Fishing Report-May 1
Flows Are Dropping, Fish Are Eating, and You’re Out of Excuses
Flows are dropping, water’s clearing, and the fish are back on the clock. The Lower Sac and Feather are fishing great, Hat Creek is lighting up, and even the mountain trout are shaking off their winter naps. Bugs are hatching, trout are eating confidently, and the kind of days we wait all year for? They’re here.
Oh—and did I mention the shad are showing up? Cottonwood’s flying, stripers are moving, and it’s almost time to swing flashy darts for those big silver freaks.
Whether you’re floating, wading, or just trying to sneak in a session after work, the access is solid and the grab is on.
Discounted half-day evening shad trips from the bank are live now.
Let’s get you out there before the calendar’s cooked.
Intro to Fly Fishing Clinic – May 18
Whether you’re brand new to fly fishing or just tired of getting skunked, this one-day clinic is your crash course to getting confident on the water before peak season.
We’ll spend the day in a beautiful stretch of Deer Creek, covering all the essentials you need to start catching fish on your own—and maybe even look like you know what you’re doing while you’re at it.
What You’ll Learn:
The gear: what you actually need vs. what the internet told you
Casting without looking like you’re swatting flies
What flies to use and why they work
How to read water and know where fish are likely to be
Presentation that makes your fly act like food, not garbage
Date: Saturday, May 18
Location: Deer Creek
Cost: $175 per person
Spots: Limited—this is small-group, hands-on learning, not a YouTube video
Fishing Report
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Flows are at 10,600 CFS from Keswick with expectations to hit 11,500 before starting to drop again this weekend. That’s prime drift boat water—ideal for stacking fish in those deeper channels if you know where to look. Wading remains out, but the bite is turning more promising by the minute.
Above Hwy 44 remains off-limits until August, so if landing that elusive “donkey under the Sundial” is on your bucket list, you’ll have to wait a bit longer. Downstream, though, you can still expect a solid catch from some slabs clinging to the river’s curves.
Current Conditions:
Fishing is fair and steadily improving. The fish are adapting, so it’s time you do too!What’s Working:
Eggs: Yellow beads in 10mm and 12mm – sucker spawn remains active.
Caddis: Olive Hot Spot (#16–18), Bird’s Nest (#14–18), CDC Prince, and Dark Lord are still knocking it out of the park.
Stoneflies: Rubberlegs (#6–8) – as if salmonfly season isn’t on the horizon, right?
Mayflies: PMD nymphs, Crack Back PMD, Ginger Snap (#16–18), BWO Olive Hot Spot, Weiss Nymph Dark, and Sweet Pea (#16–18).
Pro Tip: Fish near slower currents with structure—these fish are in energy-saving mode and not about that high-intensity life.
Want to keep your finger on the pulse? Check the CDEC Flow Graph for Keswick releases (Sensor #841) to stay on top of those changes.
Need extra help? Book a trip and let me do the heavy lifting. You bring the snacks—I’ll bring the flies and my usual good vibes. -
Flows have dipped again—now hovering around 600 CFS. This is that moment when the Feather starts to flirt back. Spring fishing is officially in swing: bugs are hatching, and the fish are slipping into that sweet, predictable rhythm we all crave.
Last week’s Steelhead Clinic was an absolute blast—fish started biting, and we even discovered a few “Easter eggs” (chrome ones, not the candy kind) in the river. With flows dropping, the conditions are only getting better. Welcome to light-and-tight fishing season: slower water, soft seams, tight drifts, and those tiny, tantalizing bugs.
What’s Working:
S&M Nymphs: (#16–18, olive or brown)
Redheaded Stepchild: (#16–18)
Hydropsyche Caddis: (#14–16, olive)
Perdigons: (#14–18, olive or brown)
Yellow Sucker Spawn: Still rolling strong.
MVP Flies: Olive Hotspot, Waltz Worm, Hogan’s S&M, Olive Bird’s Nest.
Pro Tip: Don’t overthink your fly selection—downsizing to hit the soft water is key. Let the fish set the pace; they’re in no hurry, and neither should you be.
For real-time flow updates, call the hotline at (530) 534-2307 for both High and Low sections.
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Flows out of the Afterbay have dropped again, now sitting at 2,350 CFS for a total of about 3,000 CFS in this High Flow section. Translation: stop watching those weather apps and start rigging your rods—this river is in prime condition. Super wadable, boatable, and downright fun.
