2025 Spring Lower Sac and Middle Fork Feather River Fly Fishing
Fishing Report Summary
Temps: Mucho perfect
Weather: Sunny with wind, warm afternoons, and cold mornings
Hatches: PMDs, March Browns, Yellow Sallies, some other big-ass mayflies, baetis, and midges
Flies: Mucho secret
Location: Plumas National Forest and Lower Sac
Setups: 5wts, 4wts, 3wts – Single-hand rods and Euro scepters
Fun: Mucho
Fish: Mucho
Special Beers: Not this time
Fishing Report
I had a short and limited season on the Middle Fork Feather River—just two floats and five walk-and-wade trips. Definitely not the number of days I’d like to see when it comes to getting people out on my home waters. Hopefully, that changes next year with the new website.
I’ve basically gone into a black hole of exposure about my services up here. But again, I hope that turns around! Especially now that the ability to raft the river is out of the bag, I hope that’s a reason for you to visit. We now have 12 permits active in the area, with even Reno Fly Shop guiding on these waters—so let’s just say it’s no longer a secret that this place fishes really well in the spring, whether you're on a raft or on foot. It’s a super fun spot, and you’ve got to make it up here.
Since all my trips were packed into a two-week window, I was reminded how fast conditions can change. Remember: this is a freestone fishery. Not many in California fish this well—and the water drops fast once the snow is gone. In April, flows were steady, and I wasn’t guiding much—just a couple of days out with Bobby. Still, a rainstorm can blow her out, and she’ll still fish well. Especially on streamers…
The Feather River trips ran from May 18th through May 29th. Before that, I was out on the Lower Sac.
To summarize the Lower Sac: consistent. Even with a big bump in flows. It was holding at 8,000 CFS for a few days, and as soon as I showed up—boom—11,000. Sick! That said, the fishing was pretty damn good. Had some solid trips with rad people. I'm done with the Sac until early August—maybe won’t be back until fall. We’ll see.
Back to the Feather… Late May is a killer time to be on the Middle Fork. PMDs the size of quarters—okay, maybe not PMDs? Definitely not hexes, but big-ass PMD-like bugs. Green drakes? Brown drakes? BWOs for sure. Baetis and midges. Assorted caddis in brown and cream. Yellow Sallies. Epic hatches every day during the warmest part of the day.
I’ll admit—I’m no entomologist—but I know how to pick the right fly from the box and get fish to the net.
Like I’ve always said, I don’t push techniques on my clients. If they’re new, I get them rolling with the basics: euro rod, dry-dropper, or a bobber rig. But if a dry-fly nut shows up? This is the season to let them cast their heart out. I had some awesome dry-fly fishing every day and made sure every client got at least one fish on a dry. Nymphs and streamers early, then dries in the afternoon. I even got two folks their first-ever fish on a dry fly—makes my heart sing. Seriously, it’s what makes me love my job more and more.
There was a lot of pressure out there on Memorial Day weekend, but all it took was thinking outside the box and going a bit further. Can this place handle the traffic? I think so.
Epic fishing. Great clients. A great way to wrap up spring and roll into summer.
I can’t wait for next year.
Holler for a trip! See you at the Hex Hatch?
Oh yeah, I went to the Trinity for a night. Salmon Flies everywhere. EPIC. We had an amazing day throwing dries, swinging wet flies, and that was pretty much it. LOADED with fish of all sizes and if you want some epic trout fishing, Trinity is where it's at. July should be epic. We need to go....
– Love,
Mario