Ted Fay Report : April 29, 2022
Rick Cox
April miracle
USac after couple of weeks of much needed rain/snow has bumped up to a comfortable 750cfs and holding steady. Personally I have no problem with this higher flow, just be a bit more caution wading, the water is cold and taking a swim wouldn’t be an option. Your breathe would most likely be sucked out of you. The fishing continues to be good one day and stinky another. If you put in the time you will be rewarded. Best think about finding fish from about Flume Creek down river. Seeing Salmonflies, Lil Yellow Sallies, Caddis and Mayflies but believe me nary a fish rising and hatches aren’t really abundant.
Reports from the McCloud River is the river has a nice cream color and the fishing has started to pick up. Ah Di Nah now has a gate and it’s locked, should open in about a week though. Caution driving in, the recent road closure was due to slide repair. The work has created some very soft spots and due to the recent rains people have been getting stuck in the mud. Should be fine once the rain stops (more due tonight). Again here it’s strictly nymphing, hatches have not started yet.
Cheers
Rick Cox Fly Fishing - offering 40 years of fly fishing experience for half day lessons or trips for beginners to ole dawgs. Checkout my Instagram post at rick_fly
530-925-0446
ricmcfly@gmail.com
Mr. Gordon
USac Brownie Jason Kash with Wild Waters Fly Fishing
It’s a bobber bro
Rogue River daze
Elephant ears blooming
USac looking sexy
Freddie Gordon USac
Spawners
Spawners doing their thang
Pteronarcys aka Salmon Fly
McCloud River Jason Kash with Wild Waters Fly Fishing
It’s a jungle out there
Yummy pastry porn
I think it’s time to share with you the impact that Mud Creek is having on the lower McCloud River and also the McCloud Reservoir that I’ve witnessed over the last 40 years. The McCloud River which I fished and guided for many years has been going through some dramatic changes due to Mud Creek. Mud Creek is sourced from Konwakiton Glacier which due to climate change and drought is melting rapidly. As the glacier melts water gets trapped under it and at some point the water pressure releases creating massive mud flows cascading down from high up. Over the last 7 years it has produced some extraordinary mudflows and pictures of these events are shown below. Mud Creek used to flow under Pilgrim Creek Road bridge (which existed for many years). It still crosses Hiway 89 and flows through the Hearst property flowing into the upper stretch of McCloud Reservoir. In 2014 and last year these mudflows were dramatic in scale and dangerous. Ultimately all of this mud ends up in the reservoir, works its way to the dam and releases into the river. For those who know the McCloud and hold it dearly to their hearts last year rendered it unfishable for months starting in the summer and going into the fall. Follow the thread of pictures below and you’ll get an idea of what is going on. In addition the mouth of Mud Creek where it intersects the McCloud River and reservoir has filled in. There is a big plug of mud now that has filled the upper reservoir. Ultimately this will all wash to the dam and effect the river below it. The river color is currently milky and will hopefully stay that way but ultimately it will get muddy. Mother Nature certainly has her way so keep your fingers crossed that the river doesn’t blow out.
Mud Creek 2010 taken from Pilgrim Creek Bridge
Mud Creek 2014 Mudflow event taken from the bridge
Pilgrim Creek Bridge 2021 mudflow filled old creek bed and diverted
2021 Debri field looking west
2022 Mud Creek has diverted and debri field looking east
2022 Mud Creek diverted
2022 mudflow damage from 2021 event
2021 flow and deposited mud