Conditions on the Klamath have been excellent. The fishing has been good too!

Klamath River - Upper - CA - Hornbrook, CA (Siskiyou County)


by The Fly Shop
12-19-2011
Website

Current River Conditions:
Mornings have been pretty cold and the fishing is slow because the guides are frozen. I mean the guides on your fly rod! You see, the fly line get's stuck in the frozen water that is collected on the edges of the guides upon stripping in line. Fortunately, this inconvenience lasts until about 10:30 AM, and then the fish get active and eat!

We are starting to see more and more adult fish in the net and fewer smaller steelhead. The adults on the Klamath go 3-5 lbs and some occasionally go beyond 8 lbs. The weekends have been busy with anglers fishing from Iron Gate down to Klamathon. Mid week reports have been light on crowds. Sometimes you can have the river to yourself!

Productive flies include Red Copper Johns, Rubber Legs, Champagne Redd Reapers, Clown Eggs, Shrimp Pink Micro Spawns! It's time to start paying attention to road conditions over here near the Klamath!

Road Conditions:
No traffic restriction reported for this area.

Click here for up to date Klamath River flows

The Fly Shop's ? Tips:
In the fall and winter months, fishing various egg patterns, like clown eggs, shrimp pink micro spawns and nymphs like Pat's Rubber Legs, Fred Gordon's Amber Wing Prince in #12-14, Red Copper Johns under indicators, in slow water, will usually conjure up 3-5 lb. steelhead. Tie your own egg patterns using a blend of salmon egg and cotton candy.

In May and June, fishing large salmon fly dries along the banks, next to boulders and in shallow tail outs will produce those carnivores fish this river is famous for. I would not want to be a salmon fly on this river! Use 9' leaders, tapered to 2x. Attach your salmon fly dry. Cast! To step it up, suspend a prince nymph, red copper john or egg pattern under your dry. Enjoy! Look at the list to the right, the Rogue Foam Stone/Salmon Fly and Anes Salmon Fly Adult are great choices that imitate pteronarcys californica, or the Salmon Fly! The half pounders (juvenile steelhead) and an increasing number of adult steelhead make the Klamath a popular fly fishing destination during the months of October-November.

River Fact:
The Klamath river is 263 miles long, originating in a broad valley at the eastern slope of the southern High Cascades, the water source is Upper Klamath Lake. Sometimes called "the upside down river", the upper Klamath in Oregon is largely developed, but the lower Klamath is still wild, forested and ruggedly beautiful. Next to the Klamath, the only river that originates in a desert and flows into the coastal forests of the pacific west is the Pit River.

Flies:

Dries:

• (Wait for spring!)

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
• Poxyback Hare's Ear #12
• Amber Wing Prince #12-14
• Red Copper Johns #14-18
• 3-D Nymphs #8-10
• S.A.L.T. Stone #6
• Rubberlegs #4-8
• Sexy Souka #6
• Zack's Thurmanator Stone

Eggs:
• Redd Reaper Champagne
• Clown Egg #4-10
• Shrimp Pink Micro Spawn
• Boles Bazookas (All)