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Post Info TOPIC: Lower McCloud info. needed


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Lower McCloud info. needed
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Looking to fish around ash camp on the McCloud. This will be my first time on the lower portion of the river. My only concern is if the road down there is passable in a car ? How's the access? Bushwacking, Boulder hoping ? I guess theres only 3 or 4 campsites there, Are there some other spots to pitch a tent if needed ? Always excited to try a new river ! Been fishing quit a bit, Few trips to middle stan wich fished quit good below beardsly. Made 4 day trip 2 weeks ago to the east walker, Fishing was slow due to changing flow but managed some nice browns. Love this time of year. So many rivers yet so little time. Thanks for any info. anyone can provide.t



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Amigo, when you goin'?  We will be up there July 2-6.  We went up there a couple of years ago and fished that area pretty heavily.  As I recall, Ash Camp is about 1/2 off of the paved road.  I think you can get down ther by car if I recall correctly.  I don't remeber the road being nuts.  There were about 4-5 campsites at Ash Camp, and you have to be in the campsites.  Many more campsites at Ah Di Na.

Very pretty area, good fishing.  Some bushwacking, but not over the top.  You can fish your way down to Ah Di Na campground and hoof back, or vice versa.  You can also work upriver towards the dam.  Some boulder hoping, I remeber taking a couple of good spashdowns there.  I suggest you call the Nature Conservancy and reserve a license tag to fish their property.  They allow 10 rod tags out at any one time. The property is absolutley stunning scenery.



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Do it, it's awesome down there! A long way on a dirt road but it's not bad. Take bobs suggestion and reserve a tag on the conservancy. It fishs better in the fall when the big browns are up from Shasta but it should still be decent now. Lots of rattle snakes down there too so tread carefully.



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Thanks for the info. It's been to long guys, We have to get a trip together. Heading up tomorrow to monday. I'll let ya know how it goes. 



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Man, I couldn't agree more.  Fly fishing has been a grand total of 5 days in 2014 for me.  I have pretty much been nose to the grindstone at work this year.  Please give us a report, fishing reports say it's awesome up there right now.  I have been living vicariously on the river by reading many of them.

Good Truckee time is the next 4-5 weeks this year.

Had a couple of very good days on the Yuba last month, but the summer oven has now turned up to broil in that area.

 

Bob



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A trip would be awesome! For me a fall trip would be best as my summer is already pretty booked and I'm doing a lot of work remodeling the house this year so even my free time is limited. I did do a Pyramid/LT trip in April though.



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Survived 5 days on the McCloud. A bit bruised, banged up, and overall exhausted. Good quality fishing. Fished each day about 4 to 5 hours first part of the day, then took midday break, And hit it again for about 4 hours each evening.  Caught plenty of very hard fighting trout, These are no doubt pound for pound or inch for inch the hardest fighting rainbows I have ever caught. A 12 incher fights like a 16 incher, Seriously !!! most fish went 10 to 15 inches. Lost a few that were a bit larger, Like I said these are seriously hard fight, Fast Bows. Only 3 browns out of what I'd guess were pushing a hundred fish over the entire trip.  50/50 nymphing and dries. Golden stones were abundant first evening but were less, and less each evening. Seems they always got on mayflies when they were present, I see that often, Mayflies must taste good. Basic fly selection, Parachute adams, And some simple sparse mayfly dries, Stimulators were always good for a few. As for nymphing no question red was the ticket, Red copper john was money. Another good one was a pheasant tail with red beadhead. Got a great site at ash camp, Very cool primitive camping spot. Alot of people fishing around the camp, But a 100 yard walk and had the river to myself, Never came across another person more then about a 100 yards from the campground. Defenitly not an overall easy river, I'd say its a bit tough, No trail up or down river,Very steep banks with, Tons of poison oak, Lots of snakes, Only one rattler but all those other ones keeps ya on the watch, Thick bushes, and that damn cascade geology thats slippery as hell ! One evening cut short due to an over the head dunking, Funny now but not then. Overall a great trip. Some Truckee fun sounds great, Just no bombay gin !!! 



-- Edited by shon42073 on Monday 23rd of June 2014 02:49:52 PM

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I was just at Ah Di Na two weeks ago, it is one of my favorite trips. Usually hit it at least once a year sometimes two. My favorite time is October. You are right those fish have shoulders, lots of fight. Lots of great water between ash camp and Ah Di Na. I like to drop in on the road to ah Di Na about 1/4 mile before you get to the campground. The Pacific Crest Trail crosses the road there and it is a nice easy way to go along the river. But you have to leave the trail to get to the river and that's a different story sometimes. One of my friends caught a pretty nice Brown.  He threw a size 2 fly that looked like a flash tail whistler, 2nd swing and bam. All fish are alive and doing well. 



-- Edited by timmosazz on Sunday 29th of June 2014 04:50:51 PM

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