Guide Notes

Ted Fay Report : August 20, 2021

August 20, 2021Rick Cox

For those of you who haven’t heard about these closures here’s a run down below. Basically for us here and y’all wherever you may be the Upper Sacramento River is the only game probably in a lot of the north state for the time being at least through Labor Day. We have so many fires nearby that smoke is the theme of the day and will be until the skies open up with lots of wet stuff ……. Pray For Rain!! We feel your pain!!

On the upside I took some time to hit the USac this afternoon. The poor river is running low, 150 cfs and clear. You have to work for your fish but it was a decent afternoon. So happy to get out after the completion of our kitchen remodel, seemed like an eternity. I had limited success with the many bugs that comprise the LBS category (check with the shop for details). Ran into a few anglers who also voiced limited success. Weather is cooling slightly but blue skies are problematic. I recommend for those who are horny for the tug of a fish think about the Upper Sac for this upcoming Labor Day weekend.

BTW the McCloud is still blown with glacial runoff plus it falls into the Shasta Trinity National Forest closure area.

Cheers and follow your bliss. Oh….and apologies for the crappy news.

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

If you have any further questions give the shop a shout and the next time you are in the area stop in an bug Bob..

Regional Order No. 21-04 USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region Emergency Forest Closure

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), and to provide for public safety and protect natural resources, the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System lands within the Pacific Southwest Region. This Order is effective from August 22, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. through September 6, 2021, at 11:59 p.m.

1. Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the National Forests listed below.

a. Tahoe National Forest

b. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

c. Plumas National Forest

d. Lassen National Forest

e. Mendocino National Forest

f. Klamath National Forest

g. Six Rivers National Forest

h. Shasta-Trinity National Forest

i. Modoc National Forest

36 C.F.R. § 261.52(e).

2. Being on a National Forest System road within the National Forests listed below.

a. Tahoe National Forest

b. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

c. Plumas National Forest

d. Lassen National Forest

e. Mendocino National Forest

f. Klamath National Forest

g. Six Rivers National Forest

h. Shasta-Trinity National Forest

i. Modoc National Forest

36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e).

3. Being on a National Forest System trail within the National Forests listed below.

a. Tahoe National Forest

b. Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

c. Plumas National Forest

d. Lassen National Forest

e. Mendocino National Forest

f. Klamath National Forest

g. Six Rivers National Forest

h. Shasta-Trinity National Forest

i. Modoc National Forest

36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a).

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.

2. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

3. Persons with a Forest Service special use authorization for an electric transmission line, an oil or gas pipeline, communications site, or any other non-recreation special use.

4. Persons with a Forest Service non-special-use written authorization to conduct non- recreational activities, such as harvesting timber or forest products, or grazing livestock.

5. Owners or lessees of land, to the extent necessary to access their land.

6. Residents, to the extent necessary to access their residences.

7. Persons engaged in a business, trade, or occupation are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above, but may use National Forest System roads to the extent necessary to carry out their business, trade, or occupation.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions contained in 36 C.F.R. Part 261, Subpart A.

A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.

16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.

Executed in Vallejo, California, this 19th day of August 2021.

JENNIFER EBERLIEN Regional Forester

Pacific Southwest Region

Frickin Donut Heaven Discovered By Buster

Ted Fay Report : August 5, 2021

August 05, 2021Rick Cox

As I write this report I am hearing distant thunder above the smoke cover blanketing Dogpatch so here’s hoping there’s not another round of fires. This appears to be a dry lightening event which is the worse thing possible when you have a thunderstorm over the forest. I guess you can say this is the new norm for summer, smoke and fires. Right now we are experiencing mixed days of smoke and occasional blue skies but hang on to those knickers, Mother Nature is starting to mix us a worrisome brew. There are currently 17 recent fires started in the area due to lightning. Here’s the latest from the US Forest Service ….

We are looking at closing down the Trinity River to the west of Pigeon Point due to the Monument Fire. There are several fires burning in and around the Trinity Alps Wilderness with the River Complex 2021 fires which were started by the recent lightning. The Klamath National Forest and Shasta-Trinity National Forest are reviewing the possibility of closing down the Trinity Alps Wilderness because of the fires. More to come on both of these though I wanted to give you all a heads up since there is a lot of fire activity going on and I know there are trips with clients planned.

