Musing's of An Old Trout Bum - Weekly Newsletter, Sunday September 7, 2025
NEWS OF INTEREST
The family and friends of Philip “Flip” Pallot are terribly saddened to share the news that Flip passed away on August 26, 2025, in Thomasville, Georgia, due to complications from surgery. This was unexpected and unmooring for us all.
Colorado Fly Tier A.K. Best Passes Away. “With an eye to detail and a willingness to break traditional norms, Best’s patterns were soon in great demand. So much so that Boulder newspaper writer Ed Engle would say that Best’s flies were the best he had ever seen. Best would keep at it for decades, stopping only as advancing age and the sorrow from losing Jan a couple of years ago forced him away from the fly-tying vise for good.”
Finally Some Good News about Bristal Bay: https://www.anglingtrade.com/2025/07/20/trump-stands-firm-no-pebble-mine/
Public access on Public Lands: https://www.anglingtrade.com/2025/07/24/supreme-court-could-determine-access-to-8-million-acres-of-public-lands/
One individual’s opinion on government’s proposal to open public land to road building. I thought this was a well-written article that you may or may not agree with.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-169960596NEW AND FUTURE EVENTS
New Fly Shop-Dog Town Fly Co/Venice Beach CA
Planning to open soon. We’ll let you know as soon as that happens. In the meanwhile, log on toAnnual BBQ & Fair @ Fly Fishing Specialties in Citrus Heights CA-,
Sept 13th/10am-3pm , www.flyfishingspecialties.comNew Fly Shop in the Bay Area. Cross Water Creek Fly Shop has just opened in Lafayettes CA. Check them out www.crosswatercreek.com
NOW IS THE TIME TO BOOK ONE OF OUR FALL CLINICS AS THEY ARE FILLING UP FAST
If my published clinic schedule does not work for you, keep in mind that I will be happy to conduct a personal clinic for one or two individuals at a time of your choosing.
HAD A GREAT TIME WITH THE GUYS YESTERDAY-SATURDAY THE 6th on my Lower American River-Steelhead Orientation Clinic. I have spots still open for next week’s clinic on Saturday, September 13
Got Questions? Contact me at:
Cell/Text: (916)719-6253
Email: vinci.greg@gmail.com
For more information about the clinics go to:
https://www.californiaflyfishingreports.com/clinics-greg
PRIVATE FLY FISHING INSTRUCTION
I do private introduction to fly fishing classes and also refresher courses for those who’ve been away from the sport and need to brush up on techniques.
For more information, log on to https://www.californiaflyfishingreports.com/clinics-greg
THIS WEEK’S VIDEO’s
Thought all of you might be interested in this video featuring my friend guide Ryan Williams who has pioneered the Float & Fly techinique for bass fishing. He also is the only fly fisherman to ever win a pro-bass tournament.
Salmon on the McCloud
Click below to see a video about lanlocked salmon spawning in the McCloud for the first time. https://fb.watch/B0cEo6ryGa/
Proposed Yuba River (Daguerre Dam) By Pass Video: CLICK BELOW
https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article306935376.html#campaignName=sacramento_morning_newsletter&linkType=nmeintro
TRAVEL
2026 Hosted Fly Fishing Travel oportunities have just been posted. Click Here to see what adventures are available for next year https://www.fly-fishingtravel.com/
(note: Fly-FishingTravel.com is recommended, but not directly associated with me personally)
2025 CA FISHING REGULATIONS-MADE EASY!
Links to a more user-friendly “Special Regulations” section
I’m sure you will all agree with me that negotiating the CDFW Fishing Regulation booklet is a pain in the ass. For that reason, I have made copies of the pages in the booklet that pertain to some of the most popular waters that have Special Regulations, so all you have to do is click on the link for the water you are interested in, and you will be taken directly to a copy of the page CDFW regulations page. As we move forward, I will be adding more waters. If there is a water that you would like me to feature, don’t hesitate to contact me, and I’ll add it.
FLY FISHING CLUBS
Fly clubs are by far the most effective and least expensive way to learn all about fly fishing. Almost every metropolitan area in California and Nevada has a fly club. You can join for a nominal fee and get access to members who are devoted to sharing with you everything they know about how to catch fish with a fly rod. For a complete list of fly fishing clubs in California and Nevada, click below.
