Chironomids
A major Sierra / Lost Sierra Wild Trout river. Wild rainbows and browns, long pocket-water reaches, meadow sections in places, and access that ranges from roadside pulloffs to a genuine hike into the canyon.
- Mixed
Rules at a glance
- Fly only
Water temperature for Brown Trout
Ideal11°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Brown Trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Good — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Likely species
Hatch timeline · tomorrowPeak at 11am
12pm(now) — Western Blue-Winged Olive
Stage: On emergersApproach: Emerger or dryActivity: 53%
Also:Black Midge25%
Peak emergence window5 food groups active
Peak activity at 11am — Western Blue-Winged Olive (Western Blue-Winged Olive, Peak emergence window)
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Supporters see the full sub-surface read.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Supporters see what else is on the menu.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
Records-basedModerate confidence
Based on species-occurrence records, not local invertebrate surveys.
Through the year
0–3 scale · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Brown DunHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2
Mahogany DunHatch
2
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Brown Trout fly box
2-6 · Pattern
Proven pattern for this period
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- CDFW Wild Trout designation; verify exact reach boundaries and current rules.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
Terrain map
About this water
Water quality · US Clean Water Act
- Aquatic life: Impaired
What this classification means
EPA ATTAINS assessment unit 'Feather River, Middle Fork (Sierra Valley to Lake Oroville, Butte and Plumas Counties)' (CAR5183305020020610143011), 2024 Integrated Report. Aquatic Life use: Not Supporting. Listed impairment causes: Oxygen Depletion, Metals Other Than Mercury. This is a Clean Water Act assessment-unit classification (the US analogue of WFD), not a live reading.
Status is for the Clean Water Act assessment unit covering this reach.
EPA ATTAINS (Clean Water Act) · CAR5183305020020610143011
The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 90%
How the 78 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow60 × 22%13.2
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time55 × 13%7.2
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity56 × 12%6.7
Conditions total= 78
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitymodelled from regional profilemodelled
What would change the calculation
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout Last Saturday in April → 15 November
Related guides
Booking & contacts
Middle Fork Feather River
A major Sierra / Lost Sierra Wild Trout river.
Water temperature for Brown Trout
Ideal11°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Brown Trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Good — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Likely species
Hatch timeline · tomorrowPeak at 11am
12pm(now) — Western Blue-Winged Olive
Stage: On emergersApproach: Emerger or dryActivity: 53%
Also:Black Midge25%
Peak emergence window5 food groups active
Peak activity at 11am — Western Blue-Winged Olive (Western Blue-Winged Olive, Peak emergence window)
Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface
Hatch predictions
Supporters see the full sub-surface read.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)
Hatch predictions
Supporters see what else is on the menu.
Start free trial14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
Evidence
Records-basedModerate confidence
Based on species-occurrence records, not local invertebrate surveys.
Through the year
0–3 scale · October highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Brown DunHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2
Mahogany DunHatch
2
2
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Ranked for today
Brown Trout fly box
2-6 · Pattern
Proven pattern for this period
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- CDFW Wild Trout designation; verify exact reach boundaries and current rules.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
Terrain map
About this water
A major Sierra / Lost Sierra Wild Trout river. Wild rainbows and browns, long pocket-water reaches, meadow sections in places, and access that ranges from roadside pulloffs to a genuine hike into the canyon.
- Mixed
Water quality · US Clean Water Act
- Aquatic life: Impaired
What this classification means
EPA ATTAINS assessment unit 'Feather River, Middle Fork (Sierra Valley to Lake Oroville, Butte and Plumas Counties)' (CAR5183305020020610143011), 2024 Integrated Report. Aquatic Life use: Not Supporting. Listed impairment causes: Oxygen Depletion, Metals Other Than Mercury. This is a Clean Water Act assessment-unit classification (the US analogue of WFD), not a live reading.
Status is for the Clean Water Act assessment unit covering this reach.
EPA ATTAINS (Clean Water Act) · CAR5183305020020610143011
The full read · show the working · for Brown Trout · confidence 90%
How the 78 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature100 × 28%28.0
Flow60 × 22%13.2
Clarity95 × 18%17.1
Feeding Time55 × 13%7.2
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity56 × 12%6.7
Conditions total= 78
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitymodelled from regional profilemodelled
What would change the calculation
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Directions
Seasons & zones
- Trout Last Saturday in April → 15 November
Related guides
Booking & contacts