The news on the McCloud River isn’t all sparkling and shiny my fishy Underground friends. In fact, it looks a little grim.
A couple days ago I posted about PG&E’s equipment issues – and their boosting of the flows on the Lower McCloud to 650cfs.
[UPDATE: Curtis Knight of CalTrout just sent out an email suggesting flows are closer to 500cfs than the 650cfs mentioned in PG&E's email]
[Yet Another Update (Can’t These Guys Get it Straight?): PG&E is now saying the flows (at the dam) will slowly be increasing over the next 1.5 weeks to an anticipated maximum of 750 cfs to match the 750 cfs coming into the reservoir. Given that time frame, it doesn’t sound like a quick fix is in the works)
“It’s not unfishable at those flows” I said (with just a hint of sanctimony).
It is, however, largely unfishable when visibility is only a foot or so, which is what local guide Craig Nielsen told me is the unhappy reality.
Damn.
The source of the silt isn’t immediately apparent, and it may not be the product of the famous Mud Creek silt plume. The rumors suggest it has more to do with PG&E’s operation of the reservoir.
I’m trying to uncover more information, but for now, Nielsen’s probably right when he suggests an alternate venue.
“It’s a real shame,” he said. “The McCloud always fishes so well this time of the year.”
(Of course, a cunning blogmaster might publish misinformation to run the riff-raff other friendly, talented fly fishers off the river – and don’t think I haven’t given it some thought – but sadly, I’m not lying this time).
See you anywhere but the McCloud, Tom Chandler.
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It really otter be illegal for anyone to muddy the waters this time of year.
SmellsLikeFish(Quote)
What’s criminal is the odd flow of information from PG&E. First it’s up, then it’s not, then it sorta is, but will be more…
PG&E’s management of the McCloud has always raised the ire of fly fishers (you don’t see a lot of “ire” these days, but the Underground is broad-based in our approach to the language). Let’s hope the relicensing process results in more care being paid to fisheries…
Tom Chandler(Quote)
I see all to many “Irie” fishers.
Yeah, you know who you are. Braided, twisted, cat barf hair, bellows of smoke coming out the windows of your cars, strange off beat music that makes me move my hips in unnatural motions, me sayin’ “ya mon,” when I meant to say “yes.”
Yes the Irie of local fisherman at these little streams has been raised.
What were we talking about?
Oh yeah dirt in the water… peculiar flows…I have no idea.
Carry on!
BShay(Quote)
Ouch. Increasing flows = bad. Isn’t PG&E supposed to be on their best behavior given their in the process of relicensing? 500CFS is not that bad, but 750CFS is definitely marginal… what is really bad is the turbidity (reported & what the downstream gauge is showing). Its also interesting that PG&E can pipe water all the way from Lake McCloud to Iron Canyon, but they can’t get real time flow data out of Ah-di-nah.
If their ramping up to 750CFS out and thats what is coming in then does this mean that they don’t think their original repair date for the Pit powerhouse is doable?
Loon(Quote)
Mike: Your comment was priceless despite being wholly out in left field.
Loon: PG&E is almost never on its best behavior, at least when it comes to the McCloud. For year, their annoying tendency to abruptly ratchet up the McCloud’s flows the day before the season opener was legendary.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
“I see all to many “Irie†fishers.”
Erie fishers go for Pike and Walleye.
SmellsLikeFish(Quote)
after fishing the mcCloud last week and striking out, i called a local fly shop in redding to ask whats the deal. they replied that the color was from glacial melt, going into the reservoir, and then flowing out into the river. huh?
mike rich(Quote)
Mike: Did you call The Fly Shop in Redding?
The McCloud does sometimes suffer from turbidity due to glacial melt, typically contributed by Mud Creek.
That would be the easy explanation, but there’s some question about PG&E and its operation of the dam these last few years that might be contributing to the problem (especially this late in the year).
I’m trying to run it down, but it’s not easy.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
tom, yes i called the redding fly shop….mike
mike rich(Quote)
“i called a local fly shop in redding”
Sorry Mike, but the local fly shop is in Dunsmuir. But I could be biased…
SmellsLikeFish(Quote)
Tom,
Any updates on the flow? I was thinking of going to the McCloud this Saturday, the 4th. Looks like rain as well. Hmmmm….
Thanks,
Bill
Bill(Quote)
Bill; Haven’t heard – I’d assume it’s running at the higher end of the ranges we’ve discussed. Still plenty of other water up here to fish…
Tom Chandler(Quote)
Hey guys, I was at the McCloud in late July and the fishing was unbelieveable. I was thinking about heading up towards the end of October to try and hook up with one of those monster browns swimming upriver. But it sounds like the flows are higher then when I was there last and the visibility has gone down. What are your thoughts? What other systems are doing well right now?
Many Thanks,
Derek
Derek(Quote)
Also, I just read that the lowerhouse should be fixed and flows should be down to 250cfs by 10/10/08. Does anyone have any information on this? Has anyone been to the Lower McCloud lately?
Derek(Quote)