Anyone who’s ever fished the McCloud likely became a lifelong fan of the river the minute they saw it.
Don’t fall in love. We dare you. (Image Keith Brauneis)
It does everything an iconic, blue-ribbon trout river should do. It’s impossibly beautiful, challenging to fish, holds plenty of good-sized trout (which are also beautiful), and each trip there simply lingers in the memory.
It also faces a lot of threats (flooding due to dam raising, a FERC relicensing of flows and the threat of upstream water diversions).
CalTrout takes those threats very seriously, which is why they helped create Enough is Enough — a short documentary video by Keith Brauneis.
This isn’t pointless fish porn, but a gorgeous documentary about a river that shouldn’t be facing threats, but is. Unfortunately, you can’t watch the whole video unless you find yourself at one of the Fly Fishing Film Tour’s California showings.
The good news? You can watch the trailer right here:
Enough Is Enough Trailer from Keith Brauneis on Vimeo.
If you’re intrigued, you can read a pretty good interview with the filmmaker here. (How do I know it’s good? I did the interview…)
Here’s an excerpt:
So you’ve been a fly fisherman a long time; what’s your relationship with the McCloud?
I’ve been there a handful of times; like anybody, the first time I saw the McCloud it was more a feeling than a sight. There’s so much history — it’s hard not to feel the spirit of the place.
People’s reactions to the McCloud are often more visceral than verbal.
Yeah. You feel that river. You just feel it. There’s something going on there.
Watch the video. Read the interview. Then sink into a world-class depression because you can’t fish the McCloud until the end of April.
(At the Underground, the helping never stops…)
See you watching video, Tom Chandler.
A lovely place. I’ve not had the chance to fish it …yet One of the good things about all the modern media is that the truly dedicated folks can reach out like this and truly show you what a great place it is….. of course curmudgeon that I am that also usually increases the idiot hatch next time you go fishing. however, a large vociferous group of anglers protecting and advocating for the river are the best hope
marty(Quote)
It can get busy, that’s for sure. On some weekends, the locals call it the McCrowd for a reason. But like most fishing hotspots, a little hiking does a lot of good when it comes to thinning the herd.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
It is the most beautiful place I’ve had the privilege to visit and one of the hardest things to leave when I recently moved cross-country. I can’t wait to come back.
Kevin(Quote)
We’ll leave the light on for you.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
The McCloud was the first river in Northern California I fished.I still dream about it. These days I am in a big hurry heading north or south on the 5 to stop. I need a change in priorities
Thom(Quote)
Wow. You pretty much pegged the meter in your first river’s awesomeness ranking, but damn, it’s not an easy wade for a beginner.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
The trailer is excellent and now I’m going to have to add the McCloud to my itinerary this year, but isn’t showing a movie like that at the Fly Fishing Film Tour a little like preaching to the choir?
It’s assholes, sorry, upstanding members of the legislature like my local rep, Ted Gaines, that need to watch movies like this and take it to heart, not a bunch of fly fisherman. I guess the point is that it gets us fired up enough to do something about it since Ted will never see it.
Jim Ferguson(Quote)
What river’s the best?
The one you’re on.
Ed(Quote)
That picture is insane! Looks half photo half painting
AG Fishing Blog(Quote)
The picture (as already detailed) is absolutely fantastic.
I’ve just watched the video clip ‘enough is enough’ and it saddens me to see the detrimental effects water abstraction can have on the indigenous population of a water way. The purposeful damming, hydro power, all being constructed without consideration to the native and migratory species.
Fly Tying Company(Quote)