Monday, April 22nd,2002**RIVERS OPEN SATURDAY APRIL 27th** McCloud by Ash Camp: "Happy New Year!" It's opening season this week for most streams and rivers in California. With that in mind, I loaded up Shasta Trout and we headed around the county to check out all the waters we'll be guiding this season. I always like this drive because the fishing that lies ahead is only a few days away! I like to go down to all the rivers, check out the flows and take the water temperatures. The Lower McCloud is low right up from Ash Camp, I suggest you head down stream below Hawkins Creek, the flows will be good from there down. Squaw Valley 2002: When you drive to the Lower McCloud River, you go through this lovely meadow called, Squaw Valley. Quite often, I see coyotes or other animals cruise through the meadow looking for dinner, or to take a sip from the small creek that runs through Squaw Valley. The Wintu Indians lived out here in Squaw Valley, many obsidian chips can be seen in the dark midden soil where early man once existed. Upper McCloud River April 2002: After leaving the Lower McCloud I then headed to the Upper McCloud, where I perched myself on this hill side just up from Lower Falls. I witnessed this Bald Eagle flying by and just got the tail end of him in my lense as the shutter did it's job. You can see if you look close just the left wing and tail of the Bald Eagle. Maybe if you go to the Upper McCloud you can see him too! the water temp was 48 and I did see trout, but not much insects on the surface. I suggest you use nymphs on "New Years Day!" Klamath Rob the post man: I guided two different groups of complete beginners this weekend. The guy in the picture is Rob he's a local that works at the Dunsmuir Post Office. This was not only Rob's first time fly fishing, but this was Rob's first time in a drift boat. Right off the cuff Rob hooked into this lunker steelhead that took him almost 20 minutes to land, He was happy to say the least! Klamath Humberto's Steelhead: The day before I fished with Humberto and he caught this lovely Steelhead Cromer! The water is perfect right now on the Klamath River and I anticipate great fishing just about everywhere! Don't make excuses, just go for it!! Klamath the old bridge: Now here's a bridge that looks like it's out of a Clint Eastwood movie. This is a old bridge that crosses the Klamath River, I do remember seeing a family cross it one time, but it didn't look all that safe. This is the one you want to say, " I'll be behind you all the way." **WELL FOLKS HOPED YOU ENJOYED THAT SHORT STORY, JOIN ME NEXT TIME AS I RAFT THE UPPER SACRAMENTO RIVER, SCOUTING IT FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON!"** Jack Trout


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