August Report
Bob Grace
8/1/2026 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: Calling more young anglers to the wonderful sport of fly fishing. Young folks, who like whacking through black berries, whose ears aren’t crisped with the beating Upper Sac river sun, whose rears haven’t been bruised and bloodied while sliding down McCloud River canyon taluses, whose shins aren’t scarred by Pit River boulders, whose eyes can still thread 6x through a size 20 hook eye, who swim holes just to get to the perfect run. Heck, you might even meet some of us older folks down there, like a guy named Fred, who at the age of 80ish still wades and swims the Pit River. The pay-off?: years of endless adventure into some of the most beautiful and remote places on Earth, peaceful seclusion in nature, and a lifetime of catching beautiful fish. It doesn’t get any better!
Tip: With warmer water temps and decreased oxygen in the rivers, especially the Upper Sac, fish mortality goes up during this season. Handle the fish with extra care; using a net and leaving them in the water while you are removing the hook. It is best to fish in the morning or the upper reaches of the river later in the day to focus on the fish that are less stressed in the cooler water temps. The lower river, by Shasta Lake, can get temps up into the 70s, so the fish down there generally migrate upriver where the temps are cooler.
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/
Mount Shasta Blackberry Music Festival: Sunday, September 6, 2026 at 12:00 PM at Shastice Park. Labor Day weekend tradition with live music, multiple vendors, activities for kids, and blackberry pie. https://www.mtshastablackberry.com/
Fly Tying Clinic and Social Gathering: 4-6pm every 2nd Saturday at Ted Fay Fly Shop. Come meet local fly fishers and learn some skills at the tying vise.
Upper Sacramento River Clean-Up: September 26th - More Info coming next month!
THE REPORT
Upper Sacramento River
Water Temp: Upper 50s to low 60s in Dunsmuir area with temps rising significantly during the day.
River Flows at Delta: 231 CFS
August is often a month where the fish are more challenging to catch on the Upper Sacramento. Months of pressure, warmer temps, fewer hatches all tend to suppress catch rates. With that said, many anglers are reporting good success lately, especially in hard to reach areas. Mornings and evenings are best. It’s mainly a nymphing game, but don’t hesitate to try terrestrials like hoppers, bees, ants, beetles etc. Give them a twitch to incite strikes. There are prolific numbers of midge larva clinging to rocks in the fast water, so using flies like a size 16-18 zebra midge can be effective. Try to get away from the crowds. This is the time of the year to bring a snorkel and mask to the river and do some exploration of the sub-surface environment. I have found that as long as I swim holes from their sides and don’t spook the fish, they will stay in their holding positions. It gives a fisher great advantage to see where the fish are holding and how, or if, they are feeding. I often hook fish that I have seen holding in their spots after I explore a hole. It’s also a great way to cool off and have fun!
Nymphs
Rubber Leg Stone Nymphs (I prefer the Tungsten Bead Stone at Ted Fays)
Cased Caddis Mop Fly
Little Amigos #16-18
Weiss Nymphs #16-18
Gasolina #14
Sunken Ants #14-16
Copper Johns #14-18
Blowtorch #16
Czech Princess #14-16
Dries
Parachute Adams #14-18
Light Cahills #14-16
Foam Ants
Mosquito #16-18
Stimulators
Chubby Chernobyls
Yellow Humpies #12-16
McCloud River
Water Temp: Upper 40s - Low 50s
River Flows at Ah Di Nah: 195 CFS
There might be no place finer for an angler to spend a summer day than on the magical McCloud River. The streamside still shimmers with bright succulent greens and the water is the turquoise blue that makes this river unique in California. The cool temperatures of this tailwater river keep the trout and fisher folks happy throughout the Summer season. The river is still running clear and has very little silt from the glacial melt on Mud Creek, which often happens this time of the year. Try smaller nymphs like BP Weiss Nymphs. Small black nymphs still are effective for the Rainbows. High stick nymphing the pocket water is very effective during Summer. The browns that migrate up river from Shasta Lake are now spread throughout the system. It’s not a numbers game, but if you focus on them you might just get lucky. Try larger sculpin-like patterns and find the shadowy areas, against banks or under the bubbles of deeper runs. Sinking lines can help get the presentation down deep. Heavy-weighted rubber leg stones can be effective as well. Brown trout love cover, shadows and generally like low light conditions. Anglers who spend time learning the habits of these fish, have caught some whoppers over the years: we’re talking in the 30 inch range!
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
Lake Siskiyou
Water Temp: Mid 70s
Not too many reports from Lake Siskiyou lately. Summer time is not a good time to fish for trout on this lake because bringing them up through the warmer surface water often kills the fish. The smallmouth bass will be holding at the edges of deeper dropoffs and around any rocky structures. Focus on them with weighted lines using baitfish imitation streamers, buggers and crawdad patterns. Most lake fishers are waiting for the cooler climes of fall for the region's local lakes to turn back on.
-Report by Michael Kielich
Current flows: https://www.tedfay.com/forecasts-flows
A chrome migratory Shasta Lake Rainbow caught in July
In August, fish under the bubbles (if you're lucky enough to find this hole).
1978 My first fish and the beginning of an epic adventure!