Innholdsfortegnelse for Fall 2025 i California Fly Fisher

There’s a first time for everything. Last month, I chased stripers on the California Delta for the very first time. Captain Mike Costello—our Spotlight Destination author and guide—and my friend Sydnie Kohara, a skilled Delta angler, were my companions. After weeks of poring over articles, maps, and images for this Fall issue, taking a real-world “test-drive” of the Delta didn’t disappoint. The day was flawless, the company outstanding, and I even brought a couple of keepers to hand. Thank you, Mike and Sydnie, for an unforgettable day on the water. More firsts are ahead for California Fly Fisher. On October 21, we’ll host our inaugural webinar—a roundtable discussion that brings this issue’s Delta stories to life. Join us as we talk striped bass tactics, the Delta’s unique geology, and everyone’s…

PERFECT TIMING I’m writing with deep gratitude—and in hopes of celebrating and amplifying the strength of California’s fly fishing community. Your July issue reminded me just how special and vibrant this community truly is. I especially loved the feature article “Forks of the Kern.” July is my birthday month, and I found myself at my desk, reflecting on what I could do to mark the occasion. It’s been a tough year here in Los Angeles, and a fly fishing trip sounded like the perfect reset. Montana? Too crowded. Wyoming? Too expensive. Then your magazine arrived. I flipped it open and landed on Tim Huckaby’s piece about the Forks of the Kern—one of my favorite places, though not exactly toddler-friendly with a two-year-old in tow. But tucked within the article was…

Fish the West Films delivers a fresh and authentic perspective on fly fishing in the American West. Guided by a passion for the sport and produced with cinematic care, the series highlights the people, places, and culture that make fly fishing more than just pastime—it’s a way of life. The debut episode, The Still Water Visionary: Ryan Williams, sets a high bar. In the clear waters of Lake Oroville, Williams demonstrates how creativity and persistence can transform stillwater bass fishing with a fly rod. His custom fly designs and innovative techniques showcase both the potential of untapped fisheries and the ingenuity that drives the sport forward. Future episodes promise even more for California anglers, with appearances from CAFF’s own George Revel, along with contributors Dagur Gudmundsson and Glenn Ueda. Their…

The Delta was California's first National Heritage Area (NHA), receiving the designation in 2019. NHAs support historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, heritage tourism, and educational projects through public-private partnerships. Take some time to explore the Delta towns and rich history along with your time on the water. Camping Brannan Island State Recreation Area, two miles south of Rio Vista Parks.CA.gov Sandy Beach Park and Campground, south of Rio Vista, SolanoCounty.gov Lodging There are many resorts and marinas throughout the Delta. Some to consider: Vieira's Resort, 15476 Highway 160, Isleton, VieirasResort.com Park Delta Bay, 922 W Brannan Island Road, Isleton B&W Marina, 964 Brannan Island Road, Isleton BandWResort.net Tiki Lagoon Resort, 12988 McDonald Road, Stockton, TikiLagoon.com Sugar Barge Resort & Marina, 1440 Sugar Barge Road, Bethel Island Tower Park Marina,…

Owner and operator of Pacific Adventures Years Guiding: 36 How did you decide to become a guide? I became a guide back in the summer of 1990 when I moved from Southern California to Basalt, Colorado, and started guiding on the Frying Pan and Roaring Fork Rivers. My passion for fishing led me to this dream job. After over 7,000 days of guiding clients, I still can’t believe I get paid to do this. I am so grateful for every day I get to spend on the water and for the wonderful friendships I have made along the way. How do you balance guiding with family and personal life? That is a challenge that every guide faces, especially if they have a significant other or are married and have family.…

J.A.G. Fly Fishing – Joe Garza JAGFlyFishing.com jagflyfishing@gmail.com 530) 570–0978 Mark Antaramian Guide Services markantaramian@gmail.com (916) 705–1207 Fly Recommendations Scud: Year-round Nymph size: #12 - #14 Colors: olive, brown, gray, tan, orange Patterns: Ultra Scud, Expecting Scud Caddis: Year-round Nymph size: Springtime #12 - #14 Fall #14 - #16 Patterns: Fox Pupa, Holy Grail Caddis Pupa Dry fly size: Springtime #12 - #14 Fall #14 - #16 Patterns: E.C. Caddis, Hogan's Simple Cripple Caddis. Colors: olive, brown, tan, cinnamon, black Chironomid: Year-round Nymph size: Springtime #12 - #14 Fall #16 - #18 Colors: black and red, black and silver, olive, red and black, red and silver, grey Patterns: Rowley's Black Sally, Rowley's Chromie Callibaetis: Spring through fall Nymph size: Springtime #12 - #14 Fall #16 - #18 Patterns: Mercer's Poxyback…

