Fall River California Fishing Report 04/25/24
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Spring Creek
Species
Rainbow Trout {Wild)
Brown Trout (Wild)
Size
Large
Location
Northern California
Nearest Towns
Dana
Season
Last Saturday of April through
November 15
Access:
Very Limited
Non-Resident License
State of California
Weather
Weather Channel
Seasons:
The season is from the last Saturday in April through November 15.
Spring:
Springtime is the best time for fly fishing the Fall River. This is when the largest hatches occur and dry fly fishing is usually at its best. Summer:
Summertime is popular because of the large Hexigenia mayfly hatch that occurs.
Fall:
Fly fishing the Fall River during the
early Fall can also be very productive. There are some very good hatches
that occur.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing On The Fall River In California
The Fall River is the largest of all the spring creeks in the United States. It begins at Thousand Springs close to Dana, California. This is about sixty-five miles east of Redding. This huge spring creek flows for almost twenty miles providing an excellent habitat for trout that anglers aren’t able to do much harm to in the way of reducing the fish population, even if they tried. It’s home to some huge wild brown and rainbow trout. The stream is a tributary to the Pitt River. Fly fishing the Fall River can be very challenging, yet rewarding when you are successful. Always check the Fall River California fishing report as we update it often.
As you might expect, this river has little access. Its property was bought up years ago by some very wealthy people. The good new is, once you access the river from one of its two public access points, you can fish anywhere you want. The upper access doesn’t allow motors and this is a big river. The lower one does. Most all the water is too deep to wade. It averages over six feet deep and can get thick with weeds and other aquatic vegetation. The water remains about 50 degrees throughout the year. There are special regulations on this stream, so you should always check out the most recent ones.
Fly fishing the Fall River can be very technical. You will need to match the hatch or those insects that are about to hatch. It’s one stream our Perfect Flies really prove their value on. We have several repeat customers who use our flies exclusively and successfully on this ultra clear, difficult to master trout stream.
The Fall River is a very wide, slow moving stream with a surface that stays slick providing the wind isn’t blowing hard. Good presentations are always necessary. You will also need the right type of boat to fish this river. Shallow drafts and electric motors are the normal type of crafts used.
The aquatic insect hatches are huge and plentiful. Pale Morning Duns hatch over a very long time and provide much of the action. Small, Blue-winged Olives of different species are also plentiful. Tricos and Speckled Wind Quills are very plentiful in August all the way to early November. Caddisflies of many different species are always hatching. See the Fall River Hatches and Flies section below.
Fall River water is clear and clean. There are many birds and animals that rely of it remaining that way including deer, ducks, geese, heron, osprey and eagles. Big trout also rely on it remaining clear and clean.
Caltrout’s purchase of land near Island Road in the middle section of the stream provides the best fly fishing opportunities. Boats with electric motors only can be used.
Fall River Fly Fishing Guide:
The biggest difference in the Fall River and most other northern California trout streams is you can’t wade it. It averages over six feet deep. Another big difference is the stream isn’t affected by spring runoff even though Mr. Shasta and Mt. Lassen are clearly in sight.
The late spring and early summer months are the most popular times for anglers to fly fish the Fall River but not necessarily the best. Other months during the season offer just as good of fly fishing opportunities.
Catching fish on the Fall River is not exactly simple. The same thing is true with most any spring creek and the Fall is no exception. The water is smooth flowing, slow moving and crystal clear. The fish have plenty of food to choose from and can be highly selective. You must match the hatch, or what is about to hatch. Rarely, will you find nothing hatching but if you do, you want to imitate the most plentiful and available food
at the time your fishing.
Presentation is very important, even more so than normal. The shadow of a fly line can spook the trout or at least make them aware something is wrong. The splash of the fly line landing on the water often spooks trout. Surface feeding trout hold close to the surface. Downstream presentations are necessary in many cases. That allows the fish to see the fly first, but getting it in the right locations isn’t always easy.
Nymphs and streamers are often the only way to fish the Fall River. Nymphs can be presented without an indicator by swinging the fly and is often the best way. Again, that allows the fish to see the fly first. They can also be fished underneath a strike indicator but we prefer the swing. Swinging the fly allows you to cover more water.
