American River - Lower BOOK NOW FOR DRIFT TRIPS for Shad.
General Conditions: Water flows are around 1025 cfs.
Pretty good reports on spring run Steelhead on the upper
river by Sailor Bar. Shad have arrived but you need
to find them. Stripers are in the lower river. Still
a few 1/2 pound Steelies too.
Fishing & Hatches: Try Fox's pupae nymphs in riffles
during the day and swing flies - leeches, marabou muddler
& buggers. Caddis hatch in late afternoon.
Flies: Stripers: Some light action for stripers in lower
section but limited.Nymphs: Blk & Brn leeches, #14–16
Fox’s poopah tan and olive, Prince nymph #12-16,
Caddis Larva #14-16, Shafer's 3D #8-10, Outrigger Caddis,
Egg patterns. Dries: #12-14 Elk Hair caddis, EC Caddis.Shad:Expect
Shad mid May to end of May
Hints: Dead drift works best but some are having success
swinging flies.
Calaveras River
General Conditions: Closed until 4th Sat. in May.
Fishing & Hatches: Tight line nymphing with Sloans'
Mighty Mite baetis, Flashback PTs, Caddis nymphs.
Flies: Nymphs:Flashback PT #16, San Juan Worm Red, #10-16
Prince, #12-16 Copper John, #12-14 GB Birdsnest, Mighty
May PMD #16, #14–16 Fox’s poopah tan, #16–18
Flashback PTs, #16–18 Sloan’s Mighty May
baetis, Mighty Mite in Brown 14-16. Dries:#12-14 Elk
Hair caddis, 18,20 Para Adams, #14 Sloan’s Paralyzer
olive, Ants, E/C Caddis #16-18 and ....Hoppers!
Hints: Expect lots of gorgeous wild rainbows in a setting
just 30 miles east of Stockton. Large boulders make
you earn your fish.
Davis Lake
This Ice is off the lake and water is low. Expect huge
stocking in mid-May.
General Conditions: Try a dropper off the bugger with
I line. Check weather conditions and go have fun!
Fishing & Hatches: Fish & Game are planting
heavily. Planning big plant in mid-May with loads of
big, fat trout.
Flies: Nymphs:Brassies, Mercury Black Beauty, Mercer's
Midgeling in sizes 16-18. Generally at this time of
year use size 8-10 rust and olive Buggers, size 10-12,
Burks Sierra Damsel size 12 Princes and Hare's Ears,
Blood Midges size 18-20, Pheasant Tail size 16-20. Dries:Para
Adams 18-20, PMD 18-20.
Hints: It's time to fish Lake Davis...very big fish.
Delta Stripers
General Conditions: The Delta is one of the best kept
secrets in the West. It really is a great fishery. Water
has warmed up. Stripers and Black Bass! Beginning to
see top-water action! Great action at San Pablo Bay.
Call RJ for guide date.
Fishing & Hatches: Fast erratic retrieves with a
fairly long pause produces best. Look for drop-offs,
rock walls and currents...that’s where stripers
hold. Call our guides.
Flies: Stripers:Try black flies with large profile in
and near off colored water. Also good are Clouser Minnows,
Deceivers in Gray/White, Blue/White & Chartreuse/White
in size 1/0-3/0, and also try smaller sizes (2-6), Circle
Hook clousers.
Hints: Need super fast sinking lines. Strip hard and
fast with frequent pauses.
East Carson River
General Conditions: Flows are very high right now,
around 900 cfs.
Fishing & Hatches: It is pretty cold water right
now! You will need to put the fly right on their nose
right now. Try BWO/Midge dropper combo.
Flies: Nymphs:Micro May 16, Flash-back PT 14, GB Hares
Ear 16-18, Poxybiot Stone 8-16, Little Yellow Stone,
Copper John 16, Mighty Mite 14-16, Black Copper John
16, Sloan Might May BWO 16, Shafer 3D in Black 6,8,
Birds Nest 16, Prince nymph 14,16.Dries: Paralyzer Yellow
10, Stimulator Yellow 8-10, Madam X 10, Yellow Humpy
12, Cutter Caddis 14-16, Elk Hair Caddis 14, Streamers:Rag
Sculpin 6-10, Buggers in black & olive 6-10, Silvey's
Sculpin Sleech.
Hints: Pretty cold right now. Be sure to slow down retrieve.