I wonder how those not tethered to the seasons mark the passage of time, perhaps by holidays alone or the start and end of sporting seasons. But for anglers, hunters, and birders, each season carries its own pulse—its own signature of opportunities—woven with experiences from years gone by. With every issue of California Fly Fisher, we aim to honor those rhythms, to look back with gratitude and forward with anticipation. This summer, mine was measured by the tug of stripers from the beach and the clarity of spring creeks near Shasta. I am not one to count fish, but instead count the time spent on the water as the achievement. Yet there are holes in every summer’s tapestry: the backpacking trip that never was, the mountains not yet wandered. Those…

INTERNATIONAL FLY FISHING FILM FESTIVAL - GLENDALE Thursday, October 9, 7:00 p.m. Join California Fly Fisher as they host a screening of IF4 featuring films showcasing the passion, lifestyle, and culture of fly fishing. Lamaelle Theatre, Glendale www.FlyFilmFest.com CROSSWATERCREEK OUTFITTERS RIBBON-CUTTING Wednesday, October 15, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Drop by to say hello to the new fly shop on the block at this grand opening event. CrossWaterCreek Outfitters, 3574 Mt. Diablo Blvd, Lafayette CrossWaterCreek.com FISHING THE BAY AREA Wednesday, October 15, 5:30 p.m. Local guide Johnny Feaster will discuss fishing Putah Creek and other spots within an hour of the Bay Area. Lost Coast Outfitters, 540 Jackson Street, San Francisco LostCoastOutfitters.com PUTAH CREEK CLEANUP Saturday, December 6 Mark you calendar and volunteer alongside local guide Johnny Feaster and others…

Autumn comes early to the mountains. You might catch a glimpse of it in late August when the aspens take on a hint of color. I love the crisp, clean autumn air, the falling leaves, the frosts that creep up and take you by surprise, and the sun as it warms you when you throw out your first hopeful cast. Today might be the day you hook a trophy. Autumn’s a nostalgic season, too. I think back over the trips I’ve made and feel a pang of regret I haven’t made more. Instead of fishing, I’ve taken care of business, paid the bills and mortgage, painted the garden shed, and so on. It can be a little depressing as trout season draws to a close. I’m left hungry for more,…

Flows vary widely, and dry riverbed is abundant. In other words: lots of rocks. The Middle Fork American originates near Palisades Tahoe ski resort and is icy cold. If you can stand in this water long enough to encounter a trout or two without getting numb feet, please share your trick. Wool socks aren’t it. Try to time your crash for late in your visit; there’s nothing anyone can do for a cracked rib, and you won’t want to move much for six weeks or so, never mind make a reach cast. My own fall followed my last moments on the river, while hiking out for the drive home. My head said “step over that big one,” but my feet heard nothing, and next thing I knew, I was lying…

1. Your favorite fly: See above! 2. Your go-to river snack: Panera, “Everything but the Kitchen Sink Cookie” that a few of my clients fortunately bring me on their monthly fishing excursion. 3. Favorite band/song for fishing: Hank Williams Jr., “Country Boy Can Survive” 4. Favorite meal under $15: New York prime steak cooked at home on my grill! 5. Favorite après fishing beverage: Fall and Spring: red wine, Winter: 12-year-old Macallan, Summer: Cadillac Margarita 6. Stupidest question a client has asked: When my clients and I are drifting a river and someone says, “So, how are we going to go back upriver and get our car?" 7. If you were a fish, what kind would you be? Unequivocally, a striped bass. They live upwards of 30 years, can spend…

Approximately 7,700 years ago, Mount Mazama blew its top, creating modern-day Crater Lake and spewing a considerable portion of its ~8,100 foot peak all over the western U.S., laying down a deposit of ash and pumice to cover the nearby mountains and fill the valleys with hundreds of feet of debris. Today, 35 miles southeast of Crater Lake, the scant precipitation that falls in this rain shadow area of southern Oregon percolates through these pumice layers, emerging from the numerous springs around the Yamsi Ranch to form the remarkably pure and clear headwaters of the Williamson River, the northernmost tributary to the Klamath River. Yamsi Ranch is and always has been a working cattle ranch since the land was first acquired by the Hyde family back near the turn of…

The history of the United States is filled with harrowing tales of revolt, wealth, and competition — for better or for worse. One such story that has found a home in the pages of every middle school U.S. history textbook is of the California Gold Rush. Facilitating Westward Expansion in the mid-1800s, the Gold Rush brought Anglo settlers and their livestock to an area previously populated only by Indigenous peoples. As the settlers scoured the Sierra Nevada goldfields, their livestock overgrazed the flat plains and meadows that both held cultural significance to the Indigenous peoples and provided important functions for the ecosystem. Textbooks rarely mention the cultural consequences of Westward Expansion, and they often fail entirely to mention the environmental consequences. Unbeknownst to the inhabitants of the Sierra Nevada at…