In early summer, the bottom of the Fall River is a blanket of weeds. The weeds create complex currents. Channels are sometimes formed within the weed beds and that’s usually where the fish hold, looking for food. You should positions your boat upstream from these feeding areas in the weeks so the fly can be presented with the least opportunity of hanging it up.
Often the best way to find fish is to fish a streamer. This allows you to cover more water in a shorter time. You can swing the streamers just like you were fishing for steelhead. The difference is the amount of current is far less. Again, positioning the boat in the best place can be critical to this technique.
Fall River Hatches and Flies:
Our information on aquatic insects is based on our stream samples of larvae and nymphs, not guess work. We base fly suggestions on imitating the most plentiful and most available insects and other foods at the particular time you are fishing.
Unlike the generic fly shop trout flies, we have specific imitations of all the insects in the Fall River and in all stages of life that is applicable to fishing. If you want to fish better, more realistic trout flies, have a much higher degree of success, give us a call. We not only will help you with selections, you will learn why, after trying Perfect Flies, 92% of the
thousands of our customers will use nothing else. 1-800-594-4726
Late Spring and early Summer are considered the best time to fish Fall River but that is only because of the numerous hatches. Fish can be caught equally as well throughout the season if you use good strategies and techniques. Pale Morning Duns is one of, if not the best hatch that takes place. It produces some blanket hatches and spinner falls. Trout will sip the spinners from morning falls. Most of the PMD hatches occur in the upstream part of the stream. In late June and July, hatches of large Great Olive Wing Drakes (Hexagenia species) hatch. They hatch right after the sun sets and on into the evening. Trout eat the duns and the spinners. These are very large mayflies that create quite a disturbance on the surface of the Fall River. We have Perfect Fly realistic imitations of the nymphs, emergers, duns and spinners. Small Blue-winged Olives also hatch throughout June and July and on into August. They are small, hook size 18 and 20, but they bring big trout to the surface. Trout eat the emerging duns and the spinners. June and July are also the top caddisfly months. Several species of net-spinning caddis, Spotted Sedges and Little Sister Caddis, hatch throughout the Summer. There are also some Black Dancers in the mix. In August, large morning hatches of Tricos hatch. Spinners are so thick they appear in clouds. This is a tough hatch to imitate because the males and females look very different and so do the spinners but done right, it can produce plenty of action. About the same time, Speckled-wing Quills begin to hatch. These Callibaetis mayflies will bring big trout to the surface during the hatch and spinner falls. The Tricos and Speckled-wing Quills usually hatch on into the month of October and sometimes, early November. In late September and October, hatches of Blue-winged Olives consisting mostly of baetis species occur. Space hatches of caddisflies will continue on until the first cold snaps start showing up. September and October is also streamer time. Brown trout spawn in the fall and become very aggressive and territorial. Streamers are very effective at catching some trophy size trout during the Fall.
05/09/20 The season just opened on Saturday. There are Pale Morning duns, Blue-winged olives, Spotted sedge caddis, and Speckled wing quills (callebaetis) hatching. The weather looks great for the coming week.
05/20/20 Conditions are very good. The stream is in good shape and there are multiple hatches taking place. It doesn’t get much better.
05/28/20 Very good conditions continue to exist. There are some very good hatches taking place and dry fly fishing is very good. It doesn’t get much better than this.
06/05/20 Lots of Pale Morning Duns and supper dry fly fishing. We continue to get some very good reports from customers fishing the river. Send us an email for a recommended fly list.
06/27/20 The river is still in good shape turning out some good catches for our customers. There are still a lot of hatches taking place and terrestrials are also beginning to work good.
07/10/20 There are still a good number and sizes of trout being caught by our customers. The big Hexs are still hatching good and Tricos are also starting amoung the several other
insects hatching,.
07/06/20 The river is turning out a lot of nice trout for our customers. Fewer anglers are fishing than we expect should be. There are some excellent hatches taking place.
08/26/20 We continue to get some very good reports from customers fishing the Fall River. There are still a lot of hatching insects. Speckled wing quills are one of the mayflies hatching good, or Callebaetis.
