Tailwater · Mixed · Northern California

North Fork Feather River

Feather River venue image
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A canyon river broken into PG&E powerhouse reaches — Belden, Rock Creek, Cresta, Poe — and the flows can jump around with the powerhouse, so it pays to know which reach you're fishing and when it gets bumped.

Species

A proper day on the water

Low and clear — careful approach country. Stay small, stay accurate.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for rainbow trout
Cool — slow
9°C est.ideal 10–18°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for rainbow trout
  • Temperature8228% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity8518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure757% weight
  • Insect activity6212% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
9.0°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
23°C
Wind
SW 14 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1016 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for rainbow 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 clarity is right today, though time of day could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Freshwater ShrimpHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Western Blue-Winged OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Pale Morning DunHatch
2
3
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • CDFW general trout season; verify the regulated PG&E-reach rules
  • Flow can swing with powerhouse operations.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

A canyon river broken into PG&E powerhouse reaches — Belden, Rock Creek, Cresta, Poe — and the flows can jump around with the powerhouse, so it pays to know which reach you're fishing and when it gets bumped. The wild rainbows in here are strong and well-fed, holding in fast pocket water below the dams. It's tight-line nymphing in heavy current mostly, with dries when the bugs are on, and the canyon scenery makes the scramble worth it. Mind the flow changes: a quiet reach can come up fast when the water gets called.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • TroutLast Saturday in April → 15 November
Other water nearby · 5