Guide Notes

July Report

July 01, 2026Bob Grace

7/1/2026 Ted Fay Fly Shop Report

Greetings from the oldest operating fly shop in California, located in the heart of Northern California’s fabled trout-filled rivers!

Shop Talk: As a hungry trout can’t refuse to come up from the depths to a well presented Hexagenia mayfly, so do scoffers rise at the opportunity to devour things of beauty. As a case in point, there have been some wild spun rumors at the shop lately that particular fishers have been using AI to doctor their photos of fish. Rubbish!

Tip: When indicator fishing, it is often an effective technique to use a heavy weighted nymph for your lead fly and then a non-weighted nymph or soft hackle for the dropper. This gets you down to where the fish are but keeps the dropper floating more freely and away from the bottom. Don’t forget to let the flies swing at the end of the drift!

Upcoming Events:

Mount Shasta Summer Concert Series: Outdoor music event every Sunday at 6:30 at Shastice Park. See link for details. Mt. Shasta Concert Series
River & Rail Brewfest (Aug 1, 2026): Head down to downtown Dunsmuir to enjoy craft beers, regional wines, local food, and live music. http://www.riverandrailsbrewfest.com/
Kids Fishing Day (July 25, 2026): Bring the little ones to the Mt Shasta Hatchery to fish in their specially prepared settling ponds. Kids Fishing Day

THE REPORT

Upper Sacramento River

Water Temp: Mid 50s degrees at Cantara

River Flows at Delta: 313 CFS

The river is in its summer time glory with easy wading, cool mornings and the thrill of high-stick nymphing the bubbly pocket water. For the adventurous, this is a great time to bring a snorkel and mask and swim some holes to see what’s happening. Fish only spook for a few minutes and then generally go back to their holding spots. Though not as profuse, there are hatches happening: mostly small mayflies and caddis with a few golden stones still in the mix. A dry-dropper set up is still very effective and will be all summer long. Think chubby chernobyls or stimulators with a small weighted black nymph. Fish the shadows when the sun is on the water or up in the bubbles. Small hoppers are starting to show and the black midges clinging to rocks are going to start popping soon. Mornings and evenings are best, but fish can be enticed all day long. I went out last week during the mid day heat and bright sun to see if I could coax some fish to bite during what is normally a more challenging time to fish. Two fish took right away in a deeper trough under the shade of an overhanging tree. Knowing that many fish reside in this hole, I kept at it. After trying some different techniques and flies, I switched to swinging a size 16 soft hackle tied on behind enough weight to get the presentation down. Two more fish were brought to the net on the swing.

Nymphs

Rubber Leg Stone Nymphs (I prefer the Tungsten Bead Stone at Ted Fays)

Golden Stones

Cased Caddis

Little Amigos #16-18

Weiss Nymphs #16-18

Duracells #14-16

Brush Hog #12

Dries

Parachute Adams #14-18

Light Cahills #14-16

EC Caddis #14-16

Mosquito #16-18

Stimulators

Chubby Chernobyls

Yellow Humpies #12-16

McCloud River

Water Temp: Upper 40s

River Flows Below M: 188 CFS

The McCloud has had a lot of pressure for the last 2 months and the fish have become wiser and require more skill to bring to the net. Try fishing water that most fishers pass up. Wade to hard to reach pockets, drift under overhanging plants, hike away from often fished areas. Get deep and under the fast moving bubbly water with heavy weighted nymphs. Often it is more effective to put away the indicator and do some high-stick nymphing. This direct connection with your nymphs connects you with your nymphs and detects subtle strikes that an indicator will rarely show. I am still surprised how fish can hold in water that seems too fast to hold in, but they have their holds where they swim effortlessly under the current. Let it swing after the drift. Small, black nymphs have been effective. I like Weiss nymphs in size 16 or 18 fished along with a #12 brush hog or pheasant tail. Golden Stones are still flying about, so keep them at the ready, especially morning and evenings. To get away from the crowds, fish Hawkins Creek at Ash Camp. Though wading is tough, most of it is in the shade and it’s a great dry-dropper stream all day long. Remember, barbless hooks only on the McCloud. Beware rattlesnakes and poison oak.