From Thermalito down to Gridley, the water’s opened up and the fish are locked into their spring groove. We’re getting grabs in all the right nooks, and the bugs are speaking volumes.
Flies That Are Getting It Done:
Olive or natural Bird’s Nest or Waltz Worm (#14–16)
Yellow beads (8mm & 10mm) – a reliable choice with lingering sucker spawn
Hogan’s S&M Nymph (#16)
Hogan’s Red Headed Stepchild (#16)
Crackback PMD (#16)
Sweet Pea (#16–18)
Pro Tip: Focus on soft edges, seams, and inside bends—prime spots for fish to relax away from the current. With these friendly flows, dial in your presentation and explore water that’s as productive as it is inviting.
Golden Hour Bonus:
When the sun dips, caddis hit the party scene. Swing a soft hackle or emerger during tailouts, and watch the magic happen. Consider it your excuse to extend your fishing session a bit longer.For up-to-the-Day flow information, call (530) 534-2307 for an auto-update on both High and Low sections.
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Flows are now at 3,820 CFS—not as outrageous as 6,400, but still a beast for wading. Fishing on foot remains a challenge unless you’re prepared for a quasi-scuba adventure. If you were eyeing Parks Bar for a quick session, think again. The best fishing awaits when flows dip below 2,000 CFS.
Good news: with no significant rain on the horizon, flows will continue to drop and the Yuba will find its groove soon enough. For now, the river’s a bit too wild for comfort.
Access Woes Continue:
The south-side access at the Highway 20 bridge (Parks Bar) remains closed, so your choices are limited to Hammon Grove or embracing the challenge of a hike through what resembles a backcountry expedition. Not exactly the dream, right? If you’re fed up, it might be time to call the Yuba County Board of Supervisors and remind them that anglers deserve easier access.Pro Tip: Once flows drop below 3,000 and the river starts to level, target inside seams, tailouts, and calmer sections. Think jigged PMDs, copper bead Hare’s Ears, or anything with a bit of sparkle to catch a fin.
For now, consider a different river until the Yuba tames down a bit. Hang tight—the Yuba’s day is coming, maybe not this week, but soon enough!
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Mountain Trout – Deer Creek, Hat Creek, McCloud & Other Mountain Streams
The high country is officially open for business—and it’s game on. General trout season kicked off Saturday, and while flows are still a little high from runoff, the freestones are waking up fast. Cold, pushy waters are calming down, bugs are hatching, and hungry trout are looking up. The window is here, and it’s going to be short before crowds and heat set in—so don’t sleep on this one.
Forget perfection—this is the time for exploration. Hike up, get in, and fish with intent. Deer Creek should fish well this week with warm temps pushing bugs and trout into active mode. The upper section has already been stocked, and the habitat looks prime thanks to a fire that missed the Red Bridge zone completely. Look for Slate Drakes, March Browns, and the odd BWO making an appearance.
Hat Creek continues to produce, with caddis everywhere, BWOs on gray days, and some PMD activity under the sun. Dry-dropper setups have been money.
McCloud River is showing solid early-season signs—reports out of Ash Camp say it’s fishing well and only going to get better. If you’ve been waiting for the green light to hit one of the prettiest rivers in the state, it just turned on.
Other Streams (Butte Creek, Upper Sac tribs) might be a few days behind, but they’re close—another warm week and they’ll light up. You’ll want to be the first boot prints on the bank when they do.
What to Carry: Your Mountain Fly Box Checklist
Honestly? Just hand your whole paycheck to the fly shop and ask for these. This is your high-country toolkit for May and June—don’t leave home without it.
Dry Flies:
- Chubby Chernobyl (#8–10) – High-floating and perfect for suspending nymphs.
- Stubby Chubby (#14–16) – A slicker, more subtle option for tighter water.
- Yellow Crystal Stimulator (#12–14) – Great crossover for caddis and yellow sallies.
- Elk Hair Caddis (#14–16) – In green, black, and natural—covering all the caddis bases.
- Olive Comparadun (#14–18) – Excellent for BWO and PMD imitations.
- Mercer’s Missing Link (#14–18) – In BWO, March Brown, and Olive—deadly for twitchy surface takes.
- Mercer’s Stealth Link (#14–18) – Finesse presentation when trout get spooky or the surface is glassy.
