We took a quick detour to the Upper McCloud (look, but don’t touch until late April). Like all trout streams you’re not allowed to fish, it looked incredibly inviting, though snow across the road made getting even to Fowler’s Camp a hike.

I know why we have a closed season on some rivers, but I can’t look at a closed – and perfectly fishable – trout stream without thinking those rules should apply to everyone but me.

It makes perfect sense when I’m thinking it (and sometimes early in the morning).

The Upper Sacramento

The flows are falling slowly and the Upper Sac is entirely fishable in places, but instead of fishing it, I’m heading south on a one-day charge to Sacramento and back (the L&T and I plan to heave a dead fish out the window of the car when we pass near Singlebarbed World Headquarters).

Sitting on my ass for 7.5 hours (not including food stops) isn’t exactly my idea of a wilderness adventure – especially when we’re experiencing the first nice day for a week up here.

When I get back, I’ve got a pair of Simms rubber-tread wading boots to compare to the Patagonias I reviewed here, and a 9′ 6wt mystery rod & reel outfit that’s also up for review.

Stay tuned, Undergrounders. See you on I5, Tom Chandler

At least not about fly fishing.

Instead, I’ll give you the one-paragraph summary.

Dave Edmondson and I fished the Upper McCloud, didn’t fish the water we wanted because of other fishermen, hiked a good five miles, and each hooked a couple trout, though in a stunning display of technical skill, didn’t land any of them.

The pictures, frankly, are more interesting than the story:

 
It’s been a long winter, and the first warm days aren’t all about fly fishing.

Yesterday, you couldn’t (legally) fish this water. Today’s it’s just as beautiful.

 
Still snow on the ground — including the drift that ate my truck the day before.

Dangerous predators infest the river.

Gotta fish bamboo on opening day. Gotta.

See you on the river, Tom Chandler.