Ted Fay Report : September 3, 2021

Welcome to our national forest and fire season

Latest from the USForest Service. For those thinking of a wilderness experience it’s not going to happen for awhile until they have a handle on all the fires ravaging the forest. I’m thinking at least the end of this month at best for accessing their jurisdictions, this is already the second extension and the fires in northern California are not contained. Realize too that with fires comes smoke, we’re living the summer of smoke here, hopefully not the new norm. Makes you want to escape to the coast for blue skies and fresh air. Read it and weep….

This order supersedes the current Closure Order for Nine National Forests. It is effective from 11:59 p.m. tomorrow (8/31/21) and is (currently) in effect through 11:59 Pm on September 17, 2021

To make matters worse the McCloud River is no where close to fishing even if it was open. As you can see from the pictures below it continues to pulsate with mud flows and if you look closely you can get an idea of the magnitude of the pulses that come through. The pipeline shown in the picture is the main water source for the town of McCloud and if a flow large enough comes down it could take that out. A good source for checking out the turbidity (clarity) of the water is provided by a gauge down by Bollibokka. Having dealt with these mud events over last 25 years I’ve come to personally view these numbers as a idea as to when the McCloud River is worth fishing. My benchmark number is when it gets down to single digits. The 5-10 range offers challenging wading but if you know your spots go for it. The below 5 range is prime time to get on the river and have some fun. When and if the numbers get to this point there should be some good fishing to be had.

The Upper Sac on the other hand is the only game in town and is starting to slowly come out of its dog daze phase. The river continues to hold in the 150 cfs range and the temps are gradually coming down both for the water and the days. I’m seeing mornings dipping into the 40’s now and the heat of the day is a much shorter window with the day light getting shorter too. This is the recipe that I look for. A recent outing produced a few bigger fish, something besides the dinks of summer. Again the theme for me was the smaller flies that I preach about …. LBS otherwise known as little black shit. Think lighter tippet too, the water is super clear. The heavier water is definitely producing better than the slow pokey stuff. Caution, there’s a lot of slippery moss covered rock, I fell on my keister while wading, actually the water felt real good.

Cheers and follow your bliss. Oh….and apologies once again for the crappy news.

Rick Cox Fly Fishing - offering 40 years of fly fishing experience for hourly or half day lessons and trips for beginners to ole dawgs. Checkout my Instagram post at rick_fly

530-925-0446

ricmcfly@gmail.com

If you have any further questions give the shop a shout and the next time you are in the area stop in and bug Bob.

USac daze

Hit that heavy water

The legend Fred Gordon USac

Magnitude of Mud Creek spilling

More Mud Creek carnage burying Pilgrim Creek Road

Kermit and I having a moment

Love the Oregon coast smokeless skies and cool breeze

Ole dawg beach day

The best French pastries between Portland and San Francisco

Ted Fay Report : August 20, 2021

She’s Running Low But Still A Beauty

For those of you who haven’t heard about these closures here’s a run down below. Basically for us here and y’all wherever you may be the Upper Sacramento River is the only game probably in a lot of the north state for the time being at least through Labor Day. We have so many fires nearby that smoke is the theme of the day and will be until the skies open up with lots of wet stuff ……. Pray For Rain!! We feel your pain!!

On the upside I took some time to hit the USac this afternoon. The poor river is running low, 150 cfs and clear. You have to work for your fish but it was a decent afternoon. So happy to get out after the completion of our kitchen remodel, seemed like an eternity. I had limited success with the many bugs that comprise the LBS category (check with the shop for details). Ran into a few anglers who also voiced limited success. Weather is cooling slightly but blue skies are problematic. I recommend for those who are horny for the tug of a fish think about the Upper Sac for this upcoming Labor Day weekend.

BTW the McCloud is still blown with glacial runoff plus it falls into the Shasta Trinity National Forest closure area.

Cheers and follow your bliss. Oh….and apologies for the crappy news.

Rick Cox Fly Fishing - offering 40 years of fly fishing experience for hourly or half day lessons and trips for beginners to ole dawgs. Checkout my Instagram post at rick_fly

530-925-0446

ricmcfly@gmail.com

If you have any further questions give the shop a shout and the next time you are in the area stop in an bug Bob..

Regional Order No. 21-04 USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region Emergency Forest Closure

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), and to provide for public safety and protect natural resources, the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System lands within the Pacific Southwest Region. This Order is effective from August 22, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. through September 6, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.

1. Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the National Forests listed below.

a. Tahoe National Forest

b. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

c. Plumas National Forest

d. Lassen National Forest

e. Mendocino National Forest

f. Klamath National Forest

g. Six Rivers National Forest

h. Shasta-Trinity National Forest

i. Modoc National Forest

36 C.F.R. § 261.52(e).

2. Being on a National Forest System road within the National Forests listed below.

a. Tahoe National Forest

b. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

c. Plumas National Forest

d. Lassen National Forest

e. Mendocino National Forest

f. Klamath National Forest

g. Six Rivers National Forest

h. Shasta-Trinity National Forest

i. Modoc National Forest

36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e).

