Fly fishing for steelhead in the Feather River California has been slow with heavy drought conditions and low water

Fly fishing for steelhead in the Feather River California has been slow with heavy drought conditions and low water. Its part of what happens with nature and is interesting to watch first hand. Wading through riffles searching for that one pocket holding a mature sea run steelhead. Many fly fishers are not happy when they hook a small 10 or 12 inch juvenile. This is the beauty of low water. Fine tuning your skills and down sizing your fly fishing fly offerings. The young steelhead stay in the river for about a year before venturing out to sea. This resourse is a beautiful thing if you enjoy trout fishing. You need to match the hatch and focus on small steelhead. Then when you least expect it a yank on your line will be that of the reclusive 3-6 lb mature fish that will make your day or year for that matter.
We see many clients floating the river with guides like Frank Hastings from Nor Cal Fly Waters. http://norcalflywaters.com/
This is a smart thing to do for any fly fisher to do. The local knowledge to help you reach your goal is worth its weight in gold. On many days when we have not even had a hit the clients will pass on the report of only a few small juvenile steelhead. Well that means one thing, you are an expert angler or your guide has done his job.

This is a solid little guy from October 14, 2015 after a slow day of finesse fishing with little flies.
The small fish are the beauty of all rivers. If you can hook a young fired up steelhead your on the money. Fly fishing the Feather river in particular comes down to a natural selection match the hatch situation. Irideus has many custom fly fishing fly patterns that mimic these bugs,minnows,fry and alevin. We also like to take these flies to the next level creating fly offerings that mimic a few bugs at one time or a minnow pattern that is a close rendition to many swimming things on the steelhead dinner menu.

                                   Timothy Horner Irideus Mana Czech Nymph Collection
We say hail the small fish and perfecting your style to meet their challenge. once you master the small fish the big steelhead will come to your hand more often.
Now take this knowledge on the road and apply your small trout and steelhead knowledge to big water and trophy fish. You will learn you are now at the top level of the game. Many people do not think steelhead feed once they enter the river. This is a myth and they feed aggressively until they begin to spawn. Then after they spawn they feed again to fatten up on smolt, Caddis Fly and minnows before returning to the ocean and all the challenges it brings to their survival.

A monster Feather River  buck steelhead from a few years back pushing the 12-15 lb range.
Everyone in the steelhead fly fishing community knows we love the big ones. We try to treat them with respect as we do with all steelhead, trout and salmon. Each steelhead brings a new light to life and being on the water. The high from releasing a monster steelhead is not to be described. It is different for each fly fisher. But the Grey ghost is out there waiting for you to fine tune your skills and rise to the occasion. We say grab some Irideus flies and go get them!

This is some solid advise for our clients and friends who support our efforts. Passing on the steelhead legacy to the next generation and stimulating the old school with a shared passion. Thank you to all of you. May the small fish lead you to the big one often!