McCloud River:
 California's Living Legacy

Spring can be considered prime time on the McCloud River. The opening day of trout season falls on the last Saturday of April and is the start of some exciting early-season fishing. By then, there are already a plethora of bugs feeding the trout. Our favorite bug to see by mid-May is the big golden stoneflies, which are responsible for bringing some of the bigger fish of the river to the surface. Covering the water with a “dry-dropper” rig this time of year can be a fun and effective way of fishing all of the pockets. Evenings in late May and early June can bring about some phenomenal dry fly fishing and are one of our favorite windows of fishing during the entire season.

By July and August, we start to see migratory brown trout show up from Shasta Lake to hang out in the cold, clean, nutrient-rich waters of the McCloud River. These fish can be upwards of 10 lbs and can be targeted with streamers, nymphs, and the occasional dry fly. We don’t typically see the big numbers of fish caught in the mid-summer months, but we do see some of the bigger fish hooked during this time of year. The evening can provide some good dry fly opportunities for the patient angler who is willing to stick it out until dark.

Fall is a close second to spring as far as the popularity of fishing. As the days shorten and temperatures begin to drop, there is a resurgence in the fish from the dog days of July and August. The McCloud River canyon begins to turn shades of orange, yellow, and red, making for some breathtaking scenery. We begin to see giant October caddis start to take flight by early October, which is a big event that the trout pay close attention to. Larva is a hot item on the menu for the trout from late September until mid-November. These giant caddis that are hatching in the fall will also provide some big flurries of dry fly fishing in the late evening hours. The giant migratory brown trout are still making their way up from Lake Shasta, and although you might not expect to catch one every day, the opportunity is a realistic possibility if one commits to it.