3. Being on a National Forest System trail within the National Forests listed below.

a. Tahoe National Forest

b. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

c. Plumas National Forest

d. Lassen National Forest

e. Mendocino National Forest

f. Klamath National Forest

g. Six Rivers National Forest

h. Shasta-Trinity National Forest

i. Modoc National Forest

36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a).

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.

2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

3. Persons with a Forest Service special use authorization for an electric transmission line, an oil or gas pipeline, communications site, or any other non-recreation special use.

4. Persons with a Forest Service non-special-use written authorization to conduct non- recreational activities, such as harvesting timber or forest products, or grazing livestock.

5. Owners or lessees of land, to the extent necessary to access their land.

6. Residents, to the extent necessary to access their residences.

7. Persons engaged in a business, trade, or occupation are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above, but may use National Forest System roads to the extent necessary to carry out their business, trade, or occupation.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions contained in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A.

A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.

16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.

Executed in Vallejo, California, this 19th day of August 2021.

JENNIFER EBERLIEN Regional Forester

Pacific Southwest Region

Smokey Left Me A Big Present

Frickin Donut Heaven Discovered By Buster

Ted Fay Report : August 5, 2021

No Snow On The Mountain

As I write this report I am hearing distant thunder above the smoke cover blanketing Dogpatch so here’s hoping there’s not another round of fires. This appears to be a dry lightening event which is the worse thing possible when you have a thunderstorm over the forest. I guess you can say this is the new norm for summer, smoke and fires. Right now we are experiencing mixed days of smoke and occasional blue skies but hang on to those knickers, Mother Nature is starting to mix us a worrisome brew. There are currently 17 recent fires started in the area due to lightning. Here’s the latest from the US Forest Service ….

We are looking at closing down the Trinity River to the west of Pigeon Point due to the Monument Fire. There are several fires burning in and around the Trinity Alps Wilderness with the River Complex 2021 fires which were started by the recent lightning. The Klamath National Forest and Shasta-Trinity National Forest are reviewing the possibility of closing down the Trinity Alps Wilderness because of the fires. More to come on both of these though I wanted to give you all a heads up since there is a lot of fire activity going on and I know there are trips with clients planned.

Regarding our fishing here right now the Upper Sac is still the only option for fishing and probably one of the best options in the state given the existing circumstances statewide with hoot owl and fire closures. The McCloud has gone from chocolate to more of a heavy pea soup color with virtually no visibility looking into the water … note the McCloud River pic below. Hopefully you can expect to get back on it next month unless there’s another mud flow event off the mountain. The USac water temp has been getting into the 70’s in the afternoon down in the lower river from Gibson to the lake but water temps up higher are staying cooler due to the number of springs that feed into it from Dunsmuir up river. As I’ve preached over the years you can find fish during these hot summer months in the heavy oxygenated parts of the river. Food for thought …… when water temperature increases, dissolved oxygen decreases. Fish metabolism increases, which increases their oxygen needs. Anglers should be diligent and further decrease fight times, air exposure and handling. For those in the know who are familiar with the USac these anglers are having success catching some nice fish. Be prepared though to catch your fair share of the little dinks or as I call them “Baby Warriors”. Again small #16-18 flies{LBS) are recommended but you might think about an occasional big ole rubber leg in that swift water.

August 9, 2021 …. So sad to see this closure news about my favorite summer steelhead river the North Umpqua, had some memorable days there the last 30 years

It’s been a joy to have the opportunity to share and teach folks fly fishing this year. I am so happy to see the enthusiasm that people of all ages have for the sport. I self taught myself years ago and went through many years of frustration and intimidation. Let me save you from that and give you a good foundation to build your fly fishing career on. As I say “get off your numb butts and enjoy what fly fishing can open your eyes to”.

Cheers and follow your bliss.

Rick Cox Fly Fishing - offering 40 years of fly fishing experience for hourly or half day lessons and trips for beginners to ole dawgs. Checkout my Instagram post at rick_fly

530-925-0446

ricmcfly@gmail.com

If you have any further questions give the shop a shout and the next time you are in the area stop in an bug Bob..

Hit That Heavy Water

Christo Getting His First Fish On A Fly

Here Fishy Fishy

Take It, Take It, Take It

McCloud Color Changing From Chocolate To Whatever You Want To Call This

Here We Go Again

Smokey Sunset Fall River

Lemurians Are Back On The Mountain

Fred “The Fish” Gordon Is The Man. Invented the Gordon Prince.

Morning Pastry Fuel