Feather River

Eagerly Awaiting Fall

Native Feather Trout

There is an odd transition time between seasons that makes fishing a bit unpredictable. Now is that time when windy fronts begin to turn over the water allowing the fish that have survived this hot summer to become comfortable again. I am hoping for rain and a successful steelhead season this fall. I can’t wait.

Feather River
With some spring-run steelhead still in the system I took more time to chase them this week. I managed to land several fish and a steelhead before leaving, the majority being small native trout on caddis pupa and midges. It was Friday so a few more anglers were out trying their luck. I was the first though and the early bird gets the fish.

The salmon are there and with salmon come steelhead but the ratio is probably really low right now. I fished an egg pattern in a run hoping to hook into a steelhead that migrated with the salmon but instead I got a surprise. Once I saw that yellow tail come up I thought “Probably a sucker or a pikeminnow.” To my surprise it was a hardhead, or yellow steelhead in this case.

Hardhead egg eater
Feather River

Spring In The Summer

Feather River
It was reported from Fish First Fly Shop that spring-run steelies were still in the low-flow of the Feather River. They were said to be eating midges and caddis pupa. My new waders and boots were delivered yesterday and steelhead fishing the Feather was the best way to test them.

Late Season Chromer

I hooked three but only landed one. Amazing how chrome these fish are despite being in the water since spring. My waders and boots worked great. They fit a little tight but unless fishing for steelhead, I won’t be wearing them too often. Today was a fun little excursion.

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