wildwatersflyfishing.com Blog » The Spring Season

Check out Eagle Lake 6/7/11

chucksgonfishn — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:09:00 +0000

My first trip to Eagle Lake. This place is worth fishing. Andy thanks so much for taking me out and showing me yet another awesome Northern California fishery. >>OPEN THIS TOO READ MORE AND SEE MORE

We caught some fish, big ones. A couple of our rainbow trout pushed 24 inches. Jumpers, runners, and heavy head shakers, these fish fought hard.

Two pigs in the pig pen.

Andys stoked

When we first started fishing i felt like I was on another continent. The lake was low, lots of lava rock exposed up against the waters edge and unpleasant weather made for a unreal scene. This high desert, natural lake is beautiful.

We didn’t take our waders and rain gear off until we climbed into the tent. We just stayed wet. The fire battled hard, and we stood with it. So fun!

*** pmds hatched around 1. Up until then we caught fish on a freestyle walker. Bite ended when the flies started showing up on the service. small brn leeches fished best when fish were not showing on the surface.

McCloud River Fishing Report 05/30/11

chucksgonfishn — Mon, 30 May 2011 17:31:44 +0000

Fishing was great! Most fish ate the dry fly. Plenty were caught on nymphs. Flows are still high but this should not stop you from fishing here. We didn’t see another person fishing all day. Memorial Weekend? Yes, I was on the public water. >>SEE MORE, READ MORE!!!

This is 2 fish in one cast, Dry fly and Dropper. Something tells me some hungry fish were in this pocket.

Another McCloud River Rainbow comes to hand

Find the dead bear, and you found a great fishing spot. This guy found it and stayed for the rest of his life. I think the McCloud might be that spot for me too!

Klamath River Still High 05/25/11

chucksgonfishn — Wed, 25 May 2011 22:54:20 +0000

With the river at almost twice its normal May size (3260 cf/s) and rain on the forecast, things don’t look good for Spring fishing. Some sunshine would really help turn things around. Keep your eyes on these postings. When the Salmon flies do show up, we’ll be the first to know.

Dry flies at the Bollibokka 05/23/11

chucksgonfishn — Mon, 23 May 2011 22:51:55 +0000

The hatch happened for most of the day, and the fish were looking up. >> see more pics

Thanks Again Jim! You are a great guy to spend the day with. I owe you one for being such a awesome sport.

Lower Sac is the place to fish. 5.22.11

John Rickard — Sun, 22 May 2011 18:41:43 +0000

All May the Lower Sac has been fishing great. The crowds are down and the bite is on. PMD’s, Big Rubber Legs, Eggs are the hot ticket. There will still be great fishing for another week or two until they ramp up the flows. Get on it soon!!! >>LOTS OF PICS HERE!

Hey Frank.

George playing hooky from work.

I had a bunch of fun fishing with Nick and Chris, I look forward to the next time I have the pleasure!

Clayton’s First Day Fly Fishing. One after another.

Pizza Delivered to the boat.

McCloud Hall of Fame

John Rickard — Wed, 18 May 2011 01:13:20 +0000

One of the biggest browns we have ever seen, every cast these monsters should be in the back of your mind. A big fish on the McCloud is 16 inches but this was almost twice as long.

Yes that is a big hairy mouse in that Browns mouth.

A monster rainbow trout from the McCloud. I wish someone was there to help capture a pic.

Thank God for Lower Sac Rainbows

John Rickard — Tue, 17 May 2011 04:19:52 +0000

Day after day this river kicks down some of the country’s largest native rainbows. Pat caught one

Joining Wild Waters

chucksgonfishn — Wed, 11 May 2011 20:57:00 +0000

Happy to be joining up with John in Wild Waters. In the past our careers have combined on work days often and fish days more. With our combined experience and talent a great guide service just got better.

McCloud’s Opening Weekend a brilliant success.

John Rickard — Wed, 04 May 2011 17:03:48 +0000

With 16 clients, 4 of the best regional guides, on a river 3 times its normal size the Opener treated us to hundreds of fish. Yes Hundreds. Great rainbows to 16″ and a few nice browns to 18″ Despite the hoopla and warnings in the blogosphere about unsuitable fishing on the McCloud due to the damn dam spill, good to excellent fishing was had on opening weekend. Wild Waters Fly Fishing put together the four best guides on the river, John Rickard, Chuck Volckhausen, Ron Hart and Aaron Grabiel to accommodate a big group of 16 fisherman. We specialize in group trips and the McCloud river thus success was eminent, with these high flows we just had to work a bit harder. At 750 cfs the first concern is safety. There were few spots that were fishable. Those that were turned out to be refuge spots and were stacked with fish. Literally hundreds of fish were caught, even a few on dries. We did much better than I thought we would, though I knew if anyone could figure out fishing in these high flows we could. The best time to go fishing is when you can. There is no reason to wait until the perfect flows (250 cfs is my favorite) Trust me its simply time to go fishing. Season is Open!

The deep beautiful pools of the McCloud were the only fishable spots. But they were stacked in there like cord wood.

You got to love the McCloud River Cookie Cutter.

Log roll fly fishing requires agility, balance, a timed smooth cast and some guts.

A Goat Argentinian Style.

5.31.10

John Rickard — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 04:25:59 +0000

Big Fish on big flies, yet another fine day on the McCloud River Preserve with Michael Powelson from the Nature Conservancy and his comrade Chris. The river never went off with epic fishing but it was consistent and we landed 25-30 fish. We got into some big bruisers too with multiple 18″ to 19″ fish, all wanting the stonefly and green drake. Micheal and Chris do great things for conservation and it was a treat to show them my appreciation on the very river they do so much to protect. McCloud is showing signs that it will soon be crazy good fishing.