Guide Notes

Ted Fay Report : March 2, 2022

March 02, 2022Rick Cox

Saucers have landed Photo by Pauline Cox

Buckle up people, looks seriously like another year of drought and all the crap that comes with it. We’ve been hoping for a miracle March and though we may get a drop or two it doesn’t look like the rain/snow gods will be obliging with copious moisture. We’re just a smidgen ahead of last years totals and we all remember what that brought us here in Dogpatch (not good at all). The USac is flowing just north of 400cfs and the average for this time of year should be 3 times that. There will be a bit of a snow melt but nothing to write home about so the rivers are fine for now till June when all bets are off the table and fire season comes knocking. So best think about enjoying the USac and McCloud Rivers now. The USac will drop to a very low flow in the summer and the hoot owl will probably enter into the mix. I’m predicting too the McCloud will suffer through another mud flow year from all indications I’m seeing, more to come on that in a later report……hope I’m wrong! In the mean time the boys have been out there lately having some good days, when I say the boys I mean those guys who know what they’re doing. It has been an odd year for most, the lake runs are stuck way down in Shasta Lake and unfortunately they are tasked with coming up stream in a lake that is at a record low. If you want to target them I suggest fishing down at Delta to the lake. Otherwise there are fish to be caught as shown below. Anglers like Fred Gordon and Chris Devine have been fishing both rivers and have had success. Both rivers are running very cold and you have to put the fly right on their noses. Afternoon hatches of Blue Wing Olives but no fish feeding on top. Best flies working are Gordon Prince, S&M, Micro Mayflies (black & olive) and Olive Hotspot.

Cheers

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

Ted Fay Report : February 1, 2022

February 01, 2022Rick Cox

It’s been about 6 weeks since Dogpatch has received a drop. What started out as a very promising Winter for NorCal has put the scare back into us and the D word is creeping back into the conversation (note the rainfall graph below for far NorCal). The 2 week forecast is showing nothing so best start doing your favorite rain dance. You folks to the south are enjoying bookoo rain and snowfall, very fortunate for yuz, maybe send a bit up to us? The river is in fine shape and super fishable but the darn lake run fish haven’t shown up yet in any numbers. Am seeing a lot of BWO’s hatching in the early afternoons so recommend using some of your favorite olive imitations. I’ve had some success using them which means #16 hooks or less. The few large fish I’ve hooked just give that little pea shooter the middle finger and feed me my lunch. All other of my favorite larger flies that usually work in Winter just haven’t started doing the job. Have had a spotty report or two of others having some success but overall I would term fishing tough. River is at 550cfs and slowly dropping, the mountain is exposing more and more ridges and bare spots ….. please God please send us some more snow/rain! As I always say nothing in the world can take the place of persistence, keep plugging away, good things will happen eventually….. dream on. Otherwise I’ve been stuffing the pie hole and bulking up, that’s all me can do right now.

Cheers

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 the fish aren’t eating then I’m eating

Ted Fay Report : December 11, 2021

December 11, 2021Rick Cox

Merry, Merry Christmas to all of you out there. The shop is stocked and ready for you Christmas shoppers who are looking for that special present for that special fly fisher in your lives. We are open and ready to fill that shopping list of yours whether it be a new rod, waders, boots or any of the other important accessories fly fishers need to make their fishing experience satisfying. For those out of town folks the shop can ship you whatever you want or if you cannot decide what they need a gift certificate might be the next best option.

As far as the fishing around here here is a short run down. The Upper Sac has been in a funk for some time. The river needs some juice and that is presently starting up as I type this. Next two weeks will bring copius amounts of rain and snow so bring it on. The McCloud has finally become approachable but the unfortunate mud spills this summer and fall has made the rocks and bottom very silty. Every time you take a step silt puffs come up. Of concern to me is that the rocks and bottom are covered with this crap so hopefully the bugs and aquatic life survive. What the McCloud needs is a good high flow purge to flush it out. Up on the Klamath the strong steelhead return is still in gear, probably your best option in these parts.

I’m offering gift certificates as a Christmas gift for any of you who might be thinking of giving a special someone a fly fishing lesson, give me a call or email me at ricmcfly@gmail.co

Cheers

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