Nymphs

Weiss Nymphs (Black) #16-18

BH Black APs #14-16

Dark Lords #14-16

Little Amigos #16-18

Brush Hogs

Golden Stones

Tungsten Bead Black Stone

Dries:

Parachute Adams #12-16

Mosquito #16-18

Light or Pink Cahills

BWOs #18

Golden Chubby Chernobyl

Yellow or Orange Stimulators

Lake Siskiyou

Water Temp: Upper 60s

The smallmouth bass continue to be fairly easy to catch, especially in the last 2 hours of the day. As the sun sets, use small poppers near structure and wait for explosive strikes or subtle sucking slurps. Also, using an intermediate line, with a white and chartreuse streamer has been working well. Fishing Caddis dries or hoppers in the shallows also works great.

Trout come out of their cold water lairs during the evening and start feeding at the surface. Small caddis, small terrestrials, midges, mosquitos are effective. Late evening is your best chance to catch a chunky brown on this lake. The cold water is about 8 feet down and in the daytime the trout will generally be below this depth. Using an intermediate or sinking line, let it sink, then slowly strip small black leeches, unweighted pheasant tails, small olive wooly buggers and strip set on even the most subtle bumps. Some fishers use Type IV line and entice fish with a speedy retrieve and very short, quick strips.

Current flows: https://www.tedfay.com/forecasts-flows

—Report by Michael Kielich

This is how it’s done

A local Dunsmuir legend, Andre, showing his son some nymphing skill

Mid-June Ted Fay Fly Shop Fishing Report

June 18, 2026Bob Grace

6/18/26 Ted Fay Fly Shop Report

Sacramento River

Flow: 345 cfs at Delta

There is a smattering of all kinds of insects: small caddis, march browns, yellow sallies, pale morning duns, wasps, ants, termites and a sizable number of golden stones. Though few in number, there are a few green drakes about. On days with a glaring sun and no clouds, fishing is better in the morning or the evenings. On rare cloudy days, even the mid-day can fish well. Tight-line nymphing the bubbly pocket water is a great way to bring fish to the net. Use heavily-weighted small nymphs like a purple perdigon, a brush hog or a tungsten beaded pheasant tail. If fishing a 2 nymph set up, a large stone nymph or cased caddis is always a good choice. Let the nymphs swing at the end of a drift because that often triggers a fish to strike. Golden stones are hatching in the evening and that brings the fish out of the depths to feed.

Green Drake

McCloud River

Flow: 204 cfs at Ah Di Nah

Summer is upon us and days have been in the 90s. River temps in the McCloud stay cool even on the hot days and the river below Ash Camp was 50 degrees at noon yesterday. Patterns like a chubby chernobyl golden stone and a small baetis dropper (Little Amigo, Perdigon, Weiss Nymph) are still the ticket. Just make sure your dropper can get deep. Yesterday, with a dropper-dry set up, even though there were very few surface feeds, more fish were coaxed to take by the dry up until about noon. When the fish want a snack, they are keyed into the goldens. Fish the shady spots, like beneath the giant leaves of the riverside Indian Rhubarb. It’s highly effective to carry 2 rods, one for the dry-dropper and another with an indicator set up, with a heavily weighted stonefly nymph and baetis, so you can get in the deeper spots of holes. At 3:00 a small hatch of march browns started to hatch in the fast water and the fish started to feed. We switched to a Brown Parachute Adams (#16) and coaxed a few fish to strike. If you see fish rising, don’t hesitate to put away the nymphs and fish a single dry that imitates whatever is hatching!

Indian Rhubarb

Ted Fay Fly Shop June Report

June 01, 2026Bob Grace

6/1/2026 Ted Fay Fly Shop Report

Greetings from the oldest operating fly shop in California, located in the heart of Northern California’s fabled trout-filled rivers!

Lately at the shop, the banter has been veering towards things of a metaphysical nature. Bob got a singing bowl for his retirement and the shop now has that peaceful, dawning-of-Aquarius vibe that one would expect from a business at the foot of ethereal Mount Shasta. Bob loves to play it, all you have to do is ask him.

June is one of those months with so much to offer that the main problem is trying to make a decision of where to fish and what to fish for. The rivers are ripe for dry flies, the bass are in the shallows gorging themselves, the hexagenia hatch will close it off…essentially hungry fish are everywhere. Last weekend I was bringing a 15-16 inch rainbow to shore when a monster of a pikeminnow came up and grabbed it mid-section, took off with it and then swallowed it headfirst, leaving only its tail sticking out of its maw. I fought it for a bit and then it spit it out. No fooling! My wife saw it! Get out there and have some fun!

