Guide Notes

Ted Fay Report : March 25, 2022

March 25, 2022Rick Cox

Good news and bad news for yuz guys. First the bad, I always like the bad first just to get it out of the way. The Forest Service here in Dogpatch has issued the following bulletin for the road to Ah Di Nah …….Due to an increased hazard awareness and for public safety, we intend to close the road to public access beginning tonight (3/24/2022) and continuously for the following two weeks. This is in part because of the weather forecast, but also our slide repair schedule (2nd slide repair) and impact of the road repair excavation work on road access and pass-ability, as there won’t be any safe passage during this period. The work on the 2nd slide will begin either Monday or Tuesday depending on the weather situation. The closure is scheduled to be in affect through 4/8/2022 at a minimum. The closure schedule will be reevaluated as work on the 2nd slide repair progresses. Now the good news, I’ve been talking to the Forest Service and they are finally giving me an idea as to when the road to Ash Camp will be open. I’ve been told that PG&E will begin repairs this year but unfortunately they don’t have a timeline yet….stay tuned.

We’re entering our shoulder season now and are getting dustings of snow, then warm weather then rain. This time of the year we expect the snowmelt to start and its right on schedule on the Upper Sac. It was running at a meager 350cfs and the last few days has jumped to 600cfs. It’s also getting a smidgen off color but I’ll take that over the gin clear water we’ve had all Winter. The fishing has also picked up and we’re seeing action from top to bottom on the river. With the summer drought coming best think about getting your fishing priorities in order sooner than later. Think about using Rubber Legs, soft hackles, Caddis imitations, and Gordon Princes. I’m seeing the fish moving up in the water column now rather than hugging the bottom like they did in the Winter so pounding the bottom isn’t necessary.

With limited access on the McCloud your only option will be to fish from the dam down river. Reports are spotty fishing but this will improve.

Cheers

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

Ted Fay Report : March 2, 2022

March 02, 2022Rick Cox

Saucers have landed Photo by Pauline Cox

Buckle up people, looks seriously like another year of drought and all the crap that comes with it. We’ve been hoping for a miracle March and though we may get a drop or two it doesn’t look like the rain/snow gods will be obliging with copious moisture. We’re just a smidgen ahead of last years totals and we all remember what that brought us here in Dogpatch (not good at all). The USac is flowing just north of 400cfs and the average for this time of year should be 3 times that. There will be a bit of a snow melt but nothing to write home about so the rivers are fine for now till June when all bets are off the table and fire season comes knocking. So best think about enjoying the USac and McCloud Rivers now. The USac will drop to a very low flow in the summer and the hoot owl will probably enter into the mix. I’m predicting too the McCloud will suffer through another mud flow year from all indications I’m seeing, more to come on that in a later report……hope I’m wrong! In the mean time the boys have been out there lately having some good days, when I say the boys I mean those guys who know what they’re doing. It has been an odd year for most, the lake runs are stuck way down in Shasta Lake and unfortunately they are tasked with coming up stream in a lake that is at a record low. If you want to target them I suggest fishing down at Delta to the lake. Otherwise there are fish to be caught as shown below. Anglers like Fred Gordon and Chris Devine have been fishing both rivers and have had success. Both rivers are running very cold and you have to put the fly right on their noses. Afternoon hatches of Blue Wing Olives but no fish feeding on top. Best flies working are Gordon Prince, S&M, Micro Mayflies (black & olive) and Olive Hotspot.

Cheers

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

Ted Fay Report : February 1, 2022

February 01, 2022Rick Cox

It’s been about 6 weeks since Dogpatch has received a drop. What started out as a very promising Winter for NorCal has put the scare back into us and the D word is creeping back into the conversation (note the rainfall graph below for far NorCal). The 2 week forecast is showing nothing so best start doing your favorite rain dance. You folks to the south are enjoying bookoo rain and snowfall, very fortunate for yuz, maybe send a bit up to us? The river is in fine shape and super fishable but the darn lake run fish haven’t shown up yet in any numbers. Am seeing a lot of BWO’s hatching in the early afternoons so recommend using some of your favorite olive imitations. I’ve had some success using them which means #16 hooks or less. The few large fish I’ve hooked just give that little pea shooter the middle finger and feed me my lunch. All other of my favorite larger flies that usually work in Winter just haven’t started doing the job. Have had a spotty report or two of others having some success but overall I would term fishing tough. River is at 550cfs and slowly dropping, the mountain is exposing more and more ridges and bare spots ….. please God please send us some more snow/rain! As I always say nothing in the world can take the place of persistence, keep plugging away, good things will happen eventually….. dream on. Otherwise I’ve been stuffing the pie hole and bulking up, that’s all me can do right now.

Cheers

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