Aug 12th-Coming in Hot

Written By Patrick Bock

Summer’s still hanging tough in the valley

Summer’s still hanging tough in the valley, but the rivers are holding steady, thanks to cold-water releases from the dams keeping temperatures comfortably fishable on both the Sacramento and Feather. Meanwhile, the mountain creeks are running clear and crisp—prime conditions for trout that are feeding like they haven’t eaten all day. We’re in that perfect window where salmon are starting to show up in numbers, trout are aggressively chasing anything that moves, and hopper season is kicking into high gear.

If you’ve been thinking about getting on the water, now is absolutely the time to make your move. The prime days of summer fishing are disappearing faster than a steelhead darting through a shallow riffle. Whether your dream day involves battling hefty valley trout under the iconic Sundial Bridge, slipping quietly through mountain pocket water, or chasing steelhead on the Feather, I’ve got you covered.

And hey, if you want to sharpen your skills before hitting the river solo, don’t miss my upcoming clinics:

  • Intro to Fly Fishing – August 23
    Perfect for beginners or anyone looking for a tune-up on gear, casting, fly selection, and reading water. This hands-on session will get you confidently fishing in no time. $200 per person.

  • Feather River Steelhead Clinic – September 20
    Fall is just around the corner, and steelhead don’t cut slack for sloppy presentations. We’ll focus on tactics, rigging, and how to find and hook these beautiful fighters with confidence. $200 per person.

Spots are limited and filling up quickly, so if you want to beat the rush and guarantee a spot on the water during these incredible times, book your trip or clinic today. Let’s make your next fishing adventure one to remember—because every cast counts, especially now.

Ready to trade the heat for the thrill of the catch? Reach out and let’s lock in your spot before someone else grabs your date!

Fishing Report

  • When the valley thermometer is flirting with triple digits, I’ve been heading for higher ground every chance I get—and it’s been paying off. Cool morning air, aggressive trout that haven’t seen many anglers this season, and backdrops so pretty they’ll make you forget what day it is. If you’re looking for numbers, beauty, and a hard reset for your brain, this is where you want to be.

    The Upper Sacramento and a few unnamed creeks are fishing strong right now, with a mix of dry-fly eats and productive nymphing runs. That said, Deer Creek is starting to get too warm to fish by midday, so this is a bring-your-thermometer-or-stay-home situation. Plan to fish early and get off the water once temps creep toward that 68°F mark—it’s better for the trout and your conscience.

    The McCloud? I’d sit that one out for now. Reservoir releases have it running a little off-color and warmer than ideal. When fall rolls around, it’ll be worth the wait.

    🛶 Best Bugs Right Now:

    • Small Stimulators (#14–16)

    • Parachute Adams (#14–18)

    • Mike Mercer’s Missing Link (#14–18)

    • Copper Johns (#16–18)

    • Hare’s Ear Nymphs (#14–18)

    • Ant and beetle patterns for topwater eats

    💡 Pro Tip: Keep moving. Mountain trout reward fresh presentations, not camping out on one run. Short, accurate casts into pocket water or along seams will outfish blind flogging every time. Cover water, stay sneaky, and you’ll keep those rods bending until the temps tell you to pack it in.

  • After weeks of holding steady at 14,000 CFS, the Lower Sacramento is finally starting to drop, with flows expected to hit around 10,000 CFS by Wednesday. This shift is more than just a number—it’s a signal that salmon are gearing up to spawn, and trout are about to get downright hungry. Lower flows often concentrate fish into tighter feeding lanes, making for some seriously productive fishing days ahead.

    The stretch above Highway 44 has opened back up, so if you’ve been itching to snap that trophy photo under the iconic Sundial Bridge, now’s the time to make it happen. The fish are settling in, the hatches are steady, and the action is warming up right alongside the dropping flows.

    🛶 Best Bugs Right Now:

    • Olive Hot Spots / Two-Bit Hookers (#14–16) — Steady favorites for picky trout on the move

    • PMD Nymphs & Split Cases (#16–18) — Perfect for the natural mayfly activity buzzing around

    • Wonder Bug (#14–16) — A favorite for imitating those elusive mayfly emergers

    • Fox’s Poopah (#14–16) — A classic attractor nymph that triggers strikes in slower water

    • Rubberlegs (#6–8) — Adds enticing movement and can draw out the bigger fish

    • Egg Patterns — Keep a few ready because once salmon are on the redds, trout turn ravenous

    💡 Pro Tip: Keep your rigs short-leashed and focus on inside seams, foam lines, and anywhere structure meets current. These fish aren’t leisurely sipping today — they want it fast and furious, so set early and set hard for your best shot.

