The McCloud River rainbows (salmo Shasta) may be the most famous strain of trout on the planet Earth.

At the turn of the last century, these were the fish used to first stock most of New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, and other potential trout fisheries all across the western hemisphere. And while the rainbows remain the top target on the McCloud River, they’re only part of the attraction of this world famous fishery.

Costa Kick Plastic IconThe McCloud itself is a river unlike any other, cascading through sections of boulder-strewn pocket riffles, and one emerald pool after another. The banks of the river are lined with a dense forest of tall evergreens and hardwoods. All of this cool, un-polluted, aerated water creates perfect conditions for caddies flies, mayflies, and even a variety of different stoneflies including the giant salmon flies, golden stoneflies, and little yellow stones. Fishing on the McCloud River is usually a well-balanced mixture of both nymphing and dry fly fishing, and during certain times of the year streamers can work well, too.

This scenic wonderland is gorgeous and well worth the long drive that is the only price of admission. Anglers on the McCloud River frequently lose their fishing focus and the natural beauty of the river canyon makes an indelible impression as formidable as the fishery itself.

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Reservations & Rates

Rates (1-2 anglers):
• Full Day - $625/day (Package deal, including flies, tackle & equipment)

Included in your guided angling package on the McCloud River is 8-10 hours of guided fishing with lunch provided. Your guide will also be providing all the necessary terminal tackle (flies, rods, reels, lines, leaders, tippet, indicators, and split shot).

Not included in your guided angling package on the McCloud River are fishing license (regular license), waders, boots, wading staff, and items of a personal nature.

All guided trips through The Fly Shop® will be Package Deals. Package Deals include the guide providing all the necessary terminal tackle for your trip (flies, rods, reels, lines, leaders, tippet, indicators, and split shot). You will still be responsible for any additional items needed for the trip such as waders, boots, wading staff, protective eyewear and proper clothing.

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Seasons on the McCloud River

The McCloud River is now open to fishing year 'round. The McCloud is controlled by dam releases from McCloud Reservoir, which generally maintains consistent flows throughout the season, making the McCloud a good option when other local rivers are subject to runoff.

May and June:
May and June are generally considered the "prime time" months on the river. Starting as early as the last Saturday in April, myriad insects begin to hatch on the McCloud, creating consistent opportunities throughout each day to catch fish on both nymphs and dry flies.

The most important hatches on the McCloud are from the order Plecoptera: stoneflies. The massive salmon flies are the first of the stoneflies to appear, hatching sporadically throughout the month of May and sometimes into early June. They are followed by numerous Golden Stoneflies and Little Yellow Stoneflies, all of which can get the McCloud River's numerous rainbow and brown trout rising on the surface. And even when the fish aren't focused on the flying adult insects, they'll readily take dead drifted stonefly nymphs in the McCloud's many pockets and deep pools.

In addition to the stoneflies, there are many other insects hatching on the McCloud during this time of year, including several species of caddis, PMD mayflies, and several other varieties and sizes of lesser mayflies. With so many different kinds of insects in the air, there are dry fly opportunities throughout the day, and many different kinds of nymph patterns will also produce strikes from aggressive fish.

July and August:
Summertime on the McCloud River sees the lightest fishing pressure of the season. Though much of Northern California can be baked in sweltering heat, the McCloud remains shaded and cool at the bottom of a deep, heavily forested canyon and can continue to fish well all summer long with both nymphs and dry flies.

There are generally less insects hatching later in the summer, though Golden Stoneflies will still be found throughout much of the summer and caddis continue to come off every evening just before dark. The best dry fly opportunities will come late in the day, though nymphing the pockets and pools remains productive throughout the day. Summertime can be a great time of year for fishing streamers, too, targeting some of the bigger brown trout that reside in the McCloud's deep pools.

On dry, exceptionally warm summers, melting glaciers on Mount Shasta can pump silt-colored water into the lower McCloud River. Although the off-color water can be disconcerting at first, we've discovered over the years that it's not necessarily bad for the fishing. As long as there's a foot or more of visibility (which there usually is), the fish can still see your flies but they are less spooky and eat with much more confidence. Bigger, darker flies are more successful, and it is primarily a nymphing game. That said, the upper McCloud remains fishable and can be a good nearby option to get your dry fly fix.

September, October, & November:
The Fall Season is a standby favorite for long-time McCloud River fanatics. The cool nights of fall brings out the giant October Caddis hatch, there can be stellar blue-winged olive hatches on overcast days, and the big bad browns begin to migrate upriver from Shasta Lake.

The first of the monstrous October Caddis larvae begin to appear on the rocks and boulders near the edge of the river in mid September, and by October there are literally millions of the inch-long cases decorating the river bottom as they prepare for emergence. The adult insects hatch at dusk throughout October and November, providing brief flurries of dry fly activity every evening and enticing trout to rise to big attractor patterns sometimes even in the middle of the day. Moreover, they'll eat the larvae and pupae of the caddis like trout candy every hour of the day.

On overcast days, there can be some phenomenal blue-winged olive hatches. These tiny mayflies respond to changes in barometric pressure, and hatch whenever a storm front moves through the area, stimulating some great midday dry fly action on all of our regional streams, including the McCloud River.

And one can't forget the big brown trout that migrate upriver from Shasta Lake in the fall. These brutes can be a real adventure, chasing big streamers on sinking lines in the deep pools and often measuring better in pounds than inches. They're not easy to find and take true devotion to catch, but are an exciting option for big fish anglers willing to work hard for quality fish.

