Fishing Report
Flows are fallin’, fish are brawlin’, and it’s finally time to stop pretending yard work matters
If you’ve been waiting for conditions to settle, consider this your wake-up call. Flows are finally wadeable, bugs are popping off, and the fish are eating like they forgot how full winter was.
Translation?
Your excuses just expired.
Whether it’s chasing wild trout in the mountains, floating the Lower Sac, or swinging for shad in the evening light, this is the window we wait for. The next few weeks are the kind of fly fishing days we talk about all year—get in on it before the calendar cooks.
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.
Fishing Report
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Shad – Full Send Season Is HERE
This isn’t a drill—Shad have shown up in numbers, and we’re already into fish. If you’ve never chased these big, angry sardines on a fly rod, it’s time. They school up in heavy current, fight like smallmouth on creatine, and are ridiculously fun on light tackle.
We’ve been hooking fish consistently with standard Shad Darts, but the Bloody Maria (a PJ favorite) is doing real damage. Early mornings and evenings have been best, but if the water’s moving and the sun’s low, you’ve got a shot.
Best Flies:
Shad Darts (Pink, Chartreuse, White)
Bloody Maria (Custom pattern—just trust me)
Anything flashy and annoying
DISCOUNTED SHAD TRIPS AVAILABLE NOW
Want to catch 20+ fish in a session, laugh with your buddies, and go home smelling like success and sunscreen? I’m running morning and evening shad trips at a discount while the run is on. These fish are only here for a short time—don’t wait until social media makes you jealous. Book it. -
Releases are stable at 8,000 CFS and not budging. The bite is consistent, the PMDs are popping, and Yellow Sallies are starting to make their rounds. It’s a simple time: throw a Rubberlegs, drift something small behind it, and hold on tight. The Lower Sac is doing what the Lower Sac does—making you wonder why you fish anywhere else.
Flies that Are Hotter Than a Parking Lot Yeti Cooler:
Rubberlegs (Dark Brown/Black #6–8)
Olive Hotspot (#16-18)
Jigged Bird’s Nest(#14-16)
UV Sally(#14-16)
Ginger Snap(#16-18)
Peaches N’ Cream(#14-16)
BP Weiss Nymph(#16-18)
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1,900 CFS
Conditions:
Don’t let the number scare you—it’s extremely wadable right now and fishing really well. The extra water pushes fish into softer, predictable zones. If you like elbow room and aggressive grabs, this stretch has your name on it. Same bug buffet as the Low Flow, just a little more water to cover.Pro Tip:
Find inside bends, slower seams, and eddies behind boulders. The fish aren’t hanging in heavy current—they’re ambushing food in the soft spots. Focus on short, deep drifts with solid mends, and try swinging your last few casts through every pocket.Top Flies:
Olive Hotspot (#14–16): Use this to cover a variety of insects in stained or mixed water.
Z-Wing Caddis (Tan or Olive, #14–16): Workhorse pattern for the current hatch cycle.
Walt’s Worm (#14–16): Especially good in deeper buckets and tailouts.
Spring Fling (#14–16): Great searcher pattern that shines in this water clarity.
Caddis Pupae (Tan/Olive, #14–18): Prime for swinging or trailing behind a heavier fly.
Bird’s Nest (Natural or Olive, #12–16): Still doing work in all water types.
Pheasant Tail Variants (#14–18): A must-have for slower pockets or picky fish.
Add These for Swinging:
Soft Hackles (Tan, Olive, Hare’s Ear, #12–16): Swing through riffles and tailouts near dusk.
Mini Buggers (Olive, Brown, Black, #8–10): A productive way to move bigger fish when nymphs aren't getting it done.
Sculpzillas or Mini Dungeons (Olive or Natural, #6–8): Big profile flies for the ambitious evening eater.
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Low Flow Section – 645 CFS
Conditions:
This is about as ideal as it gets for wading the Low Flow. Flows are steady, clarity is solid, and fish are in all the usual haunts—edges, riffles, and mid-current buckets. The river is absolutely crawling with Hydropsyche (caddis), and you’ll spot some PMDs and midges in the mix as well. Grab your wading boots and a few snacks—you’ll want to stay ‘til dark.Pro Tip:
Focus on seams and riffle tails during mid-morning and swing your flies through soft edges at dusk. The bite window opens wide when the sun dips.Top Flies:
Olive Hotspot (#14–16): A great crossover that fishes like a caddis or small mayfly.
Z-Wing Caddis (Tan or Olive, #14–16): Caddis are the hatch right now—match 'em.
Walt’s Worm (#14–16): Simple, buggy, and deadly. A favorite for pressured water.
Spring Fling (#14–16): Flashy enough to get attention in slightly off-color water.
