Update: Everywhere you see the words “McCloud” and “fishable” in proximity, replace them with “McCloud” and “totally freakin’ blown.” As per this new information from PG&E, it appears the McCloud will be blown by the season opener…
Opening day on the Mccloud and Upper Sacramento Rivers has traditionally found anglers keeping a wary eye on the flow gauges while scoping out the weather forecast — and likely praying that PG&E didn’t wholly screw up the McCloud the day before opening day.
Oddly, damned little has changed over the years, though at least you can fish the Upper Sacramento before opening day. What about the very popular McCloud River?
Hell, I’m too lazy to even speculate, but fortunately, others aren’t. Here are the Underground’s notes on Opening Day (or, The World According To The Trout Underground) — aided by the thoughts of a couple local fly fishing guides.
First, The Joe Kimsey Memorial
Those in the area on opening weekend might want to drop by Dunsmuir City Park on Saturday at 3 p.m., where a tribute/wake/remembrance of Joe Kimsey will take place.
We mentioned Joe’s passing here, and while Joe was buried some weeks ago (in his trademark red suspenders), this is a chance for some of many fly fishermen Joe touched to say good-bye (informal).
Where: Dunsmuir City Park
When: Saturday, April 30, 3:00 p.m.
Bob Grace at the Ted Fay fly shop said it’s an informal gathering (that would be “Red Suspenders Optional.”
Alert Underground Reader Ed also shared this video featuring Joe Kimsey (Joe starts at the two minute mark). It’s vintage Joe (“Pardon my french”), and worth a few minutes.
Opening Weekend Guesstimations
The area’s cool spring continues, which means our runoff hasn’t really started yet, though when it does, it’s going to last a long time.
The question now is this: Will the Upper Sacramento and McCloud Rivers — currently fishable in places, though clearly threatened by runoff — hold up until opening day?
The answer lies in the Mt. Shasta Weather Forecast
Which suggests our cool spring is going to continue at least through the weekend.
Normally, we’re seeing temperatures heading upwards of 70 degrees (last year we didn’t really see 80 degree temps until June). That melts snow, which makes runoff, which blows rivers out.
That, it seems, is not going to happen this year.
The Upper Sacramento
Currently, the Upper Sacramento River is running between 2000 cfs and 3000 cfs at the Delta (link to the Upper Sacramento River flow gauge here. As local guide Steve Bertrand pointed out (and many others have discovered to the tune of aching feet), at anything above 2000 cfs, you tend to cover a lot of ground to find “fishable” spots.
At 3000 cfs and above, Bertrand starts looking for other rivers.
“It’s a good year to take advantage of our cool spring,” he said. “Once it warms up and that 170% snowpack starts to really melt, the river’s going to boom.”
Visitors should note that the Shasta Retreat Parking Lot is closed, so getting up to the area around Mossbrae Falls will require different access (blame Union Pacific).
The Lower McCloud
First, large chunks of the Upper McCloud are locked in the grip of snow drifts, so if you’re headed there on opening day, be prepared to park and walk.
The Lower McCloud is running 1600+ cfs at the lake, but is apparently fishable at Ah-Di-Nah and will likely remain so while PG&E is plays its usual game of starving the mile below the dam (and above Hawkins Creek) with 100 cfs flows.
Also:
- The Nature Conservancy section will probably not be accessible by the opener due to snow drifts
- The road to Ash Camp is blocked by rockfall, though this might change by the opener
This year, anglers enjoy the benefit of multiple McCloud River gauging stations, so take advantage of them:
Below McCloud Dam
Ah-Di-Nah
At Lake Shasta
Currently, the stretch below the dam and above Hawkins Creek (about a mile) is quite low, but PG&E has issued a warning about water spilling over the dam, and those flows could go up very dramatically (and very quickly).
If they don’t, you can still expect a fair number of fly fishermen to enjoy your low water with you.
As Craig Nielsen says, “Bring your own rock and enjoy the company of your fellow anglers.”
Opening Day Picks by Local Luminaries
“I had one of my best fishing days ever on the Lower Sacramento last week, and with Keswick releases apparently stuck at 6000 cfs, it could become on of those ‘days of a lifetime’ on the water for an fly fisherman.”
