Fishing on the Klamath has been fair to slow over the past week

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


by The Fly Shop
3-17-2012
Website

Current River Conditions:
Dam releases out of Iron Gate are steady at 1,300 cfs. Conditions have been good on the Klamath and the fishing fair to slow.

Hot Bugs:
Hot flies for the Klamath include: Boles Bazookas in Shrimp Pink, Steelhead Orange and Peachy King, MC Redd Reapers in Champagne and Oregon Cheese, but don't doubt the other colors like Peachy King and Shrimp Pink! Try Roe Gain Eggs and Micro Spawns in various colors! For nymphs, #12-14 Amber Wing Princes will work mid day, #12-14 Poxy-back Hare's Ears are a great choice, Zack's Thurmanators will work fished with various egg patterns. Basically, throw a "legs and eggs" theme and you are dialed! That's what Mr. Dialedinsky told me.

Road Conditions:
A HIGH WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM WEED TO YREKA (SISKIYOU CO) - TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CAMPERS, TRAILERS OR PERMIT LOADS

Click here for up to date Klamath River flows

The Fly Shop's ? Tips:
In the 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.

Fly Patterns:

Dry Flies:

• (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
• Clown Egg #4-10
• Micro Spawns
• Boles Bazookas
• Roe Gain Eggs

Fly Fishing Gear:

Our Recommendations:

• Sage Z-Axis Fly Rod 5-6wt
• GLH2O Fly Rod 6-7wt
• Galvin Torque Fly Reel
• TFS L2a Fly Reel
• Scientific Anglers Fly Line