I walk up the dirt road gingerly picking my path around ruts and deadfall. I’m thinking about the flows, the light, the fish. Suddenly an explosion of black feathers just feet away—turkey vultures blast upward. I look down and see fresh kill, my eyes drawn into the dark socket that once enclosed the deer’s eye. What killed it? And when might it return for its cache? I consider returning to my truck, but nervous energy propels me forward. What are the chances that a mountain lion is going to mess with me when its cupboards are full? I refocus on my path, trying to ignore my twitching eyelid; when was the last time that twitch betrayed me—biology class finals, decades ago? I concentrate on my mission to test two flies…

CRAWDADS ON THE RIVER SACRAMENTO, CA If you want to talk about a joint that would be my perfect eatery, this place is it. It’s on the river— not beside it, not overlooking it; it’s literally on the river. It’s easily accessible, has a large parking lot, is in a great location, has excellent staff, and, above all, the food is fantastic. Kirsten and I dined at Crawdad’s with our friend and local Delta guide Toby Uppinghouse. I asked Toby for his advice on the best places to eat. Without hesitation, he said, “Crawdads!” Kirsten and I planned to meet him on our way to Morro Bay. Kirsten and I arrived first and checked out the place. It is huge and features an interior sitting area adjacent to a 25-yard…

It has been a weird summer season for me so far. I had a list of places I wanted to fish and things I wanted to do to escape the summer doldrums, but truck and boat issues derailed some of those plans. Until this last month, I would have told you that I keep my fishing pretty simple, but I’ve realized that’s far from the truth. Early in the season, I hit a log in my jet boat on the river—totally my fault and not something I’m proud of—which caused a bunch of issues with my motor that took a few weeks to work out. Just as those problems were finally resolved, the check engine light came on in my new truck. That led to nearly a month of warranty…

Mike Costello Captain Mike resides in Woodbridge, and has been a full-time fly-fishing guide for over 36 years, specializing in fly fishing the California Delta, as well as guiding clients on the Lower Sacramento and the Mokelumne River. Mike is also the author of two books, Fly Fishing the California Delta and the childrens book, Where A Trout Calls Home. George Croton George is an attorney in the Bay Area. He specializes in water quality law and environmental regulatory compliance. He lives in Sonoma with his wife, two dogs, and two cats and enjoys fishing everywhere from muddy sloughs to alpine lakes. He contributes "The History of the Striper" to this issue. Erik Duisenberg Erik is a native Californian who grew up exploring the mountains, lakes, & streams of the…

BLM land. What the hell is it anyway? We all know it, it’s your land and my land, managed by bureaucrats somewhere back in Washington (or Sacramento). Teddy Roosevelt and the Forest Service are mixed up in it. As is George Bird Grinnell. And certainly Aldo Leopold, the de facto current symbol of conservation. Hell, even old Ed Abbey. But how did it come about and what does it actually mean these days for you and me (and our fly rods)? Author and custom furniture maker Josh Jackson set out to explore the land marked ‘U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management’ across California. What began with a map pinned to his wall showing all the BLM land in the state turned into his book, The Enduring Wild.…

Conway Bowman is a world-renowned saltwater fly fishing guide and pioneer of mako shark fly fishing. The San Diego native and co-host of "The Outfitters" has pushed the boundaries of what's possible with a fly rod, earning recognition as an Orvis-Endorsed guide, Yeti ambassador, and Costa-endorsed captain. From his early days casting Royal Coachmen for brook trout in Idaho's Stanley Basin to pursuing 800-pound makos off California's coast, Conway embodies the consummate angler's spirit. Here, his good friend and accomplished saltwater angler Al Quattrocchi—award-winning creative director, IGFA world record holder, and passionate surf guide from Los Angeles—sits down with Conway to explore his journey from backyard bass ponds to the ultimate apex predators of the Pacific We have been buddies for a long time. What impresses me about you is…

The spiders in this story, though separated by decades, share this foundation: both were designed by West Coast steelhead fishers and fly designers, bringing their skills and insights to the Intermountain West. Both flies use mallard and marabou, and both use red or orange fibers for the tail. The Mallard Spider Hook: Mustad 9671, sizes 2-10 Thread: Black, tyer's choice Tail: Red hackle fibers Body: Yellow floss Ribbing: Gold embossed tinsel Underwing: White or light-yellow marabou Hackle: Mallard breast feather Tying tips: The tail is tied such that it extends one-half to one-third of the shank length past the bend. The body is simply yellow floss with tinsel ribbing. The marabou is tied in on top, just in front of the body, and the mallard is wound around the shank…