  • The low flow stretch through the city of Oroville is holding steady at about 1,225 CFS. You won’t find the masses here, but a few steelhead are cruising the calmer pockets. Think of it like that weird late-night grocery run when the shelves are half-empty—there’s something good if you look close and are willing to hunt for it.

    Fishing here demands patience, finesse, and a willingness to work the seams and soft edges where fish like to lurk. The pressure is lighter than the high flow section, so for those who want a more intimate, technical challenge, this can be a rewarding spot to hone your skills.

    Best Bugs for Low Flow:

    • Split Case PMD (#14–18) — Perfect for matching the natural mayfly activity and tempting picky fish

    • Olive Hot Spots (#14–16) — A go-to dry-dropper combo staple that keeps trout and steelhead interested

    • Caddis Pupae (Fox’s Poopah) — Great for slow drifts through seams and behind rocks

    • Egg Patterns (various shades) — Especially during spawning runs, small egg patterns can trigger strikes

    Pro Tip: Fish tight drifts and focus on slack water just downstream of current seams. Stealth is key here, so keep noise to a minimum and your casts delicate.

  • Now, this is where the real action is happening. The high flow stretch below the Thermalito Afterbay is pushing around 6,500 CFS and buzzing with activity. Salmon are moving en masse, stacking up in pods as they make their upstream journey, and steelhead aren’t far behind, lurking just downstream waiting for a free meal of freshly laid eggs.

    If you’re looking to put in some serious water and cover multiple runs, this is your playground. Finding those pots of spawning salmon is the key—steelhead will often congregate right behind them, ready to crush egg patterns or any nymphs that get too close.

    🛶 Best Bugs for High Flow:

    • Egg Patterns (peach, pink, chartreuse) — The bigger and fresher the better; these are the main course right now

    • Split Case PMD (#14–18) — Adds a natural touch to the subsurface offering

    • Olive Hot Spots (#14–16) — Reliable as ever, these can work as dries or dropper combos

    • Caddis Pupae (Fox’s Poopah) — Especially effective in the slower tailouts and seams

    • Swinging Flies:

      • Hoh Bo Spey — Classic intruder style, deadly on steelhead and salmon alike

      • Intruder Patterns (size 2–6) — Bright colors and movement to provoke aggressive takes

      • Worm Style Streamers — Think egg thieves’ worst nightmare

    💡 Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to swing egg patterns behind salmon pods and really make your presence known. Steelhead here can be aggressive, but timing and drift are everything. Mixing in some swinging flies can trigger explosive takes from chrome bombs hanging in the current.

    📞 Want the latest flow info? Call the Feather River Flow Hotline at (530) 534-2307 to plan your day perfectly.

  • If you’ve ever wanted to question your casting, fly selection, and sense of self all before 9 a.m., then congratulations—you’re in the right place. Hat Creek is putting on a technical clinic right now, and the trout aren’t giving out participation trophies.

    Mornings are the main event. The Trico spinner fall is showing up on time (unlike you), and the fish are dialed in with terrifying accuracy. Land your fly a little off target? They’ll know. Cast too short? They’ll know. Think about lining the pod? Game over. But when you thread the needle… that’s why we do this.

    Trico Hatch Game Plan:

    Get There Early:
    Set your alarm and skip the drive-thru. Be in the water by 6:30–7:00 a.m. If you're late, the fish have already taken roll call and marked you absent.

    Flies That Might Actually Work:

    • Trico Spinners (#20–24): Think low-riding, spent-wing patterns. Drag-free or don’t bother.

    • CDC Comparaduns (#22): When fish are sipping emergers like it’s their morning latte.

    • Griffith’s Gnat / Renegade (#20–22): Great for hiding drag or your general panic.

    • Trico Nymphs or Micro May (#20–22): Drop one under a dry and double your chances at rejection.

