The McCloud has good fishing on dry flies

McCloud River - CA (Siskiyou County)


by The Fly Shop
6-5-2012
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The McCloud River rainbows (Salmo Shasta) may be the most famous strain of trout on the planet Earth.

Current River Conditions: Pro Guide Mike Parker has walked more miles on this stream this season than most. He reports in with good fishing on dry flies like #14-16 Adams. Look for rising fish in the evenings. The rainbows are chowing down on Golden Stones and Salmon Flies. Gooody!

River conditions are perfectly excellent!

All said, nymphing with indicators works, but the anglers fishing dry-dropper combo's have been into slightly more consistency (bendage of the fly rod) from the riffles to the pools. Bring a wading staff.

The Fly Shop's ? Tips: In addition to #16 caddis flies and small olive mayflies in #16-18, look for hatches of Golden Stones and Salmon Flies. Might be worth hanging around the river until sunset to pick off a couple rainbows or browns searching for ovipositing stoneflies.

Wading boots with studs and a wading staff are a must on the McCloud, which is full of irregularly shaped rocks that can be very slick. The best results are produced by anglers who move from run to run. The more water you can cover, the more fish have a chance to see your fly, ultimately improving upon your existing good fortune of being out on the river, fishing! Be on the look-out for rattle snakes. Use a technique called High-stick-nymphing in the pocket water and deeper chutes. Re-fish all your way back to camp or the car throwing streamers into pocket water, next to downed trees/logs.

River Fact: The McCloud River rainbows (Salmo Shasta) may be the most famous strain of trout on the planet Earth. At the turn of the 19th century, these were the fish used to first stock most of New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, and other potential trout fisheries all across the western hemisphere. So, that means we could trace Madison river (a river in Montana) rainbows back to the McCloud River!

Water Flows:
Upper McCloud River flows
McCloud River at Ah-Di-Na
Lower McCloud near Bollibokka

Suggested Fly Patterns:

Dry Flies:

• Mercer's Missing Link - #14-18
• D&D Cripple March Brown #12
• Parachute March Brown #14
• E/C Caddis - Olive #14-16
• Parachute Adams - #12-18
• Deer Hair Parachute Ant
• Matt's Stoneflies #6-8
• Aanes Mojo Stonefly Adult #6-8
• Floater In The Pool - Golden Stone
• Grillos Sideshow Bob-Golden Stone

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
• Swinks BTS GD #12
• TB Pseudo Mays - #18
• Zebra John #14-18
• Micro Mayflies - #14-16
• Pat's Rubber Leg - Brown #6-8
• Fox's BH Poopah - Cinnamon #14
• GB Half-Flashback PT - #14-18
• GB Poxyback Hares Ear - #14-16
• BH Olive Bird's Nest - #14-16
• GB Birds Nest - #12-16

Streamers/Leeches:
• Dietz Sculpin - Natural #4
• Beaded Micro Bugger - Olive #12
• Beaded Micro Bugger - Black #12
• Double Bunny - #2

Eggs:
• Micro Spawn - Oregon Cheese

Fly Fishing Gear:
• Fishpond's ? Double Haul Chest/Back Pack
• The Fly Shop's ? Stockingfoot Chest Waders
• Chota ? "STL Plus" Convertible Wading Boot
• Split Shot For The McCloud
• Landing Net