I’ve been secretly scouting and fishing the Middle Fork
Feather River since the early opener. It’s nice to be back on home water and
actually very therapeutic during these difficult times. I’m doing better than
expected and so thankful for the support and the understanding from my guests
to most others in the fly fishing industry. Pre-paid trips, letting me keep
deposits, rescheduling, donations, and custom tackle orders have helped
immensely. If you are going to visit
rural communities to fish, or go on a guide trip with me, you must take special
precautions. I would advise for the next month or longer to just come up for
the day (or dry camp far away from folks) and be totally self-sufficient with
everything from food to supplies for the entire intended stay. Those rural
communities want you to distance yourself from them. They have signs up to let
you know too. Plumas National Forest is open, just be safe out there and do the
right thing.
Pinnacle Pool
So
onto the fishing... The season started off with cold higher off colored water,
which really is a blessing on the Middle Fork Feather River. During such
conditions there are more and bigger fish in the system, but it’s not easy and
you really have to know where the 10% of the habitat that holds 90% of the fish
is at. Runoff peaked last week with warmer temperatures and all the feeder
creeks to the MFFR were running at their highest for the season, cold and
clear. Hint: fishing may be slower directly downstream of feeder creeks due to
snow melt water temps.
The Middle Fork Feather River water temperatures are varying
depending on whether it is the upper river (52-55), mid river (48-51), or the lower
river (47 to 53). The mid river water levels near the Graeagle section has dropped considerably,
the feeder creeks are dropping too, but still icy cold. While there is not a
huge snow pack to melt, prime fishing conditions will come quickly, and the best
conditions will be gone by the end of June. That’s the thing with the Middle
Fork Feather, it drops into shape quickly with all day good fishing, then it’s a
morning and evening game, then it’s done until fall. I don’t fish or guide when
the water warms up over 67 degrees. It’s hard on the wild rainbows (the browns
do much better in warmer water temps) and it’s not worth it to do damage to
such a beautiful and pristine fishery.
Castle Pool
All types of presentations are working right now. The most
productive is tight line nymphing, though we are getting some bigger trout on
the streamer – You just got to put in the time, kind of like steelheading. In
the afternoons dry fly opportunities exist including dry/dropper rigs. The
trout are moving around a lot right now which is also typical for the river
during spring when water levels recede. The bigger trout will mostly move
downstream to the deeper canyons for late spring and summer where they will
find cooler and more water within the system, along with plentiful food items.
A longtime friend of mine, who is a fisheries biologist, once told me that the
larger trout will move 15 to 25 river miles within the Middle Fork Feather
River, and most of the spawning occurs in the feeder creeks where they can find
the needed suitable gravel to make a successful redd. As always, move until you
find the concentrations of fish, or visibly see consistent rise forms. Don’t
leave fish to find fish, if you’re not catching, figure out the puzzle by the process
of elimination.
Little Green Stonefly
What makes this river so special is the amount of aquatic
insect life that it has - Super rich and diverse. The upper and mid sections
have some incredible hatches right now. The Little Green Stone, a special
stonefly of the genus Isoperla from the Perlodidae family, and not to be confused
with Yellow Sallies, or the Little Yellow Sally (alloperla). It’s a size 12,
bright green underbody, and hatches mid-stream like a PMD mayfly. Yesterday
they were pouring out from the surface of the water in pools and runs directly
downstream of major riffles. The trout were not taking the adults as they were
flying away too quickly, but the emerger rising to the surface. The Leisenring
lift was the right technique to use, and it paid off for a few trout. These
special stoners will be out for the next month, it’s utterly amazing watching
the emergence.
Drunella Grandis ~ Green Drake Nymph
Other adult bugs that are out are Golden Stones, Gray
Drakes, PMDs (good numbers), BWOs (waning), the start of Caddis fly hatches
(look for these to intensify), and the early season creamy crane fly. In the
drift and the best subsurface flies to use are stones, worms, smaller mayfly
and caddis patterns, and midge pupa. On our trip yesterday we were walking
through a waist deep silted in gravel bar and noticed that we stirred up dozens
upon dozens of immature PMD nymphs as they rose to the surface with their slow
pulsating swimming movement. It was so cool! Terrestrials out too like pavement
ants (red!), Carpenter ants, and even small early season hoppers.
In my opinion the Middle Fork Feather is fishing the best since
the late 90’s. More and bigger fish are in the system and profuse hatches too
thanks to the prior big water years of 2017 to 2019. Still, these fish are shy
at times and you got to put in the work before you are rewarded. What made
yesterday so much fun was fishing with fellow guide and good friend AdamEisenman of Woodgrains Guide Service. (FYI – If I’m booked, or if I must
cancel, you will be going out with Adam. He’s got the skills, great with
people, and the same mind set as I do when it comes to fly fishing and the
natural world). I got to show him some new areas, and he in return showed me a
few things with flies and techniques. We put in a lot of miles yesterday with 3
different sessions, and to be honest I can’t fish all day, especially tight
line nymphing as it’s so demanding on my shoulders. My body definitely feels its
past of a bumpy dirt road that included a professional snowboarding career,
racing motocross, skating vert ramps, and climbing the vertical granite walls
of Northern California. So, I happily watched Adam, checked out the bugs, and
other fascinating experiences with the flora and fauna. Yesterday was magic!
Puttin the wood to 'em! ~ Adam Eisenman
If you can leave your home, be safe and responsible, and are
symptom free, I see no reason why we can’t go fishing. I’m taking special precautions
on my trips and a new protocol, pretty much the same types of things we’ve
already been doing. Face masks, distancing 6 feet, using hand sanitizer, and
thinking smart. Keep in mind I have a lot to share and teach with the Middle
Fork Feather River and fly fishing. I’ve been fly fishing it since the early 70’s,
and guiding it for the past 24 years, plus was a resident of Graeagle for 15
years. Experience counts. See you on the water…
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