Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2026 i California Fly Fisher

Welcome to the Winter 2026 issue of California Fly Fisher. Winter in California has a way of revealing just how diverse our fisheries truly are. While much of the country settles into dormancy, anglers here are still finding fish—and often finding solitude—across an astonishing range of waters. In this issue, that diversity is on full display. You can make tracks through the snowy banks of the Upper Owens in the Eastern Sierra, where Daniel Parsons shares the quiet rewards of a year-round trout fishery framed by winter light and frozen willows. If chrome is what you’re after, we turn our attention north, offering tips and perspective for swinging flies on some of the North Coast’s storied steelhead rivers. And far to the south, Conway Bowman gives readers the 411 on…

I’LL KEEP READING My name is Royce Aldridge, and I am a high school history teacher in Yerington, Nevada, just over the mountains from California. I was raised Catholic, but, coincidentally, abandoned the dogma in my formative years when I discovered fly fishing. I commune better with my maker, knee-deep in the Walker River, than I ever did at mass. I grew up in Great Falls, Montana, on the mighty Mo—the majority of my favorite memories of family and youth involve that river. I attended the University of Montana, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I chose that school, in part, because of a certain Maclean brother who didn’t attend Dartmouth. Missoula gave me everything I needed as an adult: an education, a bride, and a sense…

THE LEMURIAN CANDIDATE (2025) Comedy Crossing Bridges Films Written and Directed by Casey Cooper Johnson Reviewed by Yeti and Gangiman On a cool night in November, on the eve of a fishing trip, two anglers travel to Shasta to see The Lemurian Candidate. Gangiman: It’s the Shasta Parable. A conflict of: Civilization’s constraints and the liberation of the wilds; Hohum reality and the absorption of myth; The worthlessness of being wasted and Shamanic insight; Camping as a pleasant misery and the lure of home. Yeti: Nice summation, Gangiman, but I get the sense that this movie is low budget in every aspect. It’s a silly, ridiculous, and at times humorously wacky buddy film set in the idyllic town of Mt. Shasta and the majestic mountain itself. Three friends go on…

RIGGING Indicator Rig: 5 or 6-weight rod with floating line Off-colored water: 4x tippet Clear water: 5x tippet 10 feet of fluorocarbon to an orange molten bead Size 8 Bead hook roughly 1.5 inches behind the bead Heavy Loon weight 8 inches above bead 18-inch fluro tied off the back of the hook Jigged 4mm tungsten bead point fly High Sticking: 11-foot 3-weight rod Monofilament-core Euro line 30 feet of 30-pound Maxima Chameleon 3 feet 0X Euro BiColor Euro indicator line 6 feet of 6 pound Seager Red Label to a double surgeon’s knot, 6 inch tag, and 18 inches to point fly FLIES Jigged-style nymphs: Sizes 10-14 Dark Olive Caddis wrapped in flash Guide’s Choice Hares Ear with flash Frenchie Holo-point jig Kerotin Peaches and Crème Micro streamer: @racks_and_rivers…

The languid meandering flow of the Upper Owens River hides the cataclysmic geologic history of Owens Valley, where one of the most violent volcanic eruptions in Earth’s recent history unfolded. This led to the formation of the Long Valley Caldera—a vast, cauldron-shaped depression that formed around 760,000 years ago, shortly after a massive volcanic eruption emptied the magma chamber and caused it to collapse. Covering roughly 200 square miles and bordered by Mammoth Mountain and the Sierra Nevada to the west and the White Mountains to the east, the Long Valley Caldera is one of the largest calderas in North America. It is notable for its remarkable hydrothermal activity beneath the surface. The Long Valley Caldera is not the first volcanic feature in the Owens Valley area. Starting around three…

Rod & Reel Fast-action 8-weight or 9-weight if winds exceed 15 mph. Pair with a large-arbor saltwater reel with a smooth, reliable drag (you’ll need it). Tropical line like Rio Flats Pro (my favorite). Minimum 200 yards of 30-pound backing. Flies Mantis shrimp patterns in tan and brown, tied in various weights. Weight matters more than pattern. Leader 12-foot tapered to 16-pound fluorocarbon. Footwear The flats are sharp coral—wear proper flats boots with thick soles. To save luggage space, I now bring closed-toe sandals (like Keens) with Simms neoprene socks (the thin ones). Tides Generally, aim to fish during an incoming low tide before it reaches ~1.60 feet. It all depends on where you go, though. And if all the time you have is during an outgoing tide—go! Time of…

