Fishing Report
Spring is here!!!
The rivers are settling, the fish are eating, and spring is one of the best times of the year to be on the water—if you know where to be. Whether you’re looking for big grabs on the Lower Sac, spring steelhead on the Feather, or even some fly rod bass action, there’s something happening just about everywhere.
If you’re waiting for “perfect” conditions, you’re just watching opportunities pass you by. The best fishing happens when you go fishing. Here’s what’s happening and how to make the most of it.
Steelhead Clinic – Postponed to April 19th! Still Time to Sign Up!
Due to high flows, we’ve pushed the Steelhead Clinic back to April 19th—which means you still have time to sign up! This is an awesome opportunity to learn how to read water, perfect your presentations, and dial in your steelhead game on the Feather River.
What You’ll Learn:
How to read water and locate steelhead
Best flies and rigging techniques
How to swing flies and nymph effectively
And more!
New Date: April 19, 2025
Feather River
Sign up now before spots fill up!
-
Flows have dropped to just under 6,000 CFS, and if they continue to decrease, the fishing will only get better. The sucker spawn is still going strong, so now’s the time to throw yellow eggs and big stoneflies. Caddis are starting to show up, and we’re even hearing reports of PMDs making an early appearance.
✔ Big Opportunity: When flows drop below 7,500 CFS, the Lower Sac opens up some killer walk-in wade opportunities. If a guided trip isn’t in the budget, but you still want a chance at your personal best trout, there are spots where you can put in the footwork and find fish. Look for gravel bars and side channels, especially near Bonnieview, the Posse Grounds, and Anderson River Park.
✔ Key Flies Right Now:
Eggs (10mm, 12mm, yellow) – Sucker spawn is still in full effect.
Rubberlegs (#6-8) – Big stoneflies = big eats.
Bird’s Nest (#14-16), Cinnamon Caddis Poopah (#14-16), Olive Hot Spot (#16-18) – Caddis action is picking up.
PMD Nymphs (#16-18) – Just starting to show up, but worth carrying.
✔ Flow Tip: The Lower Sac’s flows change regularly due to weather and agricultural demands. Always check before heading out to avoid surprises. You can monitor flows here.
-
We got hit with a lot of rain, and Lake Oroville is filling fast. Right now, flows are 2,530 CFS in the Low Flow section and 11,035 CFS in the High Flow. These levels make the Low Flow a bit tricky to fish, but when they drop, expect a strong push of spring-run steelhead looking for Hydropsyche caddis and small baitfish.
✔ Extra Fishing Opportunity: If the Feather is running too high, check out the dredger ponds in the Oroville Wildlife Area. With the warming temps, bass are getting aggressive, and some of these ponds are perfect for fly fishing. Different ponds will respond to different retrieves, but one of the most versatile flies is an olive Crystal Bugger—strip it fast, strip it slow, or bounce it off the bottom. If you find bass suspended, a Float and Fly setup is an absolute killer this time of year.
✔ Key Flies:
S&M Nymphs (#16-18, olive or brown)
Redheaded Stepchild (#16-18)
Hydropsyche Caddis (#14-16, olive)
Perdigons (#14-18, olive or brown)
✔ Flow Tip: The Feather’s flows can change fast. The only reliable way to check them is by calling (530) 534-2307and listening to the recorded update for both the High and Low Flow sections.
-
Flows remain at 11,035 CFS, which makes fishing tough. If you’re determined, you’ll need a boat, but the better move is to wait for flows to drop. When they do, this river will be loaded with spring-run steelhead.
✔ Bonus Tip: When flows drop below 3,500 CFS, look for inside bends and soft water along structure—that’s where the fish will start stacking up.
🌊 Striper Alert! With this much water moving through the system, stripers have been able to migrate past the diversion dam downstream of Gridley. This means that spring and summer should provide some excellent opportunities to target stripers in the Feather River. If you’re looking to chase big, aggressive stripers on the fly, start planning now!
-
Flows are just below 6,000 CFS, which is actually higher than before. Parks Bar Bridge access is still closed, and at these levels, fishing is still out of the question for most anglers.
✔ Flow Tip: The Yuba drops fast when we get a dry stretch, so keep an eye on it. Once it gets below 2,500 CFS, be ready for some fantastic fishing.
✔ Bonus Tip: If you’re looking for risers when the flows drop, focus on foam lines near soft edges—that’s where trout will be feeding on caddis and mayflies.
Want to see this change? Call the Yuba County Board of Supervisors and ask when they plan on reopening access. The more anglers that call, the more likely we are to see movement on this issue.
For now, unless you enjoy wading in chest-deep water with questionable footing, you’re better off picking a different river.
Access Issues:
The Yuba County Board of Supervisors closed the south-side access at Parks Bar Bridge, which makes getting to the river a bit more “adventurous.”
There’s no indication that they plan to reopen it anytime soon. If you were hoping for a quick fix, well… don’t.
For now, Hammon Grove is your best bet once flows drop, but until then, maybe pick another river unless you’re training for an Ironman.
-
Deer Creek & Other Mountain Trout Fisheries
Most of the high-country streams are still running cold and high, making for tough conditions. But if we can avoid another warm rainstorm, expect May to be prime time for these waters.
✔ Want to Learn More About Small Stream Fishing? If you’re a member of Chico Area FlyFishers, I’m putting on a free clinic on Deer Creek covering Introduction to Fly Fishing Small Streams. This is a great chance to learn how to read small water, pick flies, and fish pocket water effectively.
📌 Date: May 3 – Contact Chico Area FlyFishers for details!
✔ Bonus Tip: Start prepping your salmon fly and golden stone patterns—the first big hatches of the season aren’t far off!.
📅 Spring and Summer Clinics Coming Soon! Keep an eye out for Spring Steelhead Clinic dates and our Fly Fishing School launching this summer. Don't miss your chance to elevate your skills before prime season hits!
Get Out There Before You Miss It
Spring fishing is firing up, and if you’re waiting for “perfect” conditions, you’re missing out on some of the best fishing of the year. Whether you’re chasing big trout on the Lower Sac, steelhead on the Feather, or aggressive bass on the dredger ponds, now’s the time.
Want to fish the Lower Sac before the wade spots get crowded? Let’s go.
Steelhead on the Feather as soon as flows drop? Be ready.
Need to fine-tune your skills? Private clinics are available.
If you’re serious about catching fish this spring, now’s the time to get out there. Let’s make it happen.