East Walker River
General Conditions: Flows are up - 297 cfs. Getting
great reports and fish are hungry...Be sneaky and use
stealth. Good fishing and warmer weather!! We are getting
pretty good reports from Nevada side too.
Fishing & Hatches: Try BWO or Olive scuds &
midge patterns. Try stonefly with dropper. San Juan
worms for sure.
Flies: Nymphs:Micro Mays, Scud patterns, Shafer 3D,
Birds Nest 16, Poxybiot Stone 8-10, Burks HBI 14-16,
Sloans Mighty May BWO 16, Black Copper John 14-16, Copper
John 14-16, Caddis Pupae 14. Dries:BWO & PMD 16-20..Streamers:Buggers
black & olive, Rag Sculpin, Muddler Minnow
Hints: Now is a great time to be on this river. DRY
FLY HEAVEN! One our guys has been having great luck
with two fly nymph rig. Use Mighty May in large size
on top and midge pupae on bottom to leary trout.
Fall River
General Conditions: Opener was good with good water
color.
Fishing & Hatches: PMD, Baetis and small leeches
- olive & green.
Flies: Nymphs: Mighty May Baetis 18-20, Micro Mayflies
16-18, Midge red & black 18, WD40 18-20, Zebra 18,
Disco Midge 16-18, Leeches and buggers in olive and
black 10. Dries: Para Adams 20, Lt. Cahill 18, Elk hair
caddis 14-18, BWO 16.
Hints: Small olive leech with I line.
Feather River Below Oroville
General Conditions: Flows are 1220 cfs and about 600
cfs in low flow area.
Fishing & Hatches: Perfect time to drift caddis
nymphs for chrome steelies. Shad are in lower river.
Flies: Nymphs:Birds Nest Natural 14-16, Shafer’s'
3-D Nymph 10-12, Egg Sucking Leeches in Black and Purple
4-8 - Streamers: Leeches & Alevins Dries: Outrigger
Caddis & E/C Caddis 14-16. Stripers: 1/0 or 2/0
Clousers in Chartreuse and white, and grey-white.
Hints: Shad Time!!! Caddis for Steelhead.
Hat Creek - Lower
General Conditions: A little slow at Powerhouse @.
Try Blaum Lake - pretty good reports.
Fishing & Hatches: BWO nymph will work best. Golden
stones nymphs. Try skating the new Outrigger Caddis.
Flies: Dries: Mayfly Cripple 16(a sleeper), Adams 16-20,
PMD 16-20, Trico spinners 20-22, Hackle Stacker BWO,
Hackle Stacker PMD, Marabou Cripple, Sprout & Sparkle
Stackers BWO & PMD. Nymphs: Mercers' Micro May 16-18,Sloans
Mighty Mite Baetis 16-20, Sloans Might May BWO 16-20,
WD 40, Dark Lord 14-18,BH FlashBack PT 16-20, Copper
John 16-18. Streamers: Muddler Minnow 6-8, Rag Sculpin
6 and Matukas 6-8
Hints:
Lower Owens River
General Conditions: Flows are around 200 cfs.
Fishing & Hatches: There are good hatches of BWO
and midges. Be careful wading.
Flies: Nymphs: San Juan Worm 12, Scuds in 8-14, BH Prince
12-16, Zebra Midges, WD-40's, Hart’s Dark Lords
14-18 Copper John 12-16,Micro May 18, Mighty Mite 16-18,
Mighty May & PMD 16-18, Zebra Midge 120, Dries:Hackle
Stacker PMD, Hackle Stacker BWO, Sparkle Stacker PMD
& BWO, Silohuette Dun 16-18, BWO 18-20, Caddis 14-18.Streamers:
Slump Buster, Muddlers, Matukas and big buggers.
Hints:
McCloud River
General Conditions: Good opener but water is running
pretty high. Be careful. Watch flows & weather.
A bit high but fishable.
Fishing & Hatches: Beatis,PMD, Yellow Sallies &
Caddis.
Flies:Nymphs: Little Yellow Sloan, Dark Lords 14,16,
Micro May 16-18, HBI 16, Might May 16-18, Mighty Mite
Brown & Baetis 14-16, Z-wing caddis 14-16, Shafer
3D black 8, Big Black buggers 8, BH Prince 8, Copper
John 14-16, BH PT 14-16. Streamers: Muddler 6-8, Matuka
8, Rag Sculpin 6 Dries: Para Adams 14-16, Royal Wulf
14-16, Paralyzer Gold 8, Foam Dead Stone Gold 8, Paralyzer
Yellow 10, Hackle Stacker BW0, Outrigger Sally 14-16,
Elk hair Caddis 14-16.
