The "Best of the Best" Steelhead are in the Klamath right now

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


by The Fly Shop
1-31-2012
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Current River Conditions:
Releases out of Iron Gate are 1,030 CFS. Perfect conditions and good fishing is the order through this week. Recent weather brought in more big steelhead. We have heard some superb and very thrasonical reports of fun times and great fishing!

Most of the smaller steelhead of fall are gone and what we have are larger, 3-5 lb. steelhead, fresh from their long journey upstream. These are the best of the best. Expect good reports to come out of the Klamath for a few weeks.

Productive flies include #12-14 Amber Wing Prince Nymphs, #12-14 Red Copper Johns, #6-8 Rubber Legs, Champagne Redd Reapers, Clown Eggs, Shrimp Pink Micro Spawns!

Road Conditions:
No restrictions at this time!

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 3-5lb 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)