If the wind’s right, the smoke from the Bagley fire — a 30,000+ acre wildfire burning right towards the McCloud River — makes it smell like the neighbors just torched off a big pile of leaves under the window.
CalTrout’s taken notice of the fire (they’re concerned about the loss of vegetation and the potential for sedimentation), and they’re probably right about the need to perhaps look elsewhere if you were thinking of fishing the McCloud this weekend.
(There is no truth to the rumors I’m just saying all this to drive away the flatlanders and get the whole river to myself, though it’s not a half-bad idea.)
Here’s the Incident web page.
Here are the current forest road closures
You can see an updated version of my screengrab firemap here
The McCloud/Bagley Firemap (click image for bigger, readable, up-to-date version)
See you through the smoke, Tom Chandler.
God, those maps from Inciweb bring back bad memories of fires that went through two of my favorite areas. Normally I love maps but I noticed when I saw that map a feeling of dread formed in the pit of my stomach. And I have never had any great desire to fish the McCloud.
fishskicanoe(Quote)
Ah Di Na, Ash Camp and the Fisherman’s Loop on the McCloud are now closed due to the Bagley fire. The order went out this morning from the local Forest Service office. The special uses officer who forwarded the closure memo (dated today) said she received an email yesterday at 3:45 announcing the closure. She expects the closure to continue at least until late September. Probably the easiest way for the public to find out if the McCloud has reopened is to call the Mt. Shasta Forest Service office before venturing to the McCloud or Pit Rivers 530-926-4511. The McCloud office can also be contacted at 530-964-2184.
Craig Nielsen(Quote)