“I prefer to guide the Lower Sacramento from the jet boat with a single angler (more fishing time), but also take pairs down in my drift boat.”
“Hat Creek doesn’t blow out, so it might also be good.”
Steve’s Sleeper Pick: “McCloud Reservoir offers fly fishermen who are willing to cast streamers a shot at some big brown trout.”
Choice: “The McCloud Until the Dam Spills, though the Lower Sacramento is silly good right now.”
Backups: “Fall River and Hat Creek are seeing good hatches right now, and aren’t as affected by runoff.”
“Bring your own rock; it’s always going to be crowded on opening day because not much is fishable.”
Craig’s Sleeper Choice: flows on the Klamath scheduled to go to 2600-3025 cfs on May 1; that could be amazing fly fishing. Stay tuned.
Choice: “The Upper Sacramento River is running high, but it’s definitely fishable, and you’ll have a a shot at catching your biggest Upper Sac rainbow of the year. They’re in great shape, though watch out for the late spawners and spawning redds.”
Sleeper Choice: “Some of Upper Sacramento trout are actually coming up and eating March Brown mayflies — a midday hatch found mostly on the middle river. You have to find the right place, but you can catch trout on dries.”
I’m ducking back into my text editor now in an attempt to get some work done, but you’ll hear more from me soon.
See you on opening day, Tom Chandler.
I can confirm that the Upper Sac, while running very high, has some quite fishable sections. Last week I fished from Ney Springs to Sims and everywhere in between. While I had to hike some serious distance to locate the workable stretches, some very nice rainbows were caught while high-sticking stonefly/S&M rigs with mucho split shot. It’s safe to say that I lost about as many as were landed – the moment they ran for the fast water it was all over.
Kevin(Quote)
You said the Shasta Retreat Parking Lot is closed but did you know there is a no traspasing sign on the tracks north and south of the bridge? That means that foot access to west side of river is blocked from Black Smith Hill to Cantari Loop. There was no problem with Union Pacific, this seems to be a Union Pacific issue. Can You look into this problem and give us a report on how Union Pacific Feels about fishermen? I am suprised you havn’t said anything about this problem that more or less closes the river north of Shasta Retreat.
Jim Smyth(Quote)
The parking lot at Scarlet Way was originally closed so that UP could get their equipment in the lot to do necessary repairs to the tracks. They were unable to park on their own property due to sightseers parking their cars in the lot. Thus the barricades and no trespassing signs.
This issue between private cars parking in the lot and the railroad needing the lot to do maintenance put the Mossbrae situation on UP’s radar. Walking up the railroad tracks to visit the falls is trespassing and dangerous. Any fisherman that has stood by the track while a train passes by realizes this. It is my understanding that this safety issue will be further enforced by UP having railroad police at the “entrance” to the track.
There is no doubt in my mind that certain parts of the track to Mossbrae are dangerous, and taking a baby and young children up through the tracks in a stroller is not good parenting. Just last week, some 30 3rd graders walked up the tracks with only 2 teachers escorting them.
It is my personal belief that the situation has been exacerbated by the Chamber of Commerce promoting on its website that you may visit the Chamber and “We will give you clear instructions on getting to this bit of Shangri-La safely when you go.”
As a City Councilman, I want all of you to come to Dunsmuir, have an enjoyable time fishing, and spend a lot of money here in town.
I would also appreciate greatly your refraining from blaming any UP employee in person for your not being allowed to park in the lot/walk up the tracks.
An email to the Chamber asking them (nicely) to remove the information on Mossbrae Falls would also help as far as I’m concerned. This situation needs to be defused, and clear kind words are a good place to start.
Contacting the local guides, Fred Gordon, Steve Bertrand, and Wayne Eng, and visiting Ted Fay fly shop should give you all the information you need to have a great time here in Dunsmuir. There is plenty of river to fish.
You can contact me directly with questions, comments or concerns at:
chris@hollowbuilt.com.
Chris Raine(Quote)
Yes I agree with you Chris but after living in Dunsmuir for 65 years it is kind of hard being told that I cant’t walk up the tracks around the bend to my favorit fishing hole.
Jim Smyth(Quote)