Mid-August Report

8/15/26 Ted Fay Fly Shop Report

Upper Sacramento River 

Upper Sacramento River

Water Temp: Mid 50s in Dunsmuir 

River Flows at Delta: 224 CFS 

It’s a great time to fish! The heat wave is over and we are experiencing weather right now that feels more like early Fall. The night time temps are in the low 50s and daytime temps are in the 80s. Trout like the cooler weather, and have been responding with more activity, especially in the morning and evenings. Locals and visitors are still reporting some good days if you put in the effort, but as is usual this time of the year, it is a nymphing game. Some fish are coming up for larger dries like #14 Chubby Chernobyls or Hoppers, so give that a try with a dry-dropper set up. I have been snorkeling in the river quite a bit and there are lots of fish of all sizes in there, and this shows how healthy this spring-fed tailwater is. When much of the West is in serious drought with low and warm rivers, we are lucky to have this beautiful river that gets most of its water from springs deep in lofty Mount Shasta. Stop by the shop to let us know how you’re doing and for the most recent info.

McCloud River

Water Temp: Upper 40s at Ash Camp

River flows at Ah Di Nah: 188 CFS

Last week I went to the McCloud to focus only on brown trout. I arrived during the heat in the middle of the day. I managed to bring a 13 incher to the net and had another one chase me a couple times from underneath the bubbles of a deeper run. I caught several rainbows as well. I ran into a young man who was doing the same thing and he had just a bit earlier caught what he said was the biggest brown of his life.  Another local went to the McCloud this week and did well on small nymphs, like caddis pupas, peaches and cream and pheasant tails in sizes 16 and 18. The water is still very clear and it’s great for sight fishing.

***There has been a bear around the Conservancy area of the river that has become far too comfortable with humans and it is causing some concern for those who run into it. The bears are along the river this time of the year to fatten up on blackberries, and they generally leave people alone. This particular black bear is too curious, so be watchful. Bear spray might be a good idea. 

-Michael Kielich

August Report

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!

July Report

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

Hexegenia mayfly in morning prayer

This is how it’s done

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

Sacramento Pikeminnow