On the low flow salmon spawning activity is over and more dead salmon stacking up on the bottom is stinking- up the river. Steelhead are keying in on the spawn and aquatic insects and terrestrials being washed into the river from recent rains. Flesh flies, Egg and Caddis imitations and streamers are working for the fly casters, while globugs and egg colored beads, nightcrawlers, single eggs and roe are all working for the spincasters.
Flows are currently stabilized at 2200 cfs and extreme caution should be used by boaters as there are some very shallow bars to navigate on the river now. With the river below 2000 cfs the opportunities for the wading or bank fishermen have increased with many more spots became wadeable with the lower flows. Steelhead fishing continues to be pretty good from Palermo beach to below Gridley last week, with Nightcrawlers and Globugs taking fish there. Huntington’s Sportsmen’s Store (530) 534-8000,