McCloud River Nature Conservancy Tag-Along
Event Skill Levels:
- Wading: Very difficult
- Hiking: Very difficult
- Catch success rate: Difficult
This is not a beginner trip. It requires difficult wading and hiking. If you are not in physical and mental shape for a long day of very difficult hiking, climbing over rocks, slipping and risk of falling, and battling currents this trip is NOT FOR YOU.
We will be there during the October Caddis hatch. We have three passes to the Conservancy one of the days and four passes the other day.
Below McCloud Dam to Shasta Lake is strictly wild trout water with artificial flies and lures only. Check wildlife.ca.gov for particulars. There are 4 miles of public water from the dam to the U.S. Forest Service AH-DI-NA Campground, then 2 more miles of public water until you hit The Nature Conservancy property (nature.org). The upper 3 miles of the Kerry Landreth Preserve at McCloud River are open to catch-and-release fishing for a maximum of ten rods per day.
The McCloud has excellent hatches, including big bugs that bring big fish to the surface. Salmonflies, Golden Stones, Green Drakes, Gray Drakes, and October Caddis each appear in their season.
Beyond these big bugs, there are abundant hatches of smaller insects all year, specifically Blue-winged Olives, Yellow Sallies, Pale Morning Duns, and numerous small caddis such as Brachycentrus and Rhyacophila.
Cost: No cost as this is a Tag-Along
Fishmeister: None
Accommodations and Food:
You can camp at AH-DI-NA campground. Located on the Lower McCloud River at an elevation of 2300 feet, this remote campground has 16 sites with tables and fire rings, flush toilets, and drinking water. The dirt access road from Lake McCloud is very rough and rocky. Low clearance vehicles, trailers, and RVs are not advised. The cost is $10 per night.
Directions:
From the McCloud Ranger Station, turn right on SR 89. Go approximately 1/4 mile to the left turn lane. Turn left and go approximately 10 miles to Lake McCloud. Stay on the paved road the goes around the lake. In 3 miles there will be a sign for AH-DI-NA. Turn right onto the dirt road (distance of 4 miles) and drive uphill to the top and continue down the other side. AH-DI-NA is on the left. Road is very rough. Trailers and motorhomes are not advised.
Each angler should plan to bring and carry their own lunch and drinks and plan to eat with the group if they desire.
Members and guests are responsible for their own transportation costs as well. Carpooling is encouraged.
Gear and Tackle Recommendations:
Rod & line weights/types: 5 or 6 wt traditional fly rods & reels with floating line for dry fly action and various sinking lines for nymphing. Euro nymping is also very good.
TVFF Cancellation Policy:
To sign-up for a TVFF Event that is currently open for registration and chargeable (as set by the Fishmeister), you must both register and pay online, or via check or cash, within two weeks of registering (sent to the TVFF Treasurer) whatever fee is described for that particular Event (trip) at the time of registration. There may be multiple payments required before the trip is actually taken (usually in the case of expensive trips), but it is necessary that you do make payment in the above timely fashion for the initial amount to secure your position on the trip. However, please note that you are still responsible for the entire amount of the trip if you should need to cancel.
Once you are registered, there are no refunds for chargeable Events and trips. In the situation that a member is, for any reason unable to attend, they may resell their registration slot to another TVFF member (by first pulling from the waitlist if one exists). New participants must come first from the waitlist in the order they signed up. The member cancelling is fully and solely responsible for contacting potential members to replace them and notifying the appropriate Fishmeister.
If an event/trip is fully registered and closed to registration, you may still sign up on the Wait List to be notified if there are any cancellations. In such a case of registering provisionally on the Wait List, you do not have to pay until such time that you clear the Wait List and are confirmed for participation.
