McCloud River - CA
River Information
| Fish Species: | Rainbow Trout, Redband Trout |
The McCloud River, CA, is a globally renowned, spring-fed wild trout stream, celebrated for large, wary rainbow and brown trout. Its consistently cold, exceptionally clear waters (50s°F) and prolific hatches (stoneflies, caddis, mayflies) dictate highly technical fly fishing. Success demands extreme stealth, precise nymphing or dry fly presentations with long, light leaders. Access is often restricted, with famous sections being private. Regulations typically mandate fly fishing only, single barbless hooks, and catch-and-release. This highly selective fishery demands advanced fly-fishing expertise and strict adherence to conservation to preserve its unique genetics.
Latest Fish Reports
| Date | Report | Author |
| 1-1-2026 | The storm over Christmas added quite a bit of flow and blew the river out Fishing conditions: Fair to Good Report: The storm over Christmas... more » |
The Fly Shop |
| 12-3-2025 | The river is in good shape again up top below Lake McCloud The river is in good shape again up... more » |
The Fly Shop |
| 11-25-2025 | The river is in good shape again up top below Lake McCloud The river is in good shape again up... more » |
The Fly Shop |
| 11-13-2025 | The overall winner was a dark BP Weiss nymph The Octobers are pretty much done, but you... more » |
The Fly Shop |
| 10-28-2025 | Clarity on the low end is still very good The river got some precipitation and bumped up... more » |
The Fly Shop |
Detailed Map
