Feather River

Checking In On The Feather

by Matt
Empty Outlet!

The water is cold and the salmon are in, but where are the steelhead? I took some time to scout out the Feather and what I found wasn’t too exciting. Usually about this time of the year I start finding fall-run steelhead on the Feather, however after fishing the entire day with several different flies and methods I didn’t get any takes. Although I was fishing 92 degree sunny and clear skies in the afternoon, I’m sure if there was a fish around they would have taken my flies right?

My day began in the high-flow section where I tried targeting salmon for the first time. After a few hours of swinging and covering water I finally gave up and decided to switch to a target that would be more willing to bite, steelhead. From about 12pm – 5pm, I literally covered the entire river and didn’t get a single hit! Again, where the hell are all the steelhead?

Good Fishing Weather In The Morning

The weather was pretty good in the morning with overcasts here and there but once the sun came out it started to get really bright and hot. I don’t have very much luck fishing for steelhead during a bright sunny afternoon and it totally showed today. For some reason it’s always a morning or overcast thing with these fish.

Hangin Out With The Salmon

There are a few salmon holding in the Outlet Hole but other than that the high-flow section is barren. Most of the salmon have made their way to the low-flow section where they have been competing for mates and digging redds. There are significantly less returning fish than last year so be mindful of where you step.

Guides and anglers are predicting that this Feather River steelhead season will be late again and possibly short. We need a good rain to get the season started because as of right now nothing is really happening. Maybe I’ll try again soon in the morning to see if that makes any difference. If that doesn’t work then I’ll have to wait until Mother Nature stirs up some weather. I’m sure they are in there somewhere…

Didn’t Get Skunked Though, Yellow Steelhead Action
Trinity River

Spiritual Rejuvenation On The Trinity

by Matt
This Is What I Need

Sometimes life can get to even the best of us. The stressors of work, finances, and future planning are some of the prices we have to pay in to live successfully in society. Someday all these stressors will hit you and you will start to feel lost, afraid, and stressed out of your mind. As you continue living each scripted day you build up these emotions until one day you can’t take it anymore.

This is when I know, it’s time to take a trip. Somewhere where I can be alone and free. Free of responsibilities and rules. A place where I can forget about the world and just fish. A place where I can spiritually cleanse all of my problems and begin anew.
The Trinity River. This is my place of spiritual rejuvenation.

As Scenic As Can Be

The Trinity is a river that you can’t do all in one day. The river is 165 miles long and has a ton of turnouts and access points. The many campgrounds along the river serve as a resting ground for a good trout bumming trip.

Steelhead Green Conditions

Steelhead green. This is the color of perfect water conditions on our coastal rivers.

The Swing Is The Thing

Swinging flies in Douglas City. I love the feeling of a tight-line getting hit straight onto the reel.

More Like Half-Pinter

As the salmon run up the river, the steelhead, both adults and half-pounders, follow them up. The chrome invasion begins! Ranging between 8” – 20” these fresh feisty silver bullets will jump, run, and fight!

Dinner of Champions: Jerky, Rice, and Water

Truly a trout bum’s dinner.

Woke Up A Few Times. But Slept Well?

Welcome to the Comfort Camry. The stay is free and easily set up but will be borderline uncomfortable. Much better than driving in the Trinity Canyon at night though.

Trinity @ Hoopa

Hoopa is one of my top destinations on the Trinity. Here is why:

1. This is where I catch the most fish.
2. Fishing pressure is very low.
3. A ton of good riffles and runs.
4. You can smell the ocean.
5. The fish coming in are as fresh as they get. The chromer the better.

True Half-Pound Chromer

Fighting a fresh half-pounder can be pretty tough. More often than not you will lose but there will be times when you finally land one only to admire it, release it, breathe, and say “Damn that was a nice fish”.

Yellow-Legged Frogs

The Trinity shares it life with many other species as well.

Till The Next Time We Meet

Life is too short. Keep calm and fly fish.

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Keep Calm and Fly Fish™