FLY SHOPS OF CALIFORNIA & NEVADA-”UPDATED”
Click below to see a complete listing of where you can purchase fly fishing tackle in California and western Nevada. Support your local shop (if you don’t see the name of your shop, contact me)
THIS WEEK’S “WHERE TO GO FISHING TIPS” - “UPDATED” (Note: by clicking on the links below, you can see the up-to-date report on each discussed destination as it appears on the current issue of www.californiaflyfishingreports.com website.)
With the cooler fall weather, fishing in Northern California is definitely picking up. Below are selected popular waters with a short comment on current fishing. If you would like to see a more detailed updated report on a particular water, click on it’s link and you will be taken to this week’s more detailed discussion.
Flows in Putah Creek have dropped to around 398 CFS, which makes wading a little easier for us average-sized guys, though there are several spots, particularly at Access #5 that are wadeable. Remember that the side channels are very accessible. The flows on the lower Yuba have dropped a little to about 2000 CFS, which is wadeable. I think it is definitely worth a try. Click on the link and get the full report.Check here for some new information that’s come to light on the Yuba’s public access.
The section close to the town of Truckee is still fishing very well due to our cool summer, and water temperatures are in the low 60s. Call Trout Creek Outfitters for an up-to-the-minute report. The Little Truckee is clear, but the flows are so low that it’s probably best to give the river a rest and check back when the flows come back up. Again, give Trout Creek Outfitters a call for more info. On the East Walker the hot weather has slowed things this week, though mornings have been fishing OK, East Carson has been regularly stocked by CDFW over the last several weeks and the fishing is very good. Click on the link for more info. The West Carson is really low and warm except for the canyon section, which has lots of shade to keep the water cool. It’s been recently planted by CDFW. The Trinity River is still fishing well. Steelhead fishing on the Feather River low-flow section is slow right now due to the large run of Chinook Salmon taking up all the space. Once they are on redds, the fishing should improve, and the egg bite will be on! Lastly, the bass fishing on the foothill lakes has really turned on. The fishing on the upper Sacramento River is improving due to cooler nights.
GUIDES
I would like to welcome Capt. Gregg Holland (see ad above) as our newest sponsor of www.CaliforniaFlyFishingReports. He is one of the only fly fishing and waterfowl guides on the San Francisco Bay. Imagine catching a twenty-pound Striper or shooting a limit of ducks in sight of the Golden Gate!
Click below if you are looking for a guide for California and Nevada waters. Please call me if you need more information. (By the way, we don’t accept any royalties from guides we recommend).
ORGANIZATIONS WE SUPPORT + FRIENDS
Below are several conservation organizations that we support and sponsors that support us Check them out.
UPDATE ON CORPS OF ENGINEERS PLAN TO REMOVE ALL RIPARIAN VEGETATION ALONG 4 MILES OF THE LOWER AMERICAN RIVER
If you are a regular reader of this post, you are aware of the Army Corps of Engineers project to remove all of the trees along 4 miles of the Lower American River from approximately Sac State to the Mayhew ditch. A couple of weeks ago, the final nail in the coffin was hammered by the Central Valley Flood Control Board when they voted unanimously to move forward with the project. As a result, a lawsuit has been filed to force the Corps of Engineers to take measures to mitigate the destruction of the river’s riparian habitat. The following is a reprint from the Sacramento Bee that will explain what will happen as we move forward.
A national conservation organization joined two Sacramento nonprofits to file a federal lawsuit over a plan to uproot hundreds of trees on the American River Parkway by government officials who say the work seeks to protect against flooding. The Sacramento region is in one of the nation’s most flood-prone metropolitan areas, and its levee system is vulnerable to “erosion, seepage and stability,” the U.S. Army Corps said on its website. The Corps will raze trees to install riprap, or rocks, along the lower American River, as well as fortify the Natomas East Main Drainage Canal, Arcade Creek and Magpie Creek. Advocates filed the lawsuit to seek alternative flood protection measures on the American River, north of the Watt Avenue bridge, than those proposed by the Corps. But the Corps did not consider any other methods other than riprap, according to the lawsuit filed Thursday by the Save the American River Association, American River Trees organization and the Center for Biological Diversity in Eastern District of California. The nonprofits proposed measures such as “bioengineering” or less destructive, smaller rocks, the lawsuit said. “The goal of the lawsuit is not to stop the project,” said Patrick Soluri, who is representing the Sacramento nonprofits. “The goal of the lawsuit is instead for the Army (Corps) to give meaningful consideration to the bioengineering alternative — which has been recommended by other federal agencies and even promised by the Army Corps in the past — so that the project does not destroy the natural resources of the American River.” The lawsuit, filed against the Corps, U.S. National Park Service and a state entity called the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, claims the project violates federal and state’s wild and scenic rivers acts, the National Environmental Policy Act, Administrative Procedure Act, the California Environmental Quality Act and other laws. It also comes after the Central Valley Flood Protection Board unanimously voted last month to begin construction on the lower American River Parkway project, called 3B and 4B and led by the Corps. “The section of the Parkway where the project would occur is one of the most highly-visited areas of the Parkway, used daily by people who live or travel here, seeking scenic views, nature trails, fishing, wildlife-watching, exercise, relaxation, a chance to visit and explore a rare riparian forest, or the opportunity to simply find a moment alone in a beautiful natural setting,” the lawsuit said.
