A Hard Year on the McCloud: Will It Get Better Before November 15?

by Tom Chandler on October 24, 2008 · 2 comments

Despite the inhospitable flows (courtesy PG&E), I’m fishing the McCloud tomorrow, throwing streamers and hope in equal quantities. (Why? More on that next week).

In the meantime, let’s admit it’s been a hard year on the McCloud; springtime fishing was disrupted by PG&E’s months-late flow studies (they were supposed to take place prior to the season opener).

Then – right when the fall fishing was starting to break loose – a broken powerhouse and the resulting high flows nullified the McCloud’s typically excellent BWO and October Caddis hatches.

No olives. No hummingbird-sized caddis. No big trout (well, no easy ones anyway).

The McCloud is a special place for a lot of fly fishermen; it’s impossibly beautiful, the fishing can be great, and the fish are typically gorgeous.

With the fishing aspect stricken from the list of possibilities, and with the high flows slated to (possibly) last through the end of the season, it’s safe to say PG&E has generated a lot more enemies than it has power on the McCloud.

Expect a report next week. And don’t forget – there are other great places to fish near the McCloud (despite what some of you believe).

See you on the McCloud, Tom Chandler.

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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Loon October 25, 2008 at 7:07 am

Try those mouse patterns too ;-)  (Quote)

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2 Tom Chandler October 26, 2008 at 9:47 am

No mouse would survive a swim in those waters. That river was moving big time yesterday. No fun at all, but a report coming soon.  (Quote)

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