The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Steelhead are around. On the 24th two of us fished the lower Sac with Lonnie Boles. We hooked around 25 fish and landed around 16-18. Most were small steelhead. I don't remember many halfpounders on the Sac from my 56 years of fishing it, but that was what most of the fish seemed to be. 14' to 16" fish, bright as silver. Just a few in the small adult range to 18" or 19". I landed one 25" buck [hatchery] that had to be around seven pounds. Frank lost one that looked larger. Going again on the 6th. Fish hit egg patterns, golden stones, and s and m.

Monday-Wednesday I fished the Klamath below Orleans. Not great, but fun. Mostly halfpounders again [where they are expected]. Landed one bright fish of about five pounds at the Lodge, and lost a larger one while drifting with guide Barry Leamon Tuesday morning. Otherwise, only a couple of small adults. Mostly swinging beadhead Assassins, but the biggest and a couple more on Polar Shrimp in low light.

I never got a report on the 4th week at Norlakes on the Babine.

Bjorn's Dad

We fished with Lonnie right before you did and had roughly the same results, though my brother did land four good sized adults, including one that was landed with a broken rod. I'd say the majority of fish we landed that day were between 16"-18". But there was an unbelievable amount of pressure on the water that day, especially considering it was mid-week. With no salmon out there for the salmon guides, they're shifting efforts over to the trout.

Fished with Ernie Dennison a few days later lower on the river and hooked some very good sized adults (all fin clipped), on Eng Thengs, Flashbacks and Red Copper Johns. Again, the average sized fish was probably 16"-18". We'll probably hit that same stretch of water on the 5th.

Had similar results yesterday on the Lower Sac. John Bj and I drifted from Balls Ferry to Jelly's Ferry with Brian Bomarito of The Fly Shop. No one else on that stretch of river.

Landed 3 clipped fin steelies in the 19" to 22" range on rubber legs and PTs. Ironically, none caught at the barge hole--all in the riffles. Many trout from 12" upwards, plus several squawfish--ugh.

This made up for less-than-stellar catching on the Upper Sac on Tuesday. Heavy baetis hatch about 2:00 and many, many rises, but I could only catch one on a #20 dry.

Yes, Brian concurred that the river in Redding was getting pounded. Best to go downstream.

A wonderful two days, though.

Cheers,
El Rey