It was a little rough this week at Keswick Reservoir, fishing suffers when water volume increases

Keswick Reservoir - Redding, CA (Shasta County)


by The Fly Shop
6-16-2013
Website

Current Reservoir Conditions: A little rough this week. Releases out of Shasta Dam are up due to the heat (I guess). Put it this way, river flows always come up at this time of year and this year is no different. So, fishing quality suffers when water volume increases and so this weeks report for Keswick is less than stellar. Give it a week and the rainbows will settle in and the fishing will be great.

The Fly Shop's?? Tips: Suspending Bird's Nests, midge patterns and Pseudo Mays under indicators will work well. For the springtime caddis, try a #14-16 Amber Wing Prince or Sylvie's Pupa in black. Suspended your nymphs under an indicator. Use BB shot to sink your nymphs when fishing the edges of the swirly water found in the upper reservoir. Look for the fish in the slower swirls along the edges above Crystal Creek. The key is moving up into the moving water section of Keswick. Fishing the eddies next to the banks, between boulders, where it's shallow can be productive. Stay low Fishing a Deep-7 on a 7-weight fly rod, stripping buggers has been productive.

A motorized boat is a must for gaining access to the part of this reservoir that holds concentrated numbers of rainbow trout. Motor up towards Shasta Dam, look for slow water and big eddies near boulders. Swing, suspend, strip nymphs, leeches. Dry fly fishing happens late in the summer, near sunset. There are big brown trout here....waiting.

Suggested Flies:

Dry Flies:
• Mercer's Missing Link #16-18
• Adams #14-16
• Mercer's Parachute Profile Spinners #16

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
• Chromie #16-18
• Mercer's Gidget
• Pseudo May - #16-18
• GB San Juan Worm - #12
• Mercer's Biot Epoxy Golden Stones #8-12
• Chan's CB Frostbite Midge #16-18
• Chironomid Bomber - Any color #12
• Marlee Zebra Midge - #12
• Micro Mayfly - Brown #16-18
• Pat's Rubberlegs - Brown #6-8
• CB Birds Nest - #10-14

Streamers/Leeches:
• Bead Belly Leeches
• Crystal Buggers
• Beaded Lite Brite Buggers
• Freshwater Clousers - #6
• Double Bunny - #2
• Zonkers - Natural #4
• BH Halebopp Leech - Olive/Dark Olive #8

Fly Fishing Gear:
• Boles Float Rite Yarn Indicators
• Mucilin Fly Line Silicone
• MayFly™ Troutfisher Lanyard
• Cablz
• William Joseph Squall Jacket
• Fly-Mate?? Floatable Foam Fly Boxes