FALL RIVER: fishing has slowed down due to hot weather and excessive amount of weeds in the river.  The dry fly fishing in the middle section of the river is still happening but the hatches and spinner falls are more isolated and in some sections very short lived.  The best dry fly fishing is from 6:30 am to about 9:am, look for hatches of small caenis, beatis & tricos, #18,#20&#22 in the early mornings and spinner falls of tricos, beatis, brown & olive size #18to#22 happening the same time.  PMDs and callibatis hatches have been sparce, starting about 11:00am and some days lasting only about 1 hour.  Waterboatman, damsels & callibatis spinners are active during the middle of the day and the fish are looking for them. Swinging soft hackles and drifting small mayfly nymphs under an indicator is also working mid day.  The HEX hatch has been a hit or miss lately, some nites you see them …… some you don’t but the caddis fishing has been good swinging pupa and skating small dries right at dark.  PG&E started mowing the weeds in the river down in the Glenburn area.  I was told they are planning on mowing weeds from the confluence down to the Glenburn bridge…. and that can not be good for the fishing!  HAT CREEK: the ”Wild Trout” section is not looking any better then a month ago…. no weeds… very sparce hatches and spinner falls.  Fished the lower section last week and we caught one 18 inch rainbow in excellent condition and several small fish 10 to 12 inches on small nymphs. The lower section is worth checking out mornings and evenings.  PIT RIVER: Is fishing good with small nymphs in the deeper slots and runs.  PG&E is working on the Lake Britton dam and the dam road is closed from Hwy. 89 to the dam……. to access the river from the dam down stream to PH#4 you have to use the Clark Creek Road.  The Pit River Rd. is also closed from PH#4 to PH#5.  McCLOUD and UPPER SACRAMENTO RIVERS:  have been fishing good early and late in the day (when the suns off the water). Using small mayfly, caddis and stonefly nymphs under an indicator also look for some dry fly activity in the evening using mayfly, caddis and little yellow stone imatations.  TRINITY RIVER: current releases from dam is 450CFS.  The fishing has been slow, Catching a few Browns on streamers and we’re starting to see a few salmon in the upper pools around Junction City.  LOWER SACRAMENTO RIVER: current releases from dam is 12,500 CFS.  The fishing has been slow during the heat of the day and starts to pick -up late afternoon and in the evenings.  Swinging soft hackles in the tailouts and dead drifting mayfly and caddis imation under an indicator is the most productive way to nymph fish.  Look for some dryfly fishing in the evening with caddis and mayfly imations.  LEWISTON LAKE: is fishing OK using small streamers and nymphs. Worth checking out.

Spey Fishing for Steelhead:  Steelhead season is approaching and I want to let you know that I will start guiding for steelhead about the middle of September ( if conditions are right).  Last season I introduced several fly fisherman to spey and switch rod fishing ……. and the response was over whelming…. and the success rate was excellent also.  This season I am going to introduce as many fisherman as possible to traditional steelhead fishing with a spey rod.  Any one interested in learning a great new fun way to catch steelhead…… let me know your interest when you book a trip with me so I will have all the tackle for you to use………… Yes, I will provide all the tackle needed to introduce you to swinging flies for steelhead.  Look forward to fishing together.

Sincerely,  Bob Norman

 FALL RIVER has been “Red Hot”since opening day!  Great hatches of PMDs, Baetis and Callibaties in the mid river section, the Spinner Fall on the upper river has been excellent  also.  We are seeing good dry fly fishing 4 to 5 hours a day depending on the wind, the nymph fishing has been excellent swinging soft hackles and dead drifting nymphs.  Caddis are coming off in the evenings in the mid river section, swinging caddis pupa has been very productive the last hour of light.  The “HEX” hatch should be starting in the next week and usually goes til mid July….. judging the way this season started and the condition of the river we should see a good “HEX” season!  Lot’s of different flies are working , here’s a few you’ll want to have in your box. 

Dries: PMD’s, #16 - 18, BWO #18 - 20,  Calib. #16 - 18  ( paraduns, loopwings, cripples, emergers)

Spinners: Olive & Brown Quill #16 - 20,  Calib. #16 - 18  

Caddis:Emergers #16 - 18 (olive & black)

HEX:  Duns #6 - 8,   Cripples #6 - 8,  Nymphs #6 - 8

Nymphs:  Wiggletails #16 - 18 peacock, pheasant tails & turkey, PT’s #16 - 18, Caddis pupa #16 -18Micro mayfies #16 - 18,  Waterboatmen #12 - 14, Damsel nymphs#12 - 14 & Assort. mayfly nymphs

Streamers: Bunny/Marabou leeches #10 - 12 (black-olive-brown), Buggers #8 -10 (black-olive - brown)

HAT CREEK:  The “Wild Trout” section is starting to get some hatches of mayfly, Caddis, Stone flies and fishing is starting to pick up. The riffle at Powerhouse #2 is fishing good in the mornings and evenings with small mayfly, caddis and little yellow stone nymphs. The carbon bridge section is not holding a lot of fish because of the lack of weed beds but is definetely worth fishing, look for PMD, Creamy Orange mayflies, Caddis, Little Yellow stones and maybe a few Green Drakes on the water late afternoon and evenings.  Lower Hat (riffle section) look for Salmon Flies, Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, Caddis and Mayflies coming off.  The riffle section can be good prospecting mid day with Salmon Flies and Golden Stone dries this time of year.  Stripping a bugger or leech on a sink-tip line right at dark….. could make your day!! 