Caddis Pupae (Tan/Olive, #14–18): Swing these through tailouts and let the fish do the rest.
Bird’s Nest (Natural or Olive, #12–16): The original “don’t overthink it” fly.
Pheasant Tail Variants (#14–18): Especially effective on calm days or in clear pockets.
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Stonefly Showdown & Drake Drama
The upper riffle continues to produce, and the big bugs are here—salmonflies are crawling like it’s prom night. Look to the lower reaches near Lake Britton in the coming weeks for peak insanity. Green Drakes are already popping, especially when the clouds roll in (this Sunday could be sneaky good). Fish have been keyed in on a mix of nymphs, dry flies—and don’t sleep on the streamer bite either.
Your Bug Briefing:
Rubberlegs (#8–10): Salmonfly standby—fish 'em deep or tightline near structure.
Jigged or Hunchback Green Drake Nymph (#12–14): Drift these through the slots leading into tailouts.
S&M’s (#16–18): A solid BWO and PMD mimic when fish get picky.
Zebra Midges (#18–20): Early and late in the day when it’s calm and clear.
Adams (#12–18): A go-to for sipping fish on slow stretches.
Missing Links (BWO/Olive, #14–16): The MVP for skittering mayflies.
Sculpzilla (Olive or Black, #6): Swing it through deeper buckets or twitch it tight to the bank. Big fish know what this is.
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Mountain Trout – It’s Waking Up Up There
The high country’s coming online. Flows are still a touch pushy, but Deer Creek is fishing well this week thanks to the warm weather. With steady flows around 308 and a nice drop trend (storm bump aside), it's shaping up to be a killer season. Hatch-wise? It’s a buffet: Slate Drakes, March Browns, BWOs, and the classics are all in the mix.
Fly Box Must-Haves:
Chubby Chernobyl (#8–10): Prospecting tool and a great anchor for a dry-dropper.
Stubby Chubby (#14–16): More subtle but just as deadly.
Yellow Crystal Stimulator (#12–14): Old school, high-vis, still crushes.
Elk Hair Caddis – Green, Black, Natural (#14–16): Fish these near pocket water and under overhangs.
Olive Comparadun (#14–18): Match the hatch when BWOs are cruising.
Mercer's Missing Link – BWO, March Brown, Olive (#14–16): Fish these during hatch windows or when bugs are fluttering but not getting eaten.
Mercer's Stealth Link (#14–16): Great for slick water and selective risers.
Walt’s Worm, Bird’s Nest, Pheasant Tail (#14–16): Classic mountain nymphs—bounce them through bouldery runs.
Olive Hotspot (#16–18): A subtle standout in clear water.
Weiss Nymph (#16–18): A sneaky BWO and fry imitator that’s killer in the spring.
Real Talk: Just give the fly shop your paycheck and tell 'em PJ sent you. You’re gonna need a full box for this summer.
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Still flowing high around 4,000 CFS, but here’s the good news: Hammon Grove and Sycamore Ranch are open, and you can absolutely pick up a few fish in the soft edges and tailouts. Parks Bar (Highway 20) access is still a mess, but if you’re willing to put in a short hike, you’ll find water that’s worth your time.
Fly Suggestions:
Rubberlegs (always)
Jigged Bird’s Nest
UV Sally
BP Weiss Nymph
Olive Hotspot
Pheasant Tail
Zebra Midges
Fish tight to structure and slow water, and don’t be afraid to double down with a little extra weight.
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!
Final Word
Spring’s in full swing, and it’s not slowing down for anyone. From valley steelhead to hungry mountain trout shaking off their winter chill—and now, the first real pushes of big, silver-backed American shad—NorCal is teeing up some of the best action of the season. Flows are evening out, bugs are everywhere, and the fish are on the move.
The cottonwood’s flying, the pelicans are staking out the gravel bars, and all signs point to a full-blown case of shad fever right around the corner. Whether you’re new to the swing-and-strip game or already daydreaming in slow motion about chrome rockets in soft water, this is one of the most underrated bites of the year. Especially if your weeknights could use fewer chores and more wet wading with a rod in hand and a neon-pink cat turd on the line.
We’ve got the latest lowdown on where it’s fishing, what’s hatching, and which flies are turning heads. If you haven’t caught up on the newest river updates—from the Feather and Lower Sac to the Yuba, Hat Creek, Deer Creek, and the rising shad bite—you’re rolling into the week undergunned.
Bonus: I’m running discounted half-day evening shad trips from the bank—perfect for post-work grabs, short window getaways, or shaking off the 9-to-5.
Let’s get you hooked up before the calendar gets cooked.
Whether you’re eyeing a full-day float, dialing in a mountain stream clinic, or just need a reason to get off the couch and back on the water—I’ve got you.
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.