Ted Fay Report : April 25, 2019

Well here we are just before the general opening of all our rivers and guess what, we have a lot of water to deal with. The McCloud is flowing north of 1100 cfs at Ah Di Nah and the Upper Sac is north of 4000 cfs. These numbers are double and triple what our average spring flows are. I’ve seen these types of springs before so we just deal with it and pull out all the options….Lower Sac, Hat Creek, numerous local lakes, etc. It’s about fishing the edges of these big flow rivers and not getting too squirrelly wading. Looking ahead there is a lot of upper elevation snow pack which will not start melting for a couple more weeks so don’t expect flows to drop very fast any time soon. The McCloud access has been affected this winter and the road to Ash Camp is closed just across the dam. The Forest Service and PG&E are battling over who’s responsible for the repairs so don’t hold your breathe for any quick fix. You can however park at the closure point and hike in if you like. The road to Ah Di Nah and the Conservancy is open although I just found out that a portion of the trail into the Conservancy cabin is flooded but passable. Currently you can expect to see Salmonflies, flying ants and a few mayflies hatching. Soon to come will be the Golden Stones and a plethora of mayflies and caddis. Just remember caution wading and be envious of those white water dudes as they go flying by. If you have any further questions call the shop, Bob will be more than happy to help feel your pain.

Cheers

Rick Cox

www.wildwatersflyfishing.com

If you have any further questions call the shop, Bob will more than happy to feel your pain.

Remembering Joe Kimsey

As we approach the upcoming season Bob and I agree we should remind all of you about why and how the shop is what it is and why it is an institution here in Northern California. Ted Fay started his guiding business in Dunsmuir in the early 50’s out of a motel he owned offering free guiding for guests who stayed in it. He popularized the short-line, weighted fly tactic known as “short line nymphing.” Fay popularized his version of the pocket water technique, which usually involved two flies; one tied at the end of the tippet, the other some distance above as a dropper. For a time in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, Fay’s fly patterns were hot items, so much so that “authentic” Ted Fay flies began appearing on the shelves of other fly shops. Fay died in 1983 a year after I met him and Joe Kimsey at Ted’s shop. Joe was tying and guiding for Ted then and continued the shop at the Acorn Motel until 1996 when Bob Grace, the current owner, bought it from Joe. Joe carried forward Ted’s short line technique, teaching it using all the popular Fay flies such as the Bomber, Spent Wing, Peacock and Burlap. After Bob purchased the shop Joe continued to be a fixture here. One of my fondest memories of Joe was when a customer would walk through the doorway and inquire enthusiastically, “Where are the fish?” Joe would reply in a blink “In the water!” Joe continued to show up every day almost to the end tying flies in the old Ted Fay style and swapping stories with Bob and the customers. Joe was laid to rest in 2010 wearing his signature red suspenders. We miss his presence but know that his spirit is minding the store.

Checkout the YouTube videos ……

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RdDJRUrLgY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYkUi5rIxwY

Rick Cox

Ted Fay Post : April 4, 2019

OK kids as we sit here watching the continual rain and very high river flows an important issue has come up recently concerning the new 2020 Department of Fish and Wildlife proposals for statewide regulation changes and among them specifically the McCloud and Upper Sacramento Rivers. I attended a meeting in Redding last week where they laid out their changes. As you can imagine it was well attended by guide services, fly shops and businesses directly affected. I will not go into my opinions here but the important thing is DFW is looking for serious feedback from the public and not the “you guys have your heads up you know what” type of rhetoric. They really are leaning on us, the fishing community, for feedback. These proposed changes very general right now. It is important that as many of you that can make your voice heard, they are open to suggestions. I urge you to get your comments in soon, your comments go to a final hearing this summer when the regulations will be set. Consider in them not only personal issues but the impact on our local economy that will take a hit with the delayed season.

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland/Trout-Plan/Regulation-Simplification/comments

McCloud River

The glaring thing for the McCloud River is the delayed season opening and its extension to the end of February which has no access usually in the winter.

(E) McCloud River from McCloud Dam downstream to confluence of Ladybug Creek.
Saturday preceding Memorial Day through the last day in February
2 fish bag, artificial lures
(F) McCloud River from confluence of Ladybug Creek downstream to lower boundary of the U.S. Forest Service loop (southern boundary of section 36, T38N, R3W).
Saturday preceding Memorial Day through the last day in February
0 fish bag, artificial lures with barbless hooks

Upper Sacramento River

(156) Sacramento River and tributaries above Keswick Dam (Shasta, and Siskiyou Cos.).
(A) Sacramento River and tributaries from Box Canyon Dam downstream to the Scarlett Way bridge in Dunsmuir.
All year
0 fish bag, artificial lures with barbless hooks

(B) Sacramento River and tributaries from Scarlett Way bridge downstream to the county bridge at Sweetbriar.

Saturday preceding Memorial Day through September 30
5 fish bag, no gear restrictions
October 1 through the Friday preceding Memorial Day

2 fish bag, artificial lures

(C) Sacramento River and tributaries from the county bridge at Sweetbriar downstream to Shasta Lake.
All year
2 fish bag, artificial lures