09/16/20 here are a lot of hatches taking place and our terrestrial patterns and sculpin streamer patterns are also working good.
10/10/20 The river is in good shape and we continue to get some very good reports. There are multiple hatches taking place and our terrestrial and sculpin streamer patterns are producing well.
Fishing Reports:
05/03/21 The new season is getting off to a great start. Lots of insects are hatching. BWOs, March Browns, little Black Caddis and others. Send us an email and let us help you plan that next trip.
05/11/21 The river is turning out some very nice trout. We are getting good reports from customers. There are a lot of insects hatching. Send us and email or call us for a recommended fly list.
05/20/21 Good conditions continue. We are still getting some good reports from customers fishing the river. Good hatches and good dry fly fishing is taking place.
05/27/21 This is a great destination for anyone fishing in California. There are good numbers of fish being caught including some good ones. There are lots of insects hatching. Call or write us for a recommended fly and gear list.
06/04/21 The good fishing continues. We are getting some very good reports from customers.
06/16/21 We continue to get good reports from customers. There are very good hatches and good numbers and sizes of trout are being caught.
06/28/21 The big Hexs are hatching in additions to several other insects. We continue to get some very good reports from our customers.
07/10/21 Great hatches are taking place. This is one of if not the best streams to fish in the state at this time thanks to the cold spring water. We are getting a lot of good report from customers fishing the stream.
07/17/21 One of the top destinations in the state right now thanks to the cool water and good hatches. Our customers continue to send in good reports. Send us an email.
07/24/21 Good reports continue to come in. There are some good size trout being caught. Excellent hatches are going on and our terrestrials patterns are also working.
08/01/21 The stream is turning out some good fish for our customers. There are good Speckled wing quill hatches (Callebaetis), Spotted sedge caddis, PMDs, Little yellow stones, Black dancers and other insects. It helps to use Perfect Fly which look much like the real things.
08/10/21 One of the best opportunities in the state for trout is right here. We continue to get good customer reports.
08/17/21 The river is in good shape and turning out good numbers of trout for our customers. There are good hatches of PMDs, Spotted Sedge caddis, Little Sister caddis, Little Yellow stoneflies and others.
08/25/21 This continues to be a top destination in the state. Lots of Tricos and Speckled wing quills or callibaetis are hatching. We received several good reports from customers this past week.
09/03/21 We continue to get good reports from customers. Good hatches continue. This is one of he best options for fly fishing in the state right now.
09/11/21 The stream is still in excellent shape and one of the best destinations in the state with all the fires and hot weather taking place. We received two good reports from customers this past week. There are some very good hatches taking place.
09/19/21 More good reports have come in from customers. Cooler weather is making it more comfortable for anglers. Good hatches continue to provide some dry fly fishing opportunity.
09/28/21 The Calibaetis or Speckled Wing Quills are still hatching in part of the river and the spinner falls are bringing fish to the surface. We received two good reports from customers this past week.
10/11/21 More good reports from our customers came in this past week. Conditions are good. There are good fall hatches taking place.
10/20/21 There is a lot of rain in the area and the levels will come up but not blow out. Good BWO and midge hatches are taking place. The stain in the water should make it a little easier.
11/01/21 Conditions are very good. We continue to get good reports from customers. Good hatches are taking place.
11/08/21 Good conditions continue. The regular season end the 15th of this month.
12/20/21 The cold weather and snow slowed the “catching” some but water conditions are still good.
12/28/21 Stream conditions remain about the same as last week but the weather is super lousy. We didn’t receive any reports this past week.
01/05/22 We received two good reports this past week from customers. Midges and BWOs are hatching good.
01/13/22 We received another good report from a customer fishing this past week. Conditions are fine.
01/21/22 Conditions remain good. We received two good reports from customer fishing this past week. Good midge and BWO hatches are taking place and our sculpin streamers are working good.
01/29/22 This one produces well all winter if you aren’t afraid of spring creeks. Good midge and BWOs continue to hatch and we continue to get some good reports.
02/06/22 We received one good report from a customer fishing the past week. Good hatches are taking place. There is still a lot of snow on the ground.
