Reel Adventures Guide Service

We now are firmly into Summer Season...

Sorry it's been a while since I have updated the blog and even posted much on the SM platforms (check out my Instagram @ReelAdventures for more weekly fishing stoke) I've sorta needed a break from it all...

The remedy was towing the family camper up to McCloud for a week of R&R along with some personal fishing and a few days guiding thrown in (still working while on vacation, haha).

It was real nice getting out of town and out of the daily schedule while resetting the mind, body and soul. I took advantage of eating off the BBQ all week long (fire+meat=can't be beat) guiltless afternoon beer(s) and allowing for some lazy days in the hammock with no agenda. The best was daily swimming sessions w/our daughter in the cold, mountain lake or river as a break from the typical shower.

McCloud, CA... so much to do, so much to see... Camping is the remedy)

What I am excited about next 2 months...

1) July 1st was the opener of salmon fishing for spring-run Chinook on the Trinity and Klamath Rivers. I will be focusing on springer season through July and into August if the run holds up... contact me for more info on this for next season - my July is pretty much booked solid right now. I will also be doing trips on the Lower Sac here in Redding. Summer caddis are blowing up and this hatch should be mega the next few months. 

So far it has been a slow start to springer salmon season on the Trinity... more steelhead than salmon landed this week... But it is still early; we shall see over the next few weeks? Stay tuned...

2) August 1st will be the re-opener of the top section of the Lower Sac (Sundial Bridge section) This is usually a great time to get back on the river!!! Having this extra beat provides more options and it doesn't hurt that the trout have been getting bigger all summer after a 4 month break from anglers. First two weeks of August will have appreciable quality fishing...

There are some really cool things happening in September as well, but we have time to discuss that later...

Walk and wade rivers... Upper Sac, McCloud, Pit River:

So many fishy sections of this river...

The beauty of the McCloud River is just one of the many bonuses of fishing this region...

Contemplating swimming or fishing...McCloud River, CA

Meanwhile, back on the Lower Sac... Summer season means caddis crazy wild trout!!

 

 

The Lower Sac will be even better after August 1st when the top reopens... I still have a few dates open.

For anglers coming into the area to fish or a fish report of sorts...

We are now into the Summer Season and as some refer to as the Dog Days of Summer. Days are LOOOONG and can get quite warm here in Northern California. Choose your fishing time wisely. There are periods of the day to focus your efforts right now. The fish eat every day - but they don't eat all day. Early mornings might be good but the late afternoon to evenings are often best and typically any time the direct sun is off the water. Chase the shadows if you are fishing the walk n wade rivers.

The exception to this is on the Lower Sac where its deep, fast and COLD water all day long. We can have fantastic fishing right in the middle of the day when the caddis are active. Although as good as it is - it'll often be even better in the evening time once the sun goes down. Dry fly fishing in the summer can be off the charts.

Please visit www.reeladventuresguideservice.com for more info...

 

Summer Season is off to a fast start...

We have been super busy these past few weeks rambling and fly fishing all over Northern California from the Upper Sac, Lower Sac, Pit River, Fall River, Shasta Lake, etc... The list of potential destinations on any given day can seem almost unlimited.

(Images: Fall River Valley is unique and a must visit for anglers in Ca... if you haven't experienced Fall River what are you waiting for? June and late August & September are my favorite months. Fishing a good client, Greg R, and friend, Curtis K, on a recent visit at Clearwater Lodge. Great day!!!)

 

(Caltrout Director, Curtis K, getting bent on Fall River recently... what a day!)

 

Everything is fishing well right now near Redding, CA making the decision on where to go fish on any given day a tough one - this is typical for June - So many options for Northern CA anglers to choose.

 

The timing of your day is a factor right now with Summer Solstice approaching. The days are very long and light out from 6am to 9pm. So, considering when those prime-time feeding windows are happening is important. Fish when the bugs are most active. Sometimes this is early and late in the day. As we move into the hotter months of July and August this becomes more important. Take the afternoon off. 

(Images: Travis E. seized the moment and came up and fished the Upper Sac near Dunsmuir for a couple of days recently... we covered some water and fished a lot of different methods hooking some smaller but beautiful wild trout.)

(Solitude and fresh mountain air on the Upper Sac... walk and wade paradise in gin clear water)

Our mountain freestone rivers are the place to be when the valley gets hot. The heat hasn't really hit us yet in Redding... but I assume by late June it will finally creep into the 100's eventually. It's been a very mild early summer season so far.

