Klamath River Lodge
It is the season for winter fly fishing and that Klamath River is a favorite wintertime destination of fly fishermen/women. If you’re looking for more than a one-day trip, consider staying with the folks at the Klamath River Lodge, where fishing the Klamath has a long history since the lodge was built in the 1930s. The Lodge is located on the Lower Klamath, near the town of Orleans, so you’ll get the true wilderness experience.
The Klamath River is a very long river, so you’ll want to acquaint yourself with the different sections and their traits, as well as current fishing reports. The Fly Shop provides a very nice description of the Klamath River, its seasons and current fishing reports.
If winter fishing doesn’t appeal to your sense of adventure, be sure to check out our river rafting section to read about summer fun on the Klamath.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn the fine art of fly fishing, or if you’re looking to improve your skills, two Spey casting workshops are scheduled on the Klamath River in March (one entry level, one mastery level). The folks at Shasta Trout are offering these workshops. Follow the link to learn more about “Introductory Spey and Switch Rod Immersion” set for March 13-15th and Masters on the Spey at Klamathon Lodge scheduled for March 11- 13th. To read about current conditions on the Klamath, as well as the Lower Sacramento River, visit Shasta Trout’s fishing report.
Here’s a taster:
Recent new from our friends at Shasta Trout:
We are writing to offer you an exclusive two handed casting experience Dec 10th, 11th and 12th. Leading California Two Handed Casting Instructors, Chris King, Jeff Putnam, Jon Hazlett and Craig Nielsen are presenting an exclusive weekend Klamath River Spey and Switch Rod on stream workshop hosted by Klamathon Lodge. All of the guides are certified casting instructors with the Federation of Fly Fishers. The two night two day weekend includes demonstrations, on stream instruction and guided opportunities to cast for and catch both half-pounder and adult steelhead on the legendary Klamath River.
All meals, snacks and non alcoholic beverages are provided as is transportation to the river, including boat access to prime runs each day. Rods, reels and lines will be available for guests to sample and use. The Klamathon Lodge is located on the banks of the most productive section of the Klamath River with a fabulous run just a few steps from the door. This weekend is limited to eight anglers double occupancy and a guest to guide ratio of two to one! Invite a friend. Priced at only $795. Contact us now as space is limited and we anticipate filling quickly.
We have just posted our latest trip reports on the ShastaTrout website. Our first big storm of the season arrived last week with rain that provided freshets and improved fishing for steelhead on the Klamath and Trinity and trophy trout on the Lower Sac and Fall River but dampened the bite on our local freestones, the McCloud, Upper Sac and Pit. The storm passrf on Monday and the National Weather Service is forecasting warm sunny weather this week which should make for very pleasant fishing conditions and hopefully spark the October Caddis bite as well.
The Klamath River has a good number of early steelhead in and fishing has been good to great. Flows have been ideal at just above 1,300 cfs and water temps are holding in the mid fifties making for ideal conditions for nymphing as well as swinging flies. The Lower Sac has also been outstanding, though catch rates are a bit below the norm. The size of fish has more than made up for few numbers with a good percentage of fish in the upper teens and twenties. Some King Salmon have arrived along with some Steelhead on the lower reaches and with the water clouding a bit, the bite hasn’t been as technical since storms arrived. The river has been busy but will lighten as the Trinity River takes off with some fresh steelhead moving into the upper river.
Fishing on our local freestones, the McCloud, Upper Sac and Pit Rivers slowed significantly last week from the hot bite earlier in the month with the cold weather as air and water temps dropped dramatically. Flows on the Pit and Upper Sac also increased making conditions more difficult. We hope and expect the bite will pick again up this week, particularly for the dry fly October Caddis which was just getting in full swing. The weather got the Blue Wing Olives going and with both bugs in action it will be a good time for a send off trip on the magical McCloud who’s season closes November 15th. While fishing on the Fall River has just been fair, last week the dry fly action picked up and our guests enjoyed a couple of hours each day casting dries to big fussy Rainbows. A reminder that the Upper Sac and Pit are now open year round.
For a complete report and photos from our trips, visit the ShastaTrout.com website which also features the legendary rivers we call home as well as bios on the finest local guides. ShastaTrout guides fish local waters as much individually as our competitor’s guides do collectively. To check guide availability drop us a line.
Craig also regularly provides presentations to Fly Fishing Clubs and will be presenting his entertaining program “Seasons on the Klamath” to enthusiastic members at both the
Diablo Valley Flyfishermen on November 9th and the Flycasters of San Jose on November 10th. Mark your calendar and join us for the festivities and companionship. Better yet, contact us for a presentation for your group that is aimed to please.
If you are plannning to head to the Shadow of Shasta, do drop us a line. We are always pleased to share all we can whether you are seeking guide service or not.
Whether you prefer the splash of whitewater on your face during a wild spring rafting trip or the bliss of sunshine on your cheeks on a summer float trip, Siskiyou County has the river for you. Thrill seekers and mellow river runners can find their joy with northern California rafting companies as they explore the Upper Sacramento, Scott, Cal Salmon, and Klamath rivers this spring and summer.