02/14/22 The stream is in good shape and we received two good reports from customers fishing this past week. The great weather has helped the anglers and the fishing stays good. Good BWO and cream and blood midge hatches. Our articulated leech streamers are catching some good ones.
02/22/22 Conditions are still very good. We received another good report from a customer fishing this past week. Good hatches continue.
03/02/22 Two more good reports came in this past week from customers. Good hatches continue including March Browns and Blue-winged olives.
03/10/22 The stream is in great shape and we continue to get good reports from customers fishing it. Good hatches continue to take place.
03/18/22 Excellent conditions exist. More good reports came in from the past week. There are lot of insects hatching.
03/26/22 Conditions remain very good. There are hatches of Blue-winged olives, cream and red or blood midges, and our sculpin streamers are working good.
04/03/22 We didn’t receive any good reports this past week. The action may be slowing down some. There are good hatches taking place.
04/11/22 We received two good reports from customers fishing last week. There are lots of insects hatching. Call or write us for a fly list.
04/19/22 More good reports have come in. Good numbers of trout are being caught by our customers. Good hatches continue to take place.
05/05/22 Excellent hatches are coming off. Call or write us for a list. We are getting good catch reports from customers. Conditions are very good.
05/13/22 More good reports come in from the past week. Good hatches are taking place and dry fly fishing has been good this past week. Use Perfect Flies which look like the real things and watch your success increase.
05/21/22 Good conditions exist in all respects. We continue to get good reports from customers.
05/29/22 Excellent conditions continue to exist. Great hatches are taking place. We received two good reports from customers fishing it this past week.
06/06/22 Stream levels are good and so are the multiple hatches taking place. We continue to receive good reports from customers fishing the stream. Using our Perfect Fly patterns that look like the real thing does help a lot.
06/20/22 The stream is in good shape with some very good hatches. The big Hexigenia mayflies are starting to hatch as well as many others underway. The coming week should be a good one.
06/27/22 We received two good reports from customers fishing the stream this past week. Good conditions exist.
07/04/22 More good reports come in from customers fishing it. Good hatches continue to come off.
07/11/22 Conditions remain very good. It doesn’t get much better. There are good hatches including the Hex flies and many others. We received four good reports from customers fishing this past week.
07/18/22 The stream is still in good shape with good hatches taking place. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week.
07/25/22 The river is still turning out some good catches for our customers. Good hatches continue to take place and our terrestrial patterns are also working.
08/01/22 The stream continues to be in great shape with lots of insects hatching. We received three good reports this past week.
08/08/22 We are still getting good reports from customers. Good Speckled wing quill hatches (callibaetis) and lots of Spotted Sedge caddis are hatching.
08/15/22 The stream is turning out some very good catches for our customers. There are lots of insects hatching.
08/23/22 We are still getting good reports from customers. Don’t overlook scuds, cranefly nymphs, dragonfly nymphs, damselfly nymphs, water boatman nymphs, and scuds. Don’t overlook good Trico and Speckled wing quill spinner falls.
08/30/22 We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week. Lots of weeds exist but trout are still being caught in good numbers.
09/07/22 The stream is still turning out some very good fish in sizes and numbers. There are multiple hatches taking place. It takes a little extra effort presenting the fly but well worth the trip.
11/06/22 There are still a lot of grass but trout are being caught. We received two good reports from customers fishing last week.
01/01/23 Conditions are not the best with rain and snow in the forecast. There are good winter hatches taking place.
02/16/22 The stream is very cold with lots of bank snow melting. You can catch trout. Mostly midges like our creams and light green midge larva and pupa.
03/18/23 Heavy snow has the water stained from bank runoff. You could probably catch trout but it will be tough conditions.
03/28/23 The stream is back in okay shape. Most of the bank snow has melted. Good hatches are taking place and you should be able to catch trout.
04/08/23 Another big snow has the stream in poor shape to access. We recommend holding off for a couple of days.
04/21/23 Conditions have improved but it is still messy to get around the stream to fish. It should be clear very soon. Give it a little more time.
04/28/23 We suggest you give it a little more time. It is getting in good shape fast and hopefully will be worth fishing very soon.