Hints:
Milton Reservoir
General Conditions: Opens April 27, but may not be
open....check weather. Road has snow.
Fishing & Hatches: Small leeches and buggers in
brown, olive and black with PT, PMD, Baetis nymph dropper.
Flies: Dries: Adams 14-18. Nymphs: Baetis 14-18, Copper
John 14-18, Mighty May Calibaetis, Prince 14-18 (trailer
flies). Streamers: Buggers in brown, black and olive
(rust can be good) 8-10.
Hints:
Mokelumne River
General Conditions: Closed until 4th Saturday in May.
Fishing & Hatches:Fishing to Steelhead and resident
rainbows. Please stay off the reds.
Flies: Nymphs: Midge pupae in 20-22, Micro May 12-18,
PT's 14-18, Baetis 14-16, Sloan’s Mighty May 18-20,
Fox's Poopah olive 14 & San Juan worm. Dries: Comparadun
and Para Adams 18-22, Caddis 14-16, Griffiths Gnat 16-20,Blue
Winged Olive in 20-24, Sloan's Caddis Paralyzer Olive
14-16.
Hints: Call Mark Pinto for a great time on this river.
Putah Creek
General Conditions: Flows are around 540 cfs - up a
lot. Be carefull. Putah has been producing and getting
better. There are some pretty nice fish on Putah.
Fishing & Hatches: Fish micro midges, steamers in
deeper runs.
Flies: Nymphs: PTs in 16-22, Caddis Olive 14-18, Fox’s
Poopah Olive 14-18, BWO 16-20, Sloan’s Mighty
Midget 16-20, Zebra Midge 18-20, Micro May 18-20, Sloan’s
Mighty May 16-20, Midge pupae 18-22, WD 40s- 18-20.
Hints: Long fine leaders work best. Try Fluorocarbon.
Be sure to clean your waders and boots due to New Zealand
mud snails. Mark Pinto is the expert on Putah.
Pit River #3, #4 & #5
General Conditions: Still tricky wading so you will
need spikes and staff. Flows perfect right now - but
could change quickly. Be careful!
Fishing & Hatches: Heavy duty nymphing right now.
Normal flows. Try short tight lines with darker flies.
March Browns & Salmon flies should work early. Caddis
dries in evening. Yellow Sallies too.
Flies: Nymphs:Mighty May Baetis and PMD, Dark Lords
14, Z-Wing Caddis 14-16, Poxybiot Stone 8-12, Little
Yellow Sloan 12-16, Fox's Poopah 14, 3Ds, Copper Johns
14, BH PT 14, BH Prince 14, BH Birds Nest 14-16, Black
AP. Dries:Paralyzer Yellow 10, Foam Dead Stone 8-10,
Adams 16-20, Royal Wulff & Royal PUX 8-16.
Hints: Shaffer 3D, Copper John, Prince and PT for best
results. BWO during day.
Sacramento River - Lower
General Conditions: Fishing is good to great. Flows
are around 8025 cfs. Pretty good fishing. Not too many
fishermen. Call Sacramento River Outfitters for a great
day on the water.
Fishing & Hatches: Fishing from a boat is best for
this river. Recent reports have been very good for Rainbows.
Caddis patterns are still the most consistent for nymphing.
This is one of the best times of year for big, wild
rainbows.
Flies: Dries:Caddis are starting to appear. Nymphs:
GB Flashback PT 14-16, Fox’s Poopah 14-16, Prince
Nymph 14-16, Harts’ Dark Lord 14-16, Birds Nest
Olive 14-16, Micro May 16, Mighty Mite 16-18, Mighty
May & PMD 16-18, small Princes...try eggs!
Hints: Classic big water for long line nymphing. Get
a big indicator and let it dead drift. There are some
very nice fish here!
Sacramento River - Upper
General Conditions: Flows are around 1600 cfs. Good
flows and warmer weather. This could get blown out early...watch
water flow reports. Fish with nymphs for best luck.
Fishing & Hatches: Call Charlie Costner or Dave
Sloan for guiding on the Upper Sac. Caddis & Yellow
Sallies on top.