December through May:
The winter season on the McCloud has recently opened to fishing, we can only make comparative observations with the other rivers in nearby watersheds, the Pit and Upper Sacramento Rivers. This time of year will begin with some Blue Wing Olive and midge hatches. Fish moving up from Lake Shasta to pre stage for the spawn will begin to make their way up in December. If there is a big storm they will make their way up the system quickly. During drier winters, the releases from Lake McCloud will remain low, expect to see the Salmonfly hatch to peak in April. The road over the hill into Ah-Di-Na will be snow bound and quite muddy. Check the weather and road conditions before you venture out.

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Fishing the McCloud River

Trout in the upper McCloud are plentiful, though they rarely grow to trophy size, and they are fond of eating dry flies nearly every day of the season.

The Upper McCloud River's headwaters are about 20 miles east of Interstate 5, and bubble out of walls of springs above and below Fowler Camp (off Highway 89) not too far from the town of McCloud. There are a couple of miles of great pocket water action in the headwaters section of the river that harbor an excellent population of resident trout, and two

spectacular water falls (Upper and Lower Falls) in the first few miles of the upper river that prevent the upriver migration of rainbows and browns. Below Fowler Camp, the river becomes progressively more rugged, and terraced, with small pools and pocket water that drops quickly in elevation, eventually flowing through the very private Hearst property before filling McCloud Reservoir.

It's a startling beautiful fishery ideal for the independent, self-reliant, physically fit fly fisherman that measures his day by more than the measurements of the fish caught.

The Lower McCloud River is the section between McCloud Reservoir and Shasta Lake and is the section where guides can be the biggest help. Much of this section of river is dominated by two historic and very private clubs (Bollibokka and the McCloud River Club). However, there are three rough-and-tumble miles of excellent public access fishing that begins at Ash Camp just below the reservoir and cascades downstream to Ah-Di-Na Camp, and three more excellent miles of McCloud River fishing available in the esteemed Nature Conservancy just downstream from Ah-Di-Nah. Most of the riffles, pockets, and deep pools on this section of river are accessible to physically fit anglers willing to hike. It's rugged, wild terrain, and a truly unique fishery.

Access to The Nature Conservancy portion of the McCloud River is limited to ten anglers each day. Half of those can be reserved in advance through their San Francisco office (415-777-0487) and the other five rods are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Our guide staff loves fly fishing on the McCloud River and is happy to share the techniques that have proven consistently successful on the river. If you are planning a fly fishing trip to Northern California, our guide staff can turn that average day into a memorable trip. The Fly Shop contracts with guides permitted to take people fishing on Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands.

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Lodging for the McCloud River

Most of the access points on the McCloud are a little over an hour's drive from Redding. As a result, most of our McCloud River anglers prefer to stay in either McCloud or Mt Shasta, or camp near the river at Ah-di-Nah or Ash Camp.

HOTELS & MOTELS:

McCloud Hotel (pictured)
408 Main Street
McCloud, CA 96057
Phone: 530-964-2822
Website: www.mccloudhotel.com
• The McCloud Hotel is a 4-Star bed and breakfast in the heart of historic McCloud.

Mossbrae Hotel + Swank House
5734 Dunsmuir Ave
Dunsmuir, CA 96025
Phone: 530-235-7019
Website: https://mossbraehotel.com/
• Just 15 minutes from McCloud, the Mossbrae Hotel in the heart of Dunsmuir's historic district, (named after our famous Mossbrae Falls) is A 4-Star luxurious hotel with 7 boutique rooms, 6 upstairs and one ADA accessible room on the ground floor. Simultaneously old and new, Mossbrae Hotel honors the past and embraces the future. The hotel is within walking distance to many dining options & a local brewpub, you have downtown access to the Upper Sacramento River.

Mt Shasta Resort
1000 Siskiyou Lake Blvd
Mt Shasta, CA 96067
Phone: 800-958-3363
Website: www.mountshastaresort.com
• Mt Shasta Resort is nestled in the forest near Lake Siskiyou, and offers privacy and seclusion in their Craftsman-style chalets. Spa and golf course available on-site.

Best Western-Tree House
111 Morgan Way
Mt Shasta, CA 96067
Phone: 530-926-3101
Website: www.bestwesterncalifornia.com
• Cozy, comfortable, convenient location near I-5

CAMPGROUNDS & RV PARKS:

Ah-di-Na Campground
McCloud Ranger Station, McCloud, CA
Phone: 530-964-2184
• Great campsites, outhouse facilities, great river access on the Lower McCloud. 4 Wheel drive vehicles recommended. There are also two unimproved campgrounds located between Ah-di-Na and the Nature Conservancy.

Ash Camp Campground
• Unimproved camp sites near lower McCloud close to McCloud Reservoir, lots of foot traffic at trailhead to Pacific Crest trail and not many sites.

McCloud Dance Country RV Park
McCloud, CA 96057
Phone: 530-964-2252
• RV Sites available near the town of McCloud

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Getting to the McCloud River

The sections of the McCloud River we guide most frequently are the lower McCloud River from the McCloud River Dam downstream, including the areas around Ash Camp, Ah-di-Nah Campground, and the Nature Conservancy. Access to all of these access points begins in the town of McCloud, which is about an hour’s drive from The Fly Shop.

McCloud lies approximately one hour north of Redding and The Fly Shop.

To get there, travel North on Interstate 5 for 61 miles, then take Exit#736 onto Highway 89 toward McCloud, just before you hit the town of Mt Shasta. Travel East on Highway 89 for approximately 10 miles, and you’ll find yourself in the quaint historic logging community of McCloud. Turn right (South) onto Squaw Valley Road, and this road will take you to the Lower McCloud River.

Additional Information


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Booking a Guide for the McCloud River

To book a guide, please give us a call at 800-669-3474 during business hours any day of the week, or email us at bryan@theflyshop.com or chris@theflyshop.com anytime. We can give you the answers you need, detailed explanations to questions you might have, or check on availability and confirm your reservation in minutes.