Tip: Fly line has memory, so if it’s been sitting in the reel for a bit, it will come out spiraled which leads to poor casting, more challenging hook sets, and just doesn’t look pretty. On a warm day, set your hook in a tree branch or fence and then walk out your reel until you reach the backing. Pull it tight and leave that way in the sun for 10-15 minutes. As it is stretching, get some Mucilin and coat your entire fly line. This will help preserve your line, clean it, keep it afloat, give you a smoother and longer cast and help with a better presentation.

Upcoming Events:

Dunsmuir Railroad Days (June 12–14, 2026): The town's biggest celebration of the year featuring a parade, live music, vendors, and historical displays at the ballpark and downtown. Look out for shows at local spots like the Dunsmuir Brewery Works and Bee Kind Bakery.
Fly Tying Social Hour June 13th from 4-7pm at Ted Fay Fly Shop

THE REPORT

Upper Sacramento River

Water Temp: 54 degrees at Cantara

River Flows at Delta: 570 CFS and dropping

The Golden Stones are starting to show! There is still a smattering of Salmon Flies about. Dry dropper is very effective this time of year (think Chubby with a Brush Hog). The dry fly fishing is better in the mornings and evenings. Fish can be caught mid-day, but when the sun hits, they’re seeking deeper and shadier spots. Switch to nymphing and fish deep. Towards the evening, the fish spread out to feed. Pale Duns and Caddis have been hatching. Use a Light Cahill or other PMD pattern in size 12-14 to imitate the duns and a EC Caddis in size 14-16 for the Caddis. According to Bob and Corey, yellow humpies have also been effective

Nymphs

Tungsten Bead Black Stone

Golden Stones

Little Amigos #16-18

Golden Stones

Blowtorch #12-16

Duracells #14-16

Purple Perdigon #16-18

Brush Hog #12

Dries

Parachute Adams #14-18

Light Cahills #14-16

EC Caddis #14-16

Mosquito #16-18

Salmon Flies

Stimulators

Chubby Chernobyls

Yellow Humpies #12-16

McCloud River

Water Temp: Upper 40s

River Flows Below McCloud Dam: 188 CFS

The McCloud has been busy and that is to be expected this time of the year. When the Golden Stones are hatching, even the most wary fish often lose their restraint and take a well presented fly. If you're willing, or able, to get deep in there, you can find seclusion on the McCloud even on busy weekends. Once again, dry fly fishing is better in the morning and evenings. Tight line nymphing or indicator set-ups work best during mid-day. Make sure you're getting your nymph close to the bottom. Remember, before wading into a hole, try fishing the pockets close to shore. The McCloud has a tendency to hold fish in places not fished by most fisherfolks. For dries: small Caddis, Pale Duns and Yellow Sallies are in the mix as well.

Remember, barbless hooks only on the McCloud. Beware rattlesnakes and poison oak.

Nymphs

Tung Tied Nymphs

S&M Nymphs

Bruised Baetis

Dark Lords #12-16

Little Amigos #16-18

Brush Hogs

Golden Stones

Tungsten Bead Black Stone

Dries:

Parachute Adams #12-16

Mosquito #16-18

Light Cahills

EC Caddis #14-16

BWOs #18

Golden Chubby Chernobyl

Yellow or Orange Stimulators

Lake Siskiyou

Water Temp: Mid to upper 60s

The smallmouth bass bite has been wide open. Find any kind of structure and fish will be there. Use an intermediate line, making quick, jerky and erratic strips, pause and then continue. A large, bright clouser style streamer works great. Using a loop knot will give your streamer a more life-like presentation. Fishing Caddis dries in the shallows also works great. There are a lot of smaller bass in this lake, but bass in the 2-4 pound range are not uncommon. 5-6 pounders are in there!.

The trout fishing has been fairly consistent as well. Using a floating or intermediate line, small wooly buggers, micro leeches, zirdles, swimming zug bugs or damsel nymphs are effective. Fish to rising fish with flying ants, mayfly emergers and half-sunken Natural Birdsnests size 16-18. Put a little bit of floatant on your Birdsnest so that it rides in the surface film. I often fish a 2 dry fly set up, using 5x or 6x with a flying ant and a birdnest or mayfly emerger trailing behind.

Current flows: https://www.tedfay.com/forecasts-flows

- Report by Michael Kielich