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

Ted Fay Report : July 11, 2021

Poor ole Dogpatch has been getting hit from all sides so far this summer. We’ve had multiple fires surrounding us with choking smoke (fire=smoke), record setting temps, local 4th July events and fireworks cancelled, the USFS closing the mountain and a nasty mud flow off the south side of the mountain rendering the McCloud River unfishable. Mother Nature has her own rules and we unfortunately are suffering her wrath. Of concern, we are only 3 weeks into summer, am hoping it’s doesn’t get worse.

The Konwakiton Glacier on the upper stretches of Mt. Shasta has gone through recent mud flow events over the last 5 years and with the extreme early summer temps its melt has begun early. Melted ice accumulates under it like a lake and when the water pressure increases to a certain point the mud and rock flow breaks though and comes tumbling down. Sometimes minor in scale producing a milky color in the river but recently its been a life threatening event that surges muddy water down the Mud Creek canal overspilling its banks. Accompanying the mud are large boulders making it a danger to anyone or thing in its path. Checkout the picture taken below the dam today, needless to say she isn’t fishable for some time.

The Upper Sac has had the lower stretch down by Dog Creek closed due to the Salt Fire which is burning north into the Delta fire scar from a few years ago. Flows are running close to an all time low of 160cfs and the water temp from Sims to Delta hits into the 70’s during the day. This is not good for the trout, period! They aren’t built to handle warm water such as this and catching them in these conditions stresses them. Midday water temps upstream aren’t much better so I recommend either mornings or evening fishing with a break from noon till early evening, otherwise if you fish in the afternoon you are dancing with the devil on the river pure and simple. Most fish can be found in the heavy oxygenated water rather that the pools and runs. The higher upstream you go the water temps get more reasonable for trout so consider Dunsmuir up to Ney Spring for best results. Go to bugs right now are LBS although you can still stick some fish with a Stimie/dropper in the pocket water.

In conclusion, it’s officially the Dog Daze of summer, early or late fishing, wet wading suggested. Also it would be nice to see Dept. of Fish and Wildlife consider Hoot Owl hours similar to what I see a lot in the Rockies when water temps get too hot (shut down fishing after 2pm), just a thought to save our fisheries.

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..

Lava Fire Got Too Close For Comfort

Rare Day To Head Out To The Classroom

Crazy Temps

Everitt Memorial Highway Closed, No Lemurians Sighted

McCloud Reservoir Showing Off Her Turquoise

Mud Creek Highway 89 Bridge

Pilgrim Creek Bridge Almost Breached By Mud Flow

Pilgrim Creek Road Breached

McCloud River Is Toast

Ted Fay Report : June 30, 2021

For anyone looking to come up and enjoy the 4th you might reconsider. The Lava Fire is moving nearer to Mt. Shasta and with the current Shastina/Shasta Valley evacuations there’s no motels to be found between Redding and Medford. I live on the north edge of Mt. Shasta City and am hearing rumors we may have to evacuate. The Forest Service has closed Everett Memorial Hiway going up the mountain and is initiating campfire regulations area wide. On top of that 4th of July fireworks have been canceled here along with many other locations nearby due to the extreme fire danger and to add a kick to the crotch I-5 is closed due to a fire down by Lakehead. And if you really want another bit of crappy news(hang on to your knickers) the McCloud River is experiencing a mud flow event and is blown out, it’s about the color of a thick chocolate milkshake. Best stay home and dream of another day here.

Happy frickin 4th y’all

Rick