    Make It Count:
    12'–14' leaders, 6x tippet (no, really), and dead-drift casts that would make a dry fly purist cry tears of joy. If your fly twitches, drags, or lands like a cannonball, you’re just decorating the water.

    What to Do After They Stop Eating Flies the Size of Dust:

    Once the Trico hatch fades, grab a nymph rig and hit the riffles. Perdigons, zebra midges, and tiny mayfly patterns are still getting grabs. Or take a break, find some shade, and re-tie the knot you’ve convinced yourself was the problem all along.

    Bonus Reminder:

    Water temps rise fast once the sun’s up. Keep a thermometer handy and call it when you hit 65°F. Or better yet, climb to cooler water and find trout with shorter memories.

    Pro Tip:
    Missed a set on a Trico take? Just tell your buddy you were “letting it develop.” Say it with confidence and no one will question you.

  • Flows are holding steady right around 2,000 CFS, which puts the river in a perfect wadable range—if you can get to the water. Unfortunately, access remains a challenge as the Yuba County Board of Supervisors has kept several south-side access points closed. Anglers looking to fish the Yuba will need to plan carefully and expect to use the north side or established public accesses. It’s a hassle, but the fish don’t care about politics—and neither should you.

    Despite the access headaches, the fishing itself has been outstanding. Hopper season is fully underway, and the trout and small steelhead have their heads firmly pointed skyward. Big foam flies are working like crazy, and you can expect some explosive eats if you get your offerings close to the banks and riffle edges where hungry fish lurk.

    🛶 Best Bugs Right Now:

    • Chubby Chernobyls (#8–10) — Big, buggy, and impossible for trout to ignore

    • Morrish Hoppers (#8–10) — Classic terrestrial action, perfect for hopper-dropper combos

    • Spanish Bullets (#16–18) — Great for smaller dry fly action and matching the hatch

    • PMD Nymphs (#16–18) — Essential subsurface offering during hopper season

    • Rubberlegs (#6–8) — Adds movement and attracts bigger fish

    • Rainbow Warrior (#14–16) — Versatile nymph that works in pockets and seams

    • Egg Patterns — For targeting steelhead holding near salmon redds or spawning areas

    💡 Pro Tip: Work those hoppers tight to the grassy banks and deeper riffle edges—big fish aren’t shy about sliding up for a terrestrial feast. Keep your casts precise and your fly drifting naturally, and you’ll be rewarded with some of the most aggressive takes of the season. Just remember to factor in extra time for hiking or scouting alternate access spots. The river’s fishing may be great, but the hike to it can be part of the adventure.

Final Word

Northern California is showing off right now—cold water releases from the big dams are keeping the Lower Sac and Feather in prime shape, even with the summer heat pushing hard. Flies are hatching, fish are feeding like they’ve got dinner reservations, and the kind of days you dream about are happening daily. Whether you’re chucking dries into pocket water, working a perfect nymph drift from the boat, or watching a hopper disappear in one explosive eat—this is your window.

We’re in that sweet stretch you’ll remember when things slow down—glassy evening runs, surprise eats that make your heart stop, and mornings so perfect they make you wonder why you ever wore shoes that weren’t wet. It’s happening right now. All that’s missing is you—and maybe a convincing excuse for missing work.

If you’re still working out the kinks or just want to fast-track your game, here’s your shot:

  • Intro to Fly Fishing Clinic – August 23
    Fall will be here before you know it, and steelhead don’t forgive sloppy presentations. Let’s get you dialed in.
    $200 per person

  • Feather River Steelhead Clinic – September 20
    New to the sport or just need a solid tune-up? This clinic is your shortcut to skill and confidence.
    $200 per person

And remember—I’ve still got open dates for guided trips through summer and into fall. Drift the Lower Sac or Feather, hike into a canyon creek, or just tell me you want to hook something that bends a rod. I’ll make it happen.

Bring a thermometer. Fish early. Fish smart. If you were eyeing the McCloud, you might want to hold off until things cool down—it’s colored up from the reservoir and running warmer than ideal. But everywhere else? The magic’s on.

Let’s make some casts, tell a few lies, and maybe even land something worth remembering.

Tight lines,

PJ

Bock Fly Fishing

Patrick Bock
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Aug 3rd-The Dog Days