05/08/23 Conditions are very good. We received three good reports from the past week from customers. Very good hatches are taking place.
05/19/23 The stream is in very good shape. Good hatches are taking place. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week.
05/29/23 The stream is in great shape turning out good numbers and sizes of trout for our customers. There are some very good hatches taking place.
06/09/23 Good conditions continue.
06/17/23 We are getting as many reports from customers as we ever have. Very good conditions exit. Great hatches are taking place.
06/28/23 Excellent conditions exist. We received three good reports from customers fishing this past week.
07/07/23 More good reports have come in from customers. Good hatches continue to take place.
07/15/23 The stream continues to produce some nice trout for those that take the time to match the hatch and be persistent. We received one good report from a customer this past week.
07/23/23 The stream is still in good shape and turning out some good catches for our customers. Good hatches are taking place. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week.
08/02/23 We received two more good reports from customers fishing it this past week. Good hatches continue to come off.
08/08/23 Conditions remain very good. We continue to get good reports from customers. Good hatches are taking place. You do need to match the hatch and our Perfect Flies are perfect for that. They look like the real insects.
08/18/23 Our customers are catching some nice trout fishing the Powerhouse #2 riffles. Lots of tricos and spotted sedge caddis.
08/25/23 The stream is still turning out some good trout. We still recommend the Powerhouse #2 riffles. Good hatches are coming off.
09/01/23 The stream is still producing some nice trout. Sculpin steamers are working good during low light conditions. Good late season hatches continue to take place.
09/08/23 Conditions are still good. We continue to get good reports.
09/15/23 The stream is still in very good shape in all respects. There are some very good hatches taking place. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week.
09/21/23 Two more good reports come in this past week. Match the hatch and your in good shape. You can do that with Perfect flies which look like the real things.
09/28/23 We received another good report from the past week. Good Speckled wing quills or callibaetis hatches are coming off.
10/06/23 Add October Caddis to the hatches. We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week.
10/18/23 Conditions remain good with good numbers of fish being caught.
11/06/23 We are still getting good catch reports. Our sculpin streamer patterns are getting some of the larger trout.
11/13/23 The stream is still turning out some nice catches. Good late season hatches take place.
11/20/23 The stream is in good shape with decent Blue-winged olive and Cream midge hatches taking place.
12/11/23 The stream is in excellent shape with late season hatches of BWOs and midges still coming off. Our customers are catching some nice ones swinging our articulated sculpin and leech streamers.
12/26/23 Conditions remain very good. Good midge hatches are taking place.
01/08/24 The stream is in good condition turning out some nice trout for our customers. Good light green and red or blood midges hatches are taking place along with small BWOs.
01/16/24 Conditions remain very good. We received two good reports from customers fishing it this past week. Our Perfect flies make a real difference here as they look like the real things.
02/08/24 We received another good report from a local customer during the past week.
02/20/24 Stream levels are a little high but okay. Good midge, little BWO and other hatches continue to take place.
02/29/24 The stream is in good shape. Due to the weather, getting there and getting around while you are there, may be a bigger problem that catching the fish.
03/08/24 The stream is a little high and a little dingy but that doesn’t hurt it very much. Good BWO and Midge hatches are taking place.
03/14/24 We received two good reports from customers fishing this past week. There are good BWO and light green and cream midges hatches taking place. Our pre-rigged in tandem midge larva and pupa are popular here.
03/21/24 Conditions are good. Midges and Blue-winged olives are hatching good. Our Sculpin streamers are catching some nice ones.
03/28/24 Conditions remain very good. There are very good hatches taking place and we are getting food reports from customers fishing it. Our Sculpin streamers are catching some nice ones.
04/04/24 We received one good report from a customer fishing this past week. Good conditions exist. Good hatches are coming off.
04/11/24 Very good conditions exist. Call or write us for flies to match the numerous hatches taking place.
04/18/24 The stream is still in very good shape with good hatches taking place. We received a good report from a customer fishing yesterday.
04/25/24 Conditions remain good. Good hatches are taking place and dry fly fishing has been very good and well as sub-surface flies.
Send us an email at (sales@perfectflystore.com) or call us 800 594 4726 for recommended flies and gear.