Hatch-chart pattern list
Best Flies for Fall River (California)
The Fall River in California fishes as both a wade and a float. It is a spring creek fishery for Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout, with the most reliable window in May, June, September. The patterns below are matched to the hatch chart we publish for this water. They are not a live report of what other anglers caught this week.
What's hatching now
Month, insect, size, and pattern from the Fall River hatch chart. August is highlighted when that month exists in the chart. We do not invent a hatch that is not on the chart.
| Month | Insect | Size | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | Midge | #20-24 | Zebra Midge |
| Blue-winged Olive | #18-22 | Parachute BWO | |
| April | Blue-winged Olive | #18-22 | CDC Dun BWO |
| Midge | #20-24 | Mercury Midge | |
| May | PMD (Pale Morning Dun) | #16-18 | PMD Sparkle Dun |
| Hexagenia | #6-