McCloud River Fly Fishing

The McCloud is a productive and scenic Northern California freestone whose beautiful indigenous rainbow trout have been transplanted throughout the world.  Most serious anglers will prefer the lower part of the river, where the water and the fish are heavier, and the crowds thinner.  Rainbows averaging 14" far outnumber browns, but in the fall the browns can fatten up to 10 pounds as they spawn below Lake McCloud.  From San Francisco, the river is a 5-hour drive north.  The closest fly shops are not in McCloud (the closest town), but in Mt. Shasta (15 miles) and Dunsmuir (20 miles).

There are two distinct parts of the McCloud, separated by Lake McCloud (or McCloud Reservoir): the Lower and Upper:

Upper McCloud

Character

In this section, the water is small and most trout are planters less than 10 inches long.  The area is scenic, however, containing boulder-strewn gorges, waterfalls and lush vegetation.  Most of the water can be easily waded.  Easy access allows fishermen, campers and other daytrippers to crowd the area in summer.  There are no special fishing regulations.

Accessibility & Directions (get driving directions)

The Upper McCloud is highly accessible and most of the river can be crossed by foot.  By car, take interstate 5 north past Dunsmuir to the Mt. Shasta City exit and go 9 miles east on Highway 89 to the town of McCloud.  McCloud is a good last stop for supplies, but Mt. Shasta City has more fly shops (as well as hotels and restaurants).  To get to the river, go east from McCloud on 89 about 6 miles to the "McCloud River Loop Road" (sometimes called "Cattle Camp Road"), which will be on your right.  The Loop parallels the river for 5.5 miles going from  Fowler's Camp east and upstream to Cattle Camp before heading back to 89.  Several dirt spurs lead even closer to the river.  Note that the 5 miles of river from Fowler's Camp down to the lake is private.  If you do take route 5 north, you may also want to check in with some shops in Dunsmuir, which is 5 miles south of Mt. Shasta City.

Lower McCloud

Character

The Lower McCloud holds larger fish in heavier water and is just as scenic as the Upper McCloud.  Moreover, it is less accessible and therefore less crowded.  The river runs through a steep canyon and is surrounded by lush vegetation.  Its blue-green water courses over boulders, giving trout long, deep pools in which to hold.   Rainbows average 14" and can exceed 20"; browns average 16" but can grow to three feet during fall spawning.  Smaller riffles are few and far between.  Because it originates from McCloud Reservoir's bottom-release dam, the water remains between 48 and 55 degrees even in summer.  Wading can be difficult due to water depth and flow, which fluctuate due to dam releases.  Numerous feeder streams and springs also contribute to the size of the Lower McCloud.  Trails follow much, but not all of the water.  The most isolated stretch is below Ash Camp, where the Pacific Coast Trail stays high above the river for three miles before curving away toward Ah-Di-Na campground.  Look for a path down to the river about a half mile downstream.  Wading in this area is tough, but fishing is excellent.  

Accessibility & Directions (get driving directions)

Roughly 8 miles of the Lower McCloud immediately below the dam are public waters.  Your three ultimate destinations when driving will be Ash Camp on the east side of the river, and Ah-Di-Na campground and the Nature Conservancy on the west side.  Total driving time for all three is roughly an hour from the town of McCloud.  Much of the road is rough, though passable without four-wheel drive or extra ground clearance.  As with the Upper McCloud, a good reference point is the town of McCloud.  However, instead of going east from McCloud, go south from downtown McCloud on Southern Avenue (also called Squaw Valley Road), which is marked by a Shell station.  Eight miles down you'll hit the McCloud Reservoir.  Go right for roughly 2 miles until you see a Forest Service sign for Ah-Di-Na and the Nature Conservancy area.  Here you have two routes to the river: go left to Ash Camp or right to Ah-Di-Na and the Conservancy.  

Ash Camp: The trip to Ash Camp takes you around the lake, across the dam, then right on an unpaved road.  Take the unpaved road for just over a mile to Ash Camp, where Hawkins Creek enters the river.  (Note: a few hundred yards past the dam you can take a steep gravel road on the right down to Spillway Pool for some deep water fishing).  Boulders in the water produce nice pools that can be fished from shore all the way up to the dam.  Be aware of dam releases.  A short distance upstream of Ash Camp the Pacific Crest Trail traverses the river via a foot bridge.  On the opposite side, the trail provides difficult, spotty access to the river for roughly 3 miles downstream.  Be careful: in many spots, it's a steep drop down.  If you're looking for a long day of fishing without the crowds, this may be your spot if you're up to the physical challenge.  But don't count on being able to wade across.

Ah-Di-Na: Should you go right at the Forest Service sign to Ah-Di-Na, the remainder of your trek (about 7 miles) will be quite hilly and a little rough on the tires.  However, you will be rewarded with some scenic views of the lake and Mt. Shasta.  Ah-Di-Na has been closed at times, so check with a local fly shop before making the trek.

Nature Conservancy (McCloud Preserve):  Once in Ah-Di-Na, the Nature Conservancy water is another 2 miles, where the road hits a dead end.  Park there, take the foot bridge across the creek and then walk along the trail to the Conservancy cabin at Lady Bug Creek.  The Conservancy owns 6 miles of water.  Fishing is only permitted on the first 2.5 miles below the creek, where it is catch-and-release with artificial lures and single barbless hooks.  The Conservancy only allows 10 fishermen or other visitors on the property at a time.  Half of the 10 passes are reserved, while the others are first-come first-serve.  Obtaining access during the week may not be a problem, but you should make reservations for weekends.  Below the Conservancy is the private McCloud River Club.

When & How to Fish

The river is open to fishing from the last Saturday in April through November 15.  Flow is highest in spring due to rain and melting snow.  Fishable conditions generally set in in mid-May.  Summer, from late July to mid-September, is hot and sunny.  The Lower McCloud boasts a healthy October caddis hatch, and in late fall big browns up to 10 pounds migrate to the upper stretches of the Lower McCloud.  Check out the official regulations and the Fly Shop's fishing reports.