From August 1st to 4th, I fished the Trinity River and the Lower Sacramento River, where the heat was intense but the fishing was hotter. My trip kicked off with an evening of dry fly fishing on the Trinity with two friends, Alex and Michael, where we caught plenty of smaller fish and lost a few good ones. The next day, we floated the river. We didn't land any trophies, but we stayed busy with the little guys. Michael did manage to hook a brown trout and a solid half-pounder. The best part was having the river all to ourselves.

After the Trinity, I spent three days on the Lower Sacramento River in Redding for the opener. The river above the 44 bridge is closed to fishing from April 1 to August 1, so the trout are fired up and ready to eat. The water was flowing fast at 14,000 cfs, but we found the fish stacked in softer seams and deep runs. The bite was so good that I stopped counting fish within a couple of hours on the first day. We used a "bobber nymphing" technique, which kept rods bent all day, and I was reminded of how strong and beautiful these Lower Sac trout are, fighting like "tiny chrome steelhead."

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Lake Almanor Hex Hatch 2024 Recap: Epic Dry Fly Action, Bass Boat Adventures & What’s Next!

The 2024 Lake Almanor Hex Hatch was one for the books—unforgettable evening hatches, wild variety in the net, and some exciting changes on my end. This recap’s a little delayed because I’ve been busy launching the new website, but I couldn’t wait to share the highlights from this season.

From June 15 to July 2, we had a solid window of productive fishing despite warm water temps and a few stormy curveballs. This year marked my return to power boating, thanks to a generous loaner—“The Big Sipper.” That boat opened up so many more opportunities: I was able to target fish earlier in the evening and hit some super remote spots I’ve had my eye on.

Dry fly action was hit or miss, but when it hit—it hit hard. Some nights were absolutely electric with fish rising everywhere. My go-to secret fly held its own, even with thick bug hatches going off.

We brought plenty of variety to the net: rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, catfish, and even a brown or two. For the first time, I added morning trips into the mix, and they went well enough that I’m looking to expand on that in 2026—especially with a new boat upgrade on the horizon.

What’s Next:

• I’ve got a Yeti cooler and Yakima Rack giveaway coming up soon

• New trip offerings are in the works (smallmouth bass, anyone?)

• And I’m sharing exclusive fly patterns, depth tips, and location insights over on my Patreon for just $5/month

👉 Book early for the 2026 Hex Hatch (June 15–July 2)
👉 Subscribe to the newsletter for giveaways and updates
👉 Follow along for more Northern California fly fishing adventures

Fishing Report Summary Temps: Mucho perfectWeather: Sunny with wind, warm afternoons, and cold morningsHatches: PMDs, March Browns, Yellow Sallies,...