Ted Fay Report March 3rd

3/1/2026 Ted Fay Fly Shop Report 

Migratory Shasta Lake Rainbow from Upper Sac

Upper Sacramento River

*Water Temp at Dunsmuir: 46 degrees 

Greetings from the oldest operating fly shop in California! 

Last weekend, the river was flowing just over 1100 CFS at the Delta Gauge. After a cold week, with the lows in the 20s, the water temperature was 42 degrees. The fishing was good, especially mid day until evening, with rainbows of all sizes caught. Feisty migratory Shasta Lake rainbows are spread throughout the system and average around 15-16”, but there are 20+ in the mix. These hard fighting lake fish tend to be larger and more silvery than the resident fish and they often have small, harmless parasites, called copepods, attached to their fins. After this past week's soaking rains, the river rose considerably, but is quickly dropping back into shape and the upper river should be fishable by mid week. Around 50% of the fish that I catch on the river this time of the year are on Black Rubber Leg Stone Nymphs. I prefer the heavy Tungsten Beaded Stones at Ted Fays. Purple is an effective color right now for the smaller flies: like Purple Perdigons and Purple Pheasant Tails. Other solid choices are Blowtorch Nymphs (size 12-16) and Lil’ Amigo Olives (16-18). If indicator fishing, don’t drag your flies on the bottom but make sure you’re adjusting your depth frequently so that your flies are drifting just above the bottom. At the end of your drift, let the flies swing a bit and wait for a tug. During the winter, the fish generally hold in the slower water where the main tongue of current broadens out in the holes. They are also in the tailouts, the edges of seams, behind boulders and close to shore and if you spend some time looking, you will often see them. Don’t approach the holes too quickly, because the fish close to the bank will often spook.

As long as the river is not too high, winter and early spring fishing on the Upper Sac can be some of the best days of the year; with almost no crowds and a good number of larger migratory lake fish. The fish aren’t as aggressive feeders in the colder water, and it’s almost all nymphing, but if you get the fly in their feeding zone, they will take it. These fish can zing some serious drag and give you a heck of a fight! If you do see fish rising, switch to #16-18 Blue Winged Olives and BWO Mayfly Emergers. 

McCloud River

Water Temp: 45 degrees at Ash Camp

I hadn’t heard too many reports from the McCloud lately, so I thought I’d go check it out this afternoon (3/1). Lush green moss, glacial blue water, thunderstorms rolling through the mountains and there wasn’t a soul in sight, either on the road or the river. It was a slice of paradise for those seeking seclusion. Fished the Ash Camp area. In about an hour landed 2 beautiful McCloud rainbows, about 12 inches each. One was on a Tungsten Beaded Black Stone and the other on a Lemurian Soft Hackle PT (a new fly at Ted Fay’s that I thought I’d try). PG&E must be filling McCloud Reservoir, because the stretch between the dam and Ash Creek has flows about as low as I’ve ever seen them. Ash Creek just about doubles the size of the river. 

Lake Siskiyou

Water Temp: 45 degrees

Best fished from a boat, this reservoir near the town of Mount Shasta is an excellent winter fishery with lots of healthy, and often large, rainbows and browns, as well as smallmouth bass. At this time, chironomids are hatching, and on warmer days you’ll see fish sipping them on the surface. Stripping small leech and bugger patterns (size 12-16) in black, browns and olive are effective, but if fish are rising, always be ready to switch over to small dries and emergers. Trailing a small (#16-18) birdnest off the back of your streamer can entice strikes as well. Most of the fish are in the upper few feet of water. Current flows: https://www.tedfay.com/forecasts-flows

For Guide recommendations: call Ted Fay Fly Shop at 530-235-2969

Flies for the Upper Sac and McCloud:

Bead Head Rubber Leg Jig Stone

Tungsten Bead Black Stone

Tungsten Jig Brush Hog

Lil’ Amigo Olive #16-18

Purple Perdigon #14-18

Lemurian Soft Hackle #16-18

Blowtorch #12-16

Duracell #12-16

Tungsten Jig Yellow Spot #12-16 (a Bob Grace recommendation)

Biot Mayfly Emerger #16-18 

- Report by Michael Kielich