The stars aligned and I got to row some of my favorite people down the Middle Fork Feather river for some amazing fishing. Conditions were perfect and so was the fishing.
I was hoping to get more floats down the Middle Fork this year but the conditions were poor and the water was not high enough for some time. Once the rain came in mid April, it was back on! This is a small section of this amazing freestone fishery we have in Plumas County. While there is plenty of water to float, I choose to stick with the top section for my floats.
This time of year, we see March Browns, PMD’s, assorted Mayflys, big black caddis and occaisional Goldens and Salmon Flies. Therefore, the trout want mostly all of anything! Yes you can match the hatch, but don’t be surprised that the fish will eat anything after the water comes up.
It started off with a walk-and-wade fish with Jenn and Mark. I asked if they wanted to float but like true Plumas residences, they decided they wanted to hike!!
Great fishing was had and the conditions were perfect. I was hoping for more dry fly action but the fish just weren’t coming up for us. Jen got a great fish right off the bat and Mark was able to put it together for some action on the Euro Rod.
For the second day, I had Jake and Abbie. These two love birds have been in my boat a few times and now they are married and have a kid together. It’s great to see these young parents get out and to teach Jake about the Middle Fork. He lives nearby now so he will be out here more frequently with a better idea on how to fish this river.
We hooked plenty of fish on all sorts of techniques. Bobber, dry dropper, and dries! I have to be honest, there were a few boats in front of us and that laid down some fish in my normal spots but once we found a solid pod, it was on. Fish here and there for sure but the Middle Fork can be lights out if you time it right and don’t get any pressure.
I don’t expect that to be the norm going forward though. There are A LOT of people out here now. I am only doing floats on the river now because there are so many others who decided to add this river to their portfolio on the boats, so I did the same. Make sense? I used to only do wade fishing trips…as I didn’t want to piss off the locals…but, here we are. All of us can enjoy it and share it with people who want to get outside. Together. On boats…
Thank you Jake and Abbie! Epic day.
Then the Amayas showed up. Luis and I have been talking about doing this float for years! So he brought his youngest daughter Amanda out for her first time fly fishing and boy, did we have a blast…and there were no boats! Ha! Wow…what a day. Amanda did so good. See that big fish at the top of the post, that’s Amanda’s second fish on a fly rod!! And these fish pull!! She played the fish very well and I have to say, Uncle Mario is very proud.
Luis was like a kid in a candy store! We found a fun way to get these fish to crush some bulkier dry flies near the shore. EPIC! So much fun. I wish we could have done two days.
Remember if you want details of exact flies and locations, you can always subscribe to my JUICY REPORT on my Patreon Page.
I can write forever about these few days on the Middle Fork Feather River but I will just say, you should come out next year. It’s too much fun.
-Mario