(Travis on another wild rainbow from the Upper Sac...)

(Images: Jon and Mike came up for two fun days of floating the Lower Sacramento right here in Redding. The size and quality of these wild trout never gets old!!)

 

(Images: The Kall Bros in action! These kids were great, listened well and fished hard.  They became super skilled at hooking and landing some nice Lower Sac fatties...)

(Another fantastic walk & wade river is the Pit River. Stuffed full of hard pulling wild trout... adventurous anglers only... these fish make you work for em'. Greg R is bent up on another one on a trip recently with our friends at Clearwater Lodge) 

I am pretty much booked up the rest of June and the month of July is filling up quickly. Get ahold of me asap if you wanna set some dates this summer or fall. *I am excited about many things this summer and we have some cool itineraries planned... Right now I have a lot of open dates in mid August and September... contact me to find out more about the BEST fishing options we have at this time of year.

I will be fishing the Trinity River in July for springer salmon season... along with some trips on the McCloud River, Upper Sac, and Pit River. August we will still be fishing salmon on the Trinity with a big return to the Lower Sac for the re-opener on Aug 1st. The month of September is a lot like June... Lots of options. I like Fall River, Pit River, Trinity River and of course, the Lower Sac. We will start seeing those early steelhead showing up as well.

Time to get on it and plan a trip soon! 

www.ReelAdventuresGuideService.com for more info and contact

The Time is Now....

Drop everything and go fishing right now. Throw a dart at the map of NorCal and hit the closest blue line. Everything is fishing well!!

I’ve been mostly fishing the Lower Sac - hard to get away from this river right now it's fishing so well. Flows are at 9k and the PMD’s, little yellow stones and caddis hatches are driving the late morning - afternoon fishing. The evenings are also turning on.... the pm sessions should only continue to get better as we enter summer time. Dry fly fishing during caddis events can change the way you look at this river.

(Images: Brad C had himself a good day... he's becoming a fan of the hog farm aka: the Lower Sacramento River. Stick-Jedi-Knight... Looking forward to more adventures, Pal.)

Also worth noting the Upper Sac, Pit and McCloud River are all fishing well and flows are perfect post runoff. Goldens, salmonfly and the usual suspects of mayflies, midges, small caddis are on the menu. Epic dry fly fishing in the evenings can happen this time year. Get on it soon! I will have a report on these rivers soon.

(Image: David Y and Tyler had a great time together floating the Lower Sac this past week. Always a fun time with these two dudes)

(Images: Some well fed trout in these pics and in this river!!)

I have some open dates towards the end of June and this is prime time for nearly every fishery in Nor Cal whether you want to walk and wade or float in a drift boat. Between the solid bug hatches of early summer and the mild-not-so-hot-yet weather... fly fishing in June is when you wanna come.

(Image: Guiness Book record holder drum roll maestro (look it up)... Chris A holding one of many fine ones from the Lower Sac...)

Getting excited for salmon season on the Trinity this summer. Springer season will be July and August. 2 months and 1 fish limit each day. Get a hold of me for more info. We fish from my drift boat... it's a great time to experience this river as most of you have only seen the Trinity in Fall and Winter season.

Don't forget to visit www.ReelAdventuresGuideService.com for more info and booking a trip.

Back in Business...

It's time to go fishing again... CA is loosening restrictions and S@H Order and Shasta County is currently at the Stage 2B phase. 

Lower Sac has been fishing good to great most days. PMD's and caddis are hatching in solid numbers mid day. We are also beginning to see the little yellow stones and a few larger buzzers bombing around as well. There are a few opportunities to fish the dry fly if you find em with their noses up. 

(Image: Craig getting it done with a nice 20"+ recently...)

The rainy days we had earlier this week were a positive force with excellent conditions in between the deluges... the mayflies were blowing up on these cloudy/rainy days.

(Image:Will with a PB rainbow on the LSac!! This fish was a stud...)

(Image: Eric and 11 yr old Sam... she crushed it!!)

I'll have more later... please visit www.reeladventuresguideservice.com for more information on my guiding service. Lets go fishing!

 

Coming out from the Covid Cave...

I will soon be resuming guide trips... contact me if you want to get some dates for May and June. The heat of summer will be here before we know it; let's go fishing again!

Wildflowers and big, fat trout await you...