Subsurface Nymphs:
- Walt’s Worm (#12–16) – A killer dropper below a Chubby.
- Bird’s Nest (#12–16) – Classic NorCal attractor.
- Pheasant Tail (#14–18) – A must-have, always.
- Olive Hotspot (#14–16) – Subtle flash, deadly results.
- Weiss Nymph (#14–16) – Especially good during olive hatches.
- Duracell (#14–18) – A flashy attractor in off-color water.
- Tungsten Frenchie (#14–18) – Compact and heavy—great for faster pockets.
- Two-Bit Hooker (#14–16) – Brown, red, and black—solid in everything from tailouts to slots.
- Perdigons (#14–18) – Olive, black, purple, and red. Bounce these through deep seams.
- Rubberlegs (#8–10) – Black/brown, olive, or coffee—works especially well after a flow bump.
- Salmon Fry / Alvin (#10–12) – Still getting grabs from hungry post-spawn trout.
- Hellastoned Fly (#8–12) – PJ’s own Swiss Army knife stonefly.
San Juan Worms & Eggs (#12–14) – Dirty? Maybe. Effective? Always.
Bottom line: Mountain trout season is rolling, and the smart money is already in the water. Don’t miss out while others are posting grip-and-grins from the spots you should’ve fished first.
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The shad run is just starting to trickle in, with early-season reports coming in from the lower Sacramento near Chico and a few showing up on the Feather below Oroville. We’re still waiting on that first scorcher of a 95° day to really kick things into gear—but once it does, expect fast-paced action and full evenings on the swing. It’s go-time as soon as the cottonwood flies.
Water Conditions:
Sacramento River (Chico area): Flows are stable and clarity is good. Water temps climbing into the low-to-mid 60s—ideal for shad to push through.
Feather River (below Oroville): Holding steady; still a little cooler than ideal but warming quickly with upcoming heat. Clarity is good.
Recent Activity:
A few early shad have been hooked and spotted near traditional haunts on both rivers. Most action is still light, but the biomass is coming. The presence of pelicans and early striper movement is a classic sign that the big push isn’t far off.Recommended Tactics:
Swinging flies with a switch rod and light sink tips is your best bet early season.
No tip setups with long leaders and a twitchy strip during the swing can provoke grabs.
Try Bloody Maria as a trailer behind a bright shad dart pattern (pink, cerise, chartreuse).
Fishing from shore in the evenings can be highly productive—look for deeper buckets with slower current.
Additional Notes:
👉 Discounted evening half-day trips available now! Perfect for after-work sessions or intro to shad fishing.
Book soon—these prime windows fill fast once the bite takes off.
Bring your buddies, your silly flies, and maybe a cold one—this is the most fun you can have in the river without a steelhead involved.Let’s get after 'em.
Final Word
Spring’s fully stretching its legs today, and so should you. From valley steelhead to hungry mountain trout roused from their winter hibernation—and now, the first waves of big, silver-scaled American shad—NorCal’s about to serve up some of the most fun fishing of the year. While some flows are still a bit feisty, that just means we’re teetering on the edge of peak season.
The cottonwood’s flying, the pelicans are posting up, and we’re just one hot day away from full-blown shad fever. Whether you’ve never targeted these fast, hard-fighting fish before or you’re a veteran of the swing-and-strip game, this is one of the most underrated bites of the year. Especially if your weeknights could use fewer errands and more wet wading with friends, a rod in hand, and a neon-pink cat turd on the line.
We’ve got the latest lowdown on what’s biting, where the action’s heating up, and which flies are proving irresistible. If you haven’t caught up on the newest river reports—from Feather and Lower Sac to Yuba, Hat Creek, and now the American Shad bite—you’re missing out on prime intel. Don’t be the angler with a fly box full of duds while everyone else is making magic on the water.
Bonus: I’m offering discounted half-day evening trips for shad from the bank—perfect for after work or sneaking out before the weekend warriors. Book now before my calendar’s toast.
Whether you’re up for a full-day float, a mountain stream clinic, or just need a little push to get off the couch (I promise, you're doing just fine), I’ve got your back.
Tight lines,
PJ
Bock Fly Fishing
Ready to make some memories?
Book your trip—before someone else grabs your date.
Every cast is an adventure—especially this time of year. Get out there and make it count.