With late precipitation in the mountains, spring rafting is likely to hold on longer this year than usual, meaning that the Upper Sac, Scott and Cal Salmon will be running through May and possibly into mid-June, according to Turtle River Rafting owner Rick Demarest. A few trips have already gone out on the Upper Sac on the Class III section south of Dunsmuir that Demarest calls “by far the best spring rafting.” Memorial Day Weekend is high time on the Cal Salmon, which offers remote Class IV and V sections for advanced paddlers.
Come summer time, the boating shifts to the Klamath River where multiple-day camp trips are very popular with families. Turtle River takes its clients on three to five-day trips where the sense of wilderness envelops you in nature as you camp along the river and watch the wildlife throughout the day.
“These days it seems that our cultural routines don’t include much time in nature. Being in the wilderness is especially valuable to children to expand their world and open up new possibilities,” Demarest mused.
For those that can’t get away for a multiple day trip, the float trip from Tree of Heaven outside of Yreka is an easy one or two day trip that can usually be booked on short notice. Even with a short day on the water, you’ll reap the rewards.
“Probably the biggest benefit of rafting is just time together and the chance to spend a few days with nothing to do,” said Demarest, whose daughter is a guide.
Flows on the Upper Sac also high, 3,000 to 4,000 cfs and will likely remain so as runoff from an above normal snowpack has begun. Some exceptional fish are podded in some of the bigger runs making this one of the best times of year to pick up your best fish of the season; several friends have enjoyed this good fortune in the past few weeks. The Klamath River still has a few spring run steelhead to be had on the swing but with the recent release of steelhead smolts it can be a challenge to get to them. For those so inclined the smolts will attack caddis dries during the hatch and small nymphs most anytime with abandon. Salmonflies are on the way, so now is the time to schedule a great local guide for this hatch as available dates in late May and June are becoming far and few between.
The spring like weather has turned the bite on with very few anglers taking advantage of the opportunity. Some fresh grabby fish arrive in the upper river which can spark the bite as well. Fishing for Klamath River Steelhead on the upper river typically holds up well through March in most seasons. Most of the action has been on eggs, legs and nymphs though the swing has been surprisingly good as water temps are approaching the mid forties. On the Klamath on most winter days we can count on catching fish on the swing rather than merely practicing our casting and hoping. We most enjoy swinging with Switch Rods and Skagit or Scandi lines and can provide them if you’d care to give them a try. Though there are still a few half pounders around the majority of fish on most days are hefty adults. Now is an ideal time to plan your final steelhead trip of the season as we still have some openings available.
Trips on Northern California Rivers
February 9th – 15th
What a week! We started out with an epic afternoon on the Pit River which during any other time of year would have been fantastic. To experience catching fish after fish in the dead of winter was just too good to believe. On an afternoon on the Upper Sac we did not have the epic proportions, finding fewer fish but all were sizable, most well into the teens.
This week the bite on the Klamath turned on for us as well, particularly when we swung flies, on a few runs we enjoyed multiple grabs. We are in the midst of prime time with increased water temps and spring like weather. Just before the weekend, Scott and George found several fish including a couple brutes.
Yreka, Happy Camp and the Klamath River got recognition recently in San Francisco Magazine’s “Es(CA)pes – 20 bright new destianation that have it all” piece in May. The area got the nod in the Wet and Wild section for family fun trips on the Klamath River, specifically for multi-day trips departing from Happy Camp. The story featured the more mellow summer trips out of Happy Camp, rather than the truly wet and WILD spring rafting that is happening right now.
The Upper Sacramento River, Scott and Cal Salmon are all flowing big right now (early May) and that makes for blood-pumping class III (the Sac) and class IV & V (the Scott and Salmon) rafting for thrill junkies. Plus you get to enjoy spring flowers blooming and tiny waterfalls tinkling down the sides of the river canyons (beautiful, let me tell ya). Rafting companies will start doing family trips on the Klamath in May too, although the weather and the water aren’t as warm as they will be come June and July. To learn more about your rafting options here in Siskiyou County and to get a list of guide services, see our rafting page.
As you’re doing your research, have a look at surrounding towns. As the Es(CA)pes article pointed out, Yreka is a great stop once you’ve finished a trip on the Klamath. You can stop for a meal and explore the Gold Rush history of the town at the Siskiyou County Museum, Greenhorn Park and at the County Courthouse $1million gold dispaly. When you’re paddling the Upper Sac, Dunsmuir is the place to go for a post-paddling meal. From the Scott or Cal Salmon (two truly remote rivers – make sure you’ve got snacks in the car) you’ll have a bit of a drive back to the towns of Etna or Fort Jones, where you’ll find a handful of dining options.
So get to planning. Spring rafting is a blast, and summer floating is a super, mellow way to enjoy time on the water together.
