What a month it’s been! June has been a rewarding month for fly fishing in Northern California.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to get on the water—this is it. We’ve been out exploring some of the region’s most iconic rivers, and the action has been nothing short of rewarding. From dry fly eats on Fall River to swinging up big rainbows on the Lower Sac, June has served up some memorable days.
Here’s a look at what we’ve been seeing on the water:
Fall River — A Spring Creek Dream
If you’ve never fished Fall River, you’re missing out on one of the most picturesque spring creeks in the West. The river is clear, cold, and full of wild, hard-fighting trout. Right now, the dry fly fishing is on point, with steady PMD (Pale Morning Dun) hatches keeping fish looking up throughout the day.
The fish are loving PMD emerger patterns, especially when fished just under an indicator or slowly stripped on an intermediate sink line. Plus, we’re still seeing occasional eats on black leeches, damsel nymphs, and boatman patterns.
And yes—the famous Hex hatch is still happening! It did slow slightly with the cold snap earlier this week, but we expect it to fire back up and continue for another couple of weeks. There’s nothing quite like the magic of dusk on Fall River when the big bugs start popping.
Lower Sacramento River — Big Fish on the Swing
The Lower Sac has kept us on our toes with fluctuating flows, but when the river settles—it produces. We floated from Bonview to Anderson last week and had some excellent moments nymphing deep runs. Highlight of the trip? An 18+ inch rainbow that crushed a swung fly.
Dead-drifting nymphs under an indicator remains a go-to method here, but if you love the tug of a fish on the swing, Trout Spey on the Lower Sac is a must-try. Soft hackles, leeches, and buggers all have their moments—especially through the riffles.
Hat Creek — Quiet Waters, Waiting Game
We spent a couple of days walk-wading both the Lower Hat and the Powerhouse Riffle. The water is looking perfect, but… the bug life was thin, and so was the action.
Still, if you’re looking for solitude, now’s a good time—very few crowds. We’re keeping an eye on the temperatures; warmer days should trigger better hatches and, with it, more fish on the line.
Want In On the Action? Book Your Trip Now
I’m guiding walk-and-wade trips on the McCloud, Hat Creek, Burney Creek, and Pit River, and as soon as the Upper Sacramento drops into shape, that’ll be back in the mix too.
Prefer to fish from a boat? Join me on Fall River—we’ve got prime water access by boat, and the Hex hatch is just around the corner. I also conduct classes catering beginners and advanced anglers!
Fall River (boat access to the best spots)
Lower Sacramento River (floats & spey fishing)
Hat Creek & Burney Creek (walk and wade adventures)
And soon — the Upper Sac, once flows stabilize!