The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Thanks to this Board for the help on my last trip from back east in May, which resulted in great fishing! I will be in California (from Maine) and out to fish again, if all goes right, this Tues/Wed. I am waffling between trying Hat Creek for the first time or doing the Upper Sacto, wading in both cases. Does the hot weather make hitting these areas an early am and sunset proposition only? Or is the water still cool and deep/shaded enough to support mid-day fishing? My goal is to maximize fishing time. Any insights appreciated!

p.s. I haven't ruled out swinging through Tioga pass as an alternative, but guess the mid day heat is just as strong in the Owens Valley and areas above!

Dag,

You'll likely get some reports from folks who live closer than I do.

Here are two reports I would trust:

http://www...out.com/fishing-reports/

http://www...hop.com/streamreport.htm

Where in Maine?? I have a few friends there.

Good luck. All the fish in the Hat Creek Flats below Powerhouse #2 have PhDs in frustrating anglers, are in Post Doc programs.

The Upper Sac is definitely in summer mode now so your best chances for success are early AM or late evening. I'd skip fishing during the middle of the day. Not to say that you can't catch fish on the Upper Sac during this time but it's difficult and the heat can really wear you out in a hurry (the temps up here have been around 100F for the last 5 days).

Good Luck!

Brian

Bamboo, Ed, and the rest: can't tell you how helpful your tips have been. Got some great info on and off the forum and you guys have made my trips to California great. The brotherhood of fly fishers really is one. Won't decide where to head until Monday p.m., thanks again, Dag

In between both rivers you have mentioned is the McCloud. You might want to check that out as well, since you are up there. Awesome place to fish. You can hear the angels sing when you are fishing it

As mentioned earlier, the Upper Sac is in its summer mode. I fished it from Friday to Sunday. I mostly got fish in the 10" to 12" range. The big fish was 16". The hot flies were #16 brown Micro Mayflies and #16 Flashback Pheasant Tails. The fish were targeting PMD nymphs. It looks like the Golden Stonefly action is over.

AB

Thanks Abel Boy and all (including MarcP): I ended up driving my a** off for the fun of it--first up to Hat Creek, where it was hot and slow and just small stuff (by me) was to be had. So I took off to--Yosemite and Tioga Pass way! Didn't mind the drive. Above 8,000 feet the temperatures were moderate and good fishing resulted from cooler temps. It was great to come home (though I have been in Maine for 15 years) and fish the California way--nothing like those Sierra streams. I admire you getting fish out of the Upper Sacto in that heat--must have been early and late. That is definitely on my list to try next trip out--thanks again for all the help!

I'm glad that you had a great time. It's hard to not enjoy the beauty of Yosemite.

AB