Flies: Nymphs: 14-16 Prince Nymph, Shafer’s' 3-D
12-16, Hare's Ear 12-14, Harts' Dark Lord 14-16, Zebra
Midge Black 16, Pheasant Tail(Reg, BH & Flash) 14-20,
Copper John 14-16, BH Birds nest Nat 12-14, Micro Mayfly
14-16, Sloan’s Mighty Mite 14-16, Sloan’s
Mighty May 16-18 Dries: Sloan’s Paralyzer 10-16,
EC Caddis 16, Hackle Stacker Baetis 16-18, Sparkle Stacker
BWO 16-18, Foam Dead Stone Golden 8, Para Adams 14-18,
Pink Cahill 14-16
Hints:
Stanislaus River - Main Fork
General Conditions: Lower river is open and flows are
1400 cfs - at Orange Blossom.
Fishing & Hatches: Very good reports on the upper
river..
Flies: Nymphs: Midge pupae in 20-22, Micro May 12-18,
Sloan’s Mighty May 18-20, Fox's Poopah olive 14,
Dries: Comparad n and Para Adams 18-22, Griffiths Gnat
16-20,Blue Winged Olive in 20-24, Hackle Stacker BWO
& PMD, Sparkle Stacker BWO & PMDand ANTS.
Hints: Call Mark Pinto for guiding on this river
Truckee River - General
General Conditions: Flows are around 250 cfs. Cold
water but very good flows. High temps may change flows.
Fishing & Hatches: Fishing reports have been fair.
Nymphing has been productive w/mayfly & caddis patterns.
Midday Beatis hatch.
Flies: Nymphs: Shafer 3D black 8, Big Black buggers
8, BH Prince 12-16, Mighty May Baetis & PMD 16-18,
Copper John 14-16, BH PT 14-16, Bird's Nest 14-16, Poxybiot
Stone 8-10, Sloans Mighty Mite BWO 16, Burks HBI 16,
Fox’s Poopah #16, Crayfish patterns. Streamers:
Muddler 6-8, Matuka 8, Rag Sculpin 6. Dries:Rogue River
Stone, Payalyzer Olive 12, Foam Dead Stone, Stimulator
or Paralyzer 8-10, Elk hair Caddis 16-18, Spotlight
Emergers - BWO 18-20, Emergers & ANTS.
Hints: Colder water means putting the fly directly in
front of trout - They won't move too far. Try big Stimulator
or Paralyzer with dropper.
Truckee River - Little
General Conditions: Check weather conditions. Flows
are around 260 cfs between Boca & Stampede. Fishing
has been good using small dry flies. Fish like a spring
creek - stealth is important. Open year round with catch
& release from Stampede to Boca.
Fishing & Hatches: Time for small midges and maybe
a San Juan worm. BWO mid-day. Nylmphswill out perform
dries. Go deep and slow.
Flies: Nymphs: Dark Lord 14-16, BH Prince 14-16, Copper
John 14-18, Poxybiot Stone 8-10, Little Yellow Sloan
12-16, BH PT 14-16, Sloans Mighty May BWO 16-20, Micro
Mayfly 18, Birds Nest 14-16, WD40 20, Okay try a San
Juan worm. Dries: BWO patterns 18-20, Adams 18-20, Griffith
gnat 18, Midges black 20, EC Caddis 14-16, Elk Hair
Caddis 14-16, Rusty Spinner 18-20, Hackle Stacker BWO
16-20, Sparkle Stacker BWO 16-20, Sprout BWO 16-24.
Hints: Road is open.
Yuba River – Below Englebright
General Conditions: Flows are around 1800 cfs. Fishing
has really been good. Pretty good reports on the upper
stretches. Call David Sloan for guide date on the river.
Fishing & Hatches: PMD 16 are working. March Browns
are being taken. Little Yellow Sallies!!!
Flies: Nymphs:Dark Lords 14, Mighty Mite Brown 14-16,
Mighty May 16-18, Fox's Poopah 14-16, Mighty Midget
16-18, Birds Nest 14, Micro Mayfly 14-18, PT 14, Poxyback
Stone 10, Poxybiot Stone 10. Dries: Yellow Paralyzer
10, Kingfisher’s Paranobyl Tan 8, EC Caddis 16-18,
Elk Hair Caddis 16, Foam Dead Stone Gold 8, Little Yellow
Sloan 12-16, Outrigger Caddis 14-18, Outrigger Sally
14-16, Sparkle Stacker PMD 16-20, Hackle Stacker PMD
16-20, BWO 16-20, PMD 16-18, Stimulators 10, Limestone
Cripple 18,.