Tags: Cal Salmon River, Dunsmuir, Etna, Fort Jones, Klamath River, rafting, Sacramento River, Scott River, Siskiyou County, Yreka
Recreation | Visit Siskiyou May 5, 2009 | 
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If you’re looking for adventure this weekend, head out to Happy Camp for the Klamath Siskiyou Art Center’s opening of “Wood”. Friday, March 27th the show will open with Mid-Eastern dinner, followed by tasty deserts. The show is one of a series of medium-themed shows. Last month’s show was “Clay,” and coming in April, along with a ceramics sale, is “Paper”. The show openings are held the last Friday of the month at the Art Center, located on the corner of Highway 96 and Davis Road. For more info call (530) 493-5668 or email alan@ksartcenter.org.
For more of what’s coming up this weekend, visit our calendar.
Keep in mind that in a few months Happy Camp will the be hub of summer whitewater rafting. Three day trips out of Happy Camp provide a wonderful excursion for families as you play in the water, camp on sandy beaches and spend time together under the stars. A number of guide services offer trips on the Klamath, from Happy Camps three-day trips, to one day floats from Tree of Heaven to heart pounding adventures on the Upper Klamath. You can find contact info for guide services on our guides page.
There has been much in the news about the fall chinook run, the state of California’s fisheries, the dam removal debate raging on the Klamath River and what this means for fisherman and river-related recreation. The Nature Conservancy took a big step in protecting and restoring the health of Klamath River this week when it announced the purchase of 4,000+ acre Shasta Big Spring Ranch in the Shasta Valley. Two important tributaries, the Shasta River and Big Springs Creek, run through the ranch, which provide cool water for salmon and steelhead spawning. These waterways will now be protected and restored after years of being comprimised by grazing cattle. According the The Nature Conservancy’s press release, this purchase will bring protection for the Shasta River for up to 20 miles downstream, thus securing ” one of the last and best strongholds for coho and other salmon species in California.”
The Nature Conservancy has had a hand in several Siskiyou County projects, including its long-standing holding on the McCloud River. The McCloud River Preserve is a wonderful, 2,300 acre preserve with three miles of hiking trails and limited access for fisherman. It’s also one of the earliest trails open for late spring hiking! It’s a remote setting, 20 miles outside of the town of McCloud and requires a walk in from the parking lot at the end of the road. At the trailhead you’re asked to carry in a piece or two of firewood for the caretakers who live in this off-the-grid location.
Walking along the river you may see a host of wildflowers (usually fairly early in the season, say May-ish), dogwoods in bloom, butterflies, osprey and eagles overhead, otters frolicking and the glimmering, clear waters of the McCloud River. Think of it as a scavenger hunt – bring your wildflower and tree books, make sure the camera’s charged, pack a lunch and head out for adventure. Be prepared to be immersed in wilderness – while the Nature Conservancy does have a cabin (for the caretakers), fish cleaning and picnic structures it is othewise a setting free from the constructs of humans – you’re entering wilderness.
The McCloud River Preserve trail generally opens sometime in April (it all depends on snow pack). One way to get a sense for whether it has opened or not is to check with the McCloud Ranger Station (530.964.2184) to find out if the road to Ah-Di-Na Campground is open. You can also call the Nature Conservancy’s San Francisco office (415.777.0487) to inquire about conditions as well as to reserve one of the 5 available fishing permits (5 are available on a first-come, first-served basis for walk-ins). Check out the Nature Conservancy’s McCloud River Preserve page to get more info about this great area.
If you’re planning on heading out, be sure to stop in the town of McCloud to stock up on what you’ll need for the day. The White Mountain Soda Fountain and Chocolate Cafe (both in the Mercantile building) offer picnic lunches. The McCloud General Store and the McCloud River Mercantile provide fishing, camping and picnicing supplies. Gas up, stop at the grocery store, and pick up nature guides at the McCloud Book Gallery, if you didn’t bring your own. Be prepared to spend the day out at the Preserve, because once you arrive you won’t want to leave. Find a spot along the river to sit down in the sunshine and enjoy the peaceful quiet that is alive with the sounds of wild life. It’s a magical place.
Directions to the McCloud River Preserve
From Interstate 5:
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Take State Highway 89 east to the town of McCloud.
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Turn south at the Exxon station onto Squaw Valley Creek Road (reset your odometer at the turn).
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Follow the signs nine miles to McCloud Reservoir (“Lake McCloud”).
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Stay right, following the road above the reservoir’s west shore until you have driven 11.4 miles from the turn off Highway 89.
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Turn right onto a dirt road and follow the signs to Ah-Di-Na Campground six miles ahead (17.4 miles from Highway 89). This dirt road – very rough and rocky, narrow in spots, winding but not steep – is negotiable in a two-wheel-drive vehicle as long as it hasn’t rained or snowed recently.
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The road dead-ends at the McCloud River Preserve parking area 1.1 miles beyond the campground. Park here and follow the foot trail one-third mile to the preserve headquarters. There is an informational kiosk, staff residence and a sign-in booth at the preserve headquarters.