Rods & Reels 6–8 weight for Mission Bay 4–5 weight for Lake Murray Salt-safe reel for Mission Bay Lightweight trout reel for Lake Murray Lines, Leaders & Tippet Mission Bay: 250-grain shooting head Lake Murray: Floating line for dry flies and midge fishing Mission Bay: 6 feet of 12–15 pound fluorocarbon Lake Murray: 9 feet of 6X Flies Mission Bay: baitfish patterns, clousers, surf candies, crease flies, poppers Lake Murray: Brooks’s Sprout Midge (16–18), Zebra Midge (18) Tools & Essentials Polarized sunglasses HemostatsNippers Small pack or sling Net Waders (optional) Dry fly floatant Light wire leaders (Mission Bay) Optional Add-ons Hand towel Lightweight rain shell Headlamp Sunblock…

PUTAH CREEK CLEANUP & TRAIL MAINTENANCE DAY Saturday, January 10, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Join Northern California Fly Fishers International, in conjunction with CDFW and Yolo County, for a general cleanup at Putah Creek that will restore key access points, pick up garbage, and perform trail maintenance work. Sign up at nccffi.org. Putah Creek Fishing Access, Winters www.nccffi.org INTERNATIONAL SPORTSMEN’S EXPO Thursday - Sunday, January 15 - 18 Annual tradeshow featuring the latest and greatest gear, demos, and hundreds of exhibitors. Cal Expo, Sacramento www.sportsexpos.com THE BISHOP TROUT RODEO Saturday, February 7 The Southwest Council of Fly Fishers International and Visit Bishop bring you this catch-and-release tournament that is open to all. Prizes for the winners who catch the most fish inches, along with dinner, raffle, and awards. Tri-County…

I’ve never been any good at tying flies. I envy those who have the patience and dexterity to do it. I once bought a vise to give it a go, and when I showed a friend my attempt at an Elk Hair Caddis, he said, “Lucky you didn’t decide to be a surgeon.” That was mean but accurate. I gave up after that and became the kind of customer fly shops depend on to increase their profits. It’s ironic, really, that I own a collection of vintage flies that should be in the American Museum of Fly Fishing. They arrived in a small plastic fly box, a gift from Nick Lyons, the renowned publisher and fly fishing writer. Some years ago, Nick invited me to write a book for his…

Access Maps FlyFishingtheSierra.com has a comprehensive selection of maps covering the Upper Owens and the entire Sierra range. Maps include regulations, hatch charts, fish identification, and fly suggestions. DavesSierraFishing.com offers maps, fishing location details, and campground information. Lodging The town of Mammoth Lakes offers a wide selection of places to stay, from four-star resorts to motels, to VRBOs, while Bishop, 30 miles south of Lake Crowley, offers small-town charm and a relaxed vibe. A few of our favorites: Outbound Mammoth – A selection of guestrooms, cabins, chalets, and condos, this resort promotes community and gathering spaces, with on-site eats, free video arcade, steam room, and lobby wine bar. OutboundHotels.com/Mammoth Convict Lake Resort – With 28 mountain cabins and three lodges, the resort can accommodate any angler’s taste—and all cabins are…

The petroglyphs in the Volcanic Tablelands outside Bishop are among the most awe-inspiring and intriguing sights in the Eastern Sierra. The carvings, created by the Paiute-Shoshone people who have lived in the Owens Valley for thousands of years, are believed to date back as far as 8,000 years. The Volcanic Tablelands were created by a volcanic eruption in Long Valley over 700,000 years ago, which formed the Bishop Tuff, a red pumice. Over time, geologic faulting tilted parts of the lava flow during the formation of the tablelands, and basalt and andesite seeped through fumaroles to form darker, exposed formations. The Paiute-Shoshone peoples chipped away at the dark surfaces of the rock, exposing the lighter tuff beneath, to create petroglyphs that can still be seen today. The art is widely…

BEST FISH PHOTO Backcountry Reward, by Seth Blackamore PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD Lucky Shot, by Shannon Thompson EMERGING PHOTGRAPHER AWARD (Ages 18-25) Jumping Brook Trout, by Nate Cutler GRAND PRIZE AWARD Merced River in Yosemite Valley in the Rain, by Santiago Rodriguez The 2025 California Trout Fish Water People Photo Contest, presented in collaboration with California Fly Fisher, made quite a splash this year—with more than 500 stunning entries celebrating the wild beauty of California’s waters, fish, and people who care for them. From fog-draped rivers to golden trout streams under big Sierra skies, the submissions captured the heart of why we fish and why we protect these places. Our judges had an impossible job—narrowing down so many extraordinary shots—but they rose to the challenge. A huge thank-you to everyone who…

