Upper Sacramento River’s Falling, Runoff’s Over, Excuses Gone

Even as daytime temperatures warm, the Upper Sacramento’s flows continue to fall. That’s good news: the stars have run their fiery courses to the proper places, the die is cast, and the future is bright.

In short, runoff’s fading, the water’s warming, and yes — the bugs are hatching.

I spent Saturday in the mountains and Sunday on a sagebrush reservoir fishing for bass (more on that later), but I’ll be spending more time on the river very soon (perhaps as early as this evening).

We’re heading into that magic few weeks of the year where the trout could start keying in on big flies (and for a few, they already have). The McCloud’s in great shape, and yes, the backcountry’s starting to open.

It’s a time of year when your small handful of fly fishing choices can explode into a bewildering mass of options in the space of one week.

Then there are the big bugs, including (but not limited to): stoneflies, golden stones, drakes (of various persuasions), etc.

In fact, the Cinnamon Caddis are already making appearances all over the river, and observant fly fishers are already finding stonefly shucks stuck in all the usual places.

If all that potential and possibility makes your head spin a little (fly fishermen are basically greedy bastards), then it’s time to consider a vacation, or exercising a few sick days (not that you heard it here).

See you somewhere, Tom Chandler.

Tagged as: fishing, Fly Fishing, runoff, springtime fishing