Dries:  PMD #16 - 20, Creamy Orange Mayfly #16 - 18 (paradun, loopwing, cripples & emergers) Green Drake #10  - 12, (paradun, cripple)  Salmon Fly #4 - 6, Golden Stone #8 - 10, Lt. Yel. Sally #14-16

Spinners:  Olive & Brown Quill Spinners #18 - 20, Rusty Spinner #16 - 20,

Caddis: Pupa & Emergers#18 - 20,  Elk hair caddis #16 - 18 (olive, green & tan) 

 PIT RIVER, McCLOUD RIVER & LOWER SACRAMENTO RIVER: The reports I’ve gotten lately from very reliabale source are these rivers are in good shape and fishing good to excellent. ( I’ve been spending all my time on the Fall River). This fly slection will serve you well on any of these three rivers this time of year.

DRIES:  PMDs, #16, Elk Hair Caddis #14-16 (tan, olive), Lt. Yellow Stones #14 - 16, Golden Stones# 8 - 10

NYMPHS:   Rubber Legs #6 - 8 (black, brown),  Golden Stones #8 - 12, Bombers #8 -12 ( black, brown,tan)    Dark Lord #14 - 16, Birdsnest #14 - 16 (black,olive, brown), Fox Poopah # 14 - 16 (olive, amber), Pheasant Tails # 14-16, Prince Nymph # 12 - 14, Copper John # 16 - 18 (black, red, copper), Hares Ear #12 - 16 (nateral, olive),  Tellico #12 - 16, Black AP # 14 - 16

TRINITY RIVER: Is running to high for fly fishing, flows will be down to a fishable level in a couple of weeks.

LEWISTON LAKE: Is fishing OK not a lot of dry fly activity . Fishing nymphs and leeches on a sinking lines or midge patterns under an indicator is producing rainbows 12 to 18 inches.  

Trinity River: ” Fly Only” section opens on April 1st.  We have been seeing good hatches of Callibaetis, BWO, March Browns and a few Golden Stones hatching on the upper runs, the Steelhead and Brown trout are taking dries in some of the runs also swinging flies have been producing a few good steelhead ( mostly downers) and some nice browns.  Lewiston Lake: Should be good this season, we’re already seeing good midge hatches and some callibaetis coming off mid day. Baum Lake: Has been fishing very good this winter, good hatches of BWO and midges and the nymphing and streamer fishing is always productive on Baum. The Pit and Upper SAC: Were fishing good before this last storm … do not have an update on the latest river conditions.  The Fall River and Hat Creek: Open on April 25th and should be in good shape for the start fo the season. Lower SAC: The releases out of Keswick dam are about 3300 cfs. Redding area got a lot of rain this last storm……. the upper runs are off color but should be fishable this week-end.

Here is a few photo’s from recent trips on the Trinity.

Spey Fishing on the Trinity!

Brown Trout caught on a Golden Stone!

Nice Fat Brownie!

“Winter Run” Trinity Steelie!

The Trinity blew-out last night and it is as high as I’ve seen it this season. Fished 5 days last week and the fishing was god but tough…. like it’s been most of this season, caught 1 bright 10 pound wild hen last week and 4 hatchery fish, 2 downers and 2 steelies ready to spawn. We caught a few nice Browns 18 to 22 inches also.The dry fly fishing on the river is starting to pick-up, seeing good hatches of BWO, Callibatis, March Browns and a few stoneflies.

Lewiston Lake is starting to get active with good midge activity and a few Callibatis. There seem to be a lot more fish show on the flats then there were last season……… weed beds are coming back!  If your looking to start your trout season early, give me a call … Lewiston Lake is a Blast when it’s happening!

The Trinity is looking much better since the rain we got last week.  The  river came up about 6 - 8 inches in the Junction City  area and the steelies were on the move during that rainy period.  The fish we have been catching are still bright and  averaging 50% hatchery and 50% wild fish.  I am starting to see a lot more spawning activity  in the upper runs and  more spent downers in the lower runs below the North Fork.

We have been doing a lot of  switch and spey rod fishing this season and having our best luck swinging small smolt and leeches (#6 & #8’s) and black, peacock and golden stonefly imatations in sizes #6,#8 & #10’s.

Fishing Stoneflys P.T.’s, hare’s ears, copper Johns, micro mayfly’s, caddis imatations and egg patterns are working, fished under an indicator.

Weatherman is calling for more rain, starting today and lasting into next week, so that should keep the fish moving.

If you want more info on the fishing  send me an e-mail www.riverbendadventures.com

I have only been focused on the Trinity , so I do not know first hand what the fishing has been like on other Northern California waters.

The Lower SAC  has been fishing Good …. from what I’ve heard from other guides.

Photos of some recent fishing trips.

The winter run fish are starting to show up in the upper Trinity, We have been catching chrome brite “wild” and hatchery steelhead 5 to 10 pounds for the past week or so. Steelhead are starting to spawn in the upper  run by the hatchery … I am starting to see a few spent downers.. already.   The weather has been unusually mild for this time of year….. bright sunny days and low clear water condition are making the fishing tough.  Starting to hear good reports of some nice Browns being caught in the upper runs.  We need some RAIN!!!