets and along seam edges.

The upper river below Lewiston remains the most reliable stretch thanks to cold water and predictable flows, but fish are also spread through the mid and lower sections wherever structure breaks up the flow.

Fishcaddy.com

12/31/25

Water temps at Whiskeytown are down to around 60°F. Trout haven’t been stocked since July, but holdovers are getting more active with the cool down. The CDFW has scheduled its first stock of the season for next week. Trolled spoons, Rapalas (both tipped with nightcrawler), and even Kokanee gear are still pulling some quality fish, though the Kokanee bite is long done. Fly anglers are picking up a few as well in the backs of coves and inlets with midges and woolly buggers. Spotted bass are still biting, more size than numbers, with dropshots and small swimbaits doing the best. Woolly buggers are working for bass, too. Once temps dip a few more degrees, expect the bass action to fade out for winter.

Fishcaddy.com