Regarding our fishing here right now the Upper Sac is still the only option for fishing and probably one of the best options in the state given the existing circumstances statewide with hoot owl and fire closures. The McCloud has gone from chocolate to more of a heavy pea soup color with virtually no visibility looking into the water … note the McCloud River pic below. Hopefully you can expect to get back on it next month unless there’s another mud flow event off the mountain. The USac water temp has been getting into the 70’s in the afternoon down in the lower river from Gibson to the lake but water temps up higher are staying cooler due to the number of springs that feed into it from Dunsmuir up river. As I’ve preached over the years you can find fish during these hot summer months in the heavy oxygenated parts of the river. Food for thought …… when water temperature increases, dissolved oxygen decreases. Fish metabolism increases, which increases their oxygen needs. Anglers should be diligent and further decrease fight times, air exposure and handling. For those in the know who are familiar with the USac these anglers are having success catching some nice fish. Be prepared though to catch your fair share of the little dinks or as I call them “Baby Warriors”. Again small #16-18 flies{LBS) are recommended but you might think about an occasional big ole rubber leg in that swift water.

August 9, 2021 …. So sad to see this closure news about my favorite summer steelhead river the North Umpqua, had some memorable days there the last 30 years

It’s been a joy to have the opportunity to share and teach folks fly fishing this year. I am so happy to see the enthusiasm that people of all ages have for the sport. I self taught myself years ago and went through many years of frustration and intimidation. Let me save you from that and give you a good foundation to build your fly fishing career on. As I say “get off your numb butts and enjoy what fly fishing can open your eyes to”.

Cheers and follow your bliss.

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

If you have any further questions give the shop a shout and the next time you are in the area stop in an bug Bob..

McCloud Color Changing From Chocolate To Whatever You Want To Call This

Fred “The Fish” Gordon Is The Man. Invented the Gordon Prince.

Ted Fay Report : July 11, 2021

July 11, 2021Rick Cox

Poor ole Dogpatch has been getting hit from all sides so far this summer. We’ve had multiple fires surrounding us with choking smoke (fire=smoke), record setting temps, local 4th July events and fireworks cancelled, the USFS closing the mountain and a nasty mud flow off the south side of the mountain rendering the McCloud River unfishable. Mother Nature has her own rules and we unfortunately are suffering her wrath. Of concern, we are only 3 weeks into summer, am hoping it’s doesn’t get worse.

The Konwakiton Glacier on the upper stretches of Mt. Shasta has gone through recent mud flow events over the last 5 years and with the extreme early summer temps its melt has begun early. Melted ice accumulates under it like a lake and when the water pressure increases to a certain point the mud and rock flow breaks though and comes tumbling down. Sometimes minor in scale producing a milky color in the river but recently its been a life threatening event that surges muddy water down the Mud Creek canal overspilling its banks. Accompanying the mud are large boulders making it a danger to anyone or thing in its path. Checkout the picture taken below the dam today, needless to say she isn’t fishable for some time.

The Upper Sac has had the lower stretch down by Dog Creek closed due to the Salt Fire which is burning north into the Delta fire scar from a few years ago. Flows are running close to an all time low of 160cfs and the water temp from Sims to Delta hits into the 70’s during the day. This is not good for the trout, period! They aren’t built to handle warm water such as this and catching them in these conditions stresses them. Midday water temps upstream aren’t much better so I recommend either mornings or evening fishing with a break from noon till early evening, otherwise if you fish in the afternoon you are dancing with the devil on the river pure and simple. Most fish can be found in the heavy oxygenated water rather that the pools and runs. The higher upstream you go the water temps get more reasonable for trout so consider Dunsmuir up to Ney Spring for best results. Go to bugs right now are LBS although you can still stick some fish with a Stimie/dropper in the pocket water.

In conclusion, it’s officially the Dog Daze of summer, early or late fishing, wet wading suggested. Also it would be nice to see Dept. of Fish and Wildlife consider Hoot Owl hours similar to what I see a lot in the Rockies when water temps get too hot (shut down fishing after 2pm), just a thought to save our fisheries.

Cheers and follow your bliss.

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

If you have any further questions give the shop a shout and the next time you are in the area stop in an bug Bob..