Respective spokespersons for the Central Valley Flood Protection Board and the Corps, each said it does not comment on pending litigation. A spokesperson for the U.S. National Park Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “USACE is committed to reducing flood risk to the Sacramento region in partnership with our state and local partners and in compliance with the law,” said Corps spokesperson Maj. Kara Greene on Wednesday Work under contracts 3B and 4B impacts about 3.3 miles, and goes against values contained within federal and state environmental laws which seek to protect the river, the lawsuit said. The environmental impact reports also “failed to consider any potentially feasible alternatives to the project, instead only examining the proposed project or no action.” The report is also “based on flawed assumptions and erroneous findings,” the lawsuit said. The American River Parkway is home to wildlife, such as otters, beavers, turtles, many bird species, opossum and more. Towering trees, some of which are hundreds of years old, provide shelter to these animals, the lawsuit said. Proposed plans could decimate these habitats by removing about 800 trees across two projects. Workers will also trim trees or drive over roots, causing more damage, the lawsuit said. The American River Parkway contains oak trees protected under a Sacramento County ordinance deeming that wood significant to the historical heritage of this area, the lawsuit said. Publicly available federal documents about the project do not disclose how many heritage oak trees would be removed, potentially harmed or where that timber is located within the project, the lawsuit said. The nonprofits are seeking a ruling declaring Corps and U.S. National Service violated state and national environmental laws; the Central Valley Flood Protection Board to set aside its approval of the project; and stop the Corps from starting construction unless the work is compliant with the law. The Corps is set to begin construction next summer and wrap up the project in 2027. If the lower American River Parkway plan goes through, it could take centuries for the area to be restored, the lawsuit said.
Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article311871839.html#storylink=cpy
American River Trees: https://www.americanrivertrees.org/project-3b
American River Trees is working to keep the Army Corps of Engineers from laying waste to four miles of riparian vegetation on the lower American River under the guise of “Levee Improvements.” If you are in Sacramento, take a look downstream from the H Street Bridge (near Sac State) and you will be able to see the damage of the just completed project and what the next phase will do to another four miles upstream. If you would like to keep our beautiful river from being channelized, please learn about what you can do by clicking on the above link.
Save the American River Association (SARA): www.sarariverwatch.org
SARA (along with American River Trees) is also working to stop the Army Corps of Engineers from decimating the riparian vegetation along 4 miles of the river from Sac State to past Watt Avenue. Click here for more information https://www.sarariverwatch.org/safca_leveeAmerican River Parkway Foundation: https://arpf.org/
Cal Trout: https://caltrout.org/
Save Auburn Ravine Salmon & Steelhead (SARSAS): www.sarsas.org
Trout Unlimited: https://www.tu.org/
Water Bird Habitat:
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=waterbird%20habitat%20projectDry Creek Conservancy: https://drycreekconservancy.org
Cast Hope: https://casthope.org
Water Forum: https://waterforum.org/
Bill Kiene Fly Fishing Forum: www.billkiene.com
Truckee Riv Public Water: https://www.facebook.com/TruckeeRiverPublicWaters
California Sport Fishing Alliance (CSPA): https://calsport.org/
PHOTOGRAPHY WEBSITE
I’m currently working on a portfolio of fall-themed fly fishing images that I will be shortly pitching to magazines. Check them out https://www.gregvinciphoto.com/fly-fishing-autumn-2025