I first met Sally Stoner in a crowded room during a local club banquet. She’d hunted me down, as she phrases it, to book a trip for “her and her gals” to Iceland. She stood out immediately—not just as a woman in a room filled mostly with older men, but because of her bluntness. She wanted me to take them fishing on the Central Coast first, to test me out and see if I’d be a good fit with her group of ladies when they went to Iceland. Later, when she sent me an email to finalize some details, her legendary sign-off stood out to me: “badass river chix: anglers, artists, musicians, writers.” Sally is a character—a kind, strong woman who goes after what she wants unapologetically and is a…

As a guide and someone who often takes friends fishing, I have taught many people how to fly fish. My process is straightforward. First, I go over the equipment. Then we talk about casting. After that, I present the different types of flies. Then, before we fish, I teach them the basic knots needed to set up a rig and start fishing. I teach them how to make a perfection loop to tie on a leader, then we tie on tippet with a double surgeon’s knot, and finally, we tie on flies with a basic clinch knot. I do this because it was the order of things that I learned when I started fly-fishing. After the gear is rigged, we go to the water and practice the art of fly…

San Diego welcomes business travelers from around the world with its perfect weather, world-class conference venues, and unforgettable food. But what many traveling fly anglers don’t realize is that the city also holds an incredible variety of urban fly-fishing opportunities—often just steps from their hotel door. What makes San Diego unique is its proximity to nearly everything recreational, including great fishing. Within minutes, you can go from the convention center or airport to casting on productive freshwater or saltwater water. If you’ve got a free day to burn and want to experience the best of San Diego’s urban angling, here’s your road map to a perfect one-day adventure. Morning Session: Mission Bay Start your day at Dana Landing Market on Mission Bay. Grab a hot cup of coffee and their…

Rob Benigno Rob is an illustrator, angler, and founder of Lakes Rivers Streams, a fishing-inspired art and apparel brand based in Buffalo, NY. Through LRS, Rob has collaborated with companies and publications across the fly fishing industry, sharing his passions for art and angling with anglers everywhere. Conway Bowman Conway is regarded as one of the top fly fishing guides and anglers in the world. He pioneered mako sharks on the fly, and west coast saltwater fly fishing. He contributes “Urban Fishing: San Diego” in this issue. Conway resides in the coastal town of Encinitas, with his marine biologist wife, Michelle, and their boys, Maximillian and Jackson. Scott Gordon Scott lives in Northern Utah and spends much of his time traveling the West in pursuit of trout and quiet water.…

IS A RIVER ALIVE? By Robert Macfarlane Reviewed by Sean Stiny $32, W. W. Norton & Company, 2025 Trout and nymphs, swallows and willows. The flowing water and the stubborn boulders. A river is a damn moveable feast of life. But is a river alive? That’s the question Robert MacFarlane poses in his recent meditation on running waters, Is A River Alive? He travels to three distinct waterways on three different continents to contemplate the question of the book’s title. Rio los Cedros, a.k.a River of the Cedars, deep in the Ecuadorian mountains, is first on his exploration list. Ecuador’s government gave individual legal rights to the natural world in 2008. Dubbed the Right of Nature, they even rubber-stamped it into their constitution. Everything from the toucan and its trees,…

In 1984, my phone jingled. It was my old friend, Dick Dahlgren, exuberantly telling me I had to come and visit him in Mammoth Lakes and fish the upper Owens River. He went on and on about how the big rainbows were stacked up in the river pools and deep runs below where Hot Creek entered the Owens. He talked about dry fish action on fish to 16 and 18 inches. This would not have been unusual except that it was February. Trout season had closed months earlier the end of October. I was editor of the now-defunct California Angler magazine at the time, so Rob Breeding, the associate editor at the time, and I went. It was everything Dahlgren said it would be. In a word: incredible. While the…

Mammoth Lakes Fly Fishing Years Guiding: 15 How did you decide to become a guide? I started fly fishing around the age of 12, casting oversized dry flies to tiny brook trout in small streams in Vermont. My passion for the sport only grew over the years, and after college I landed in Mammoth Lakes, drawn to the amazing fishing and the endless opportunities to get out and play in the Eastern Sierra. Working at the Trout Fitter Fly Shop I discovered I really loved teaching and sharing the experience of fly fishing. I enjoy getting out on the water year after year with my clients to work on new skills and share life stories. How do you balance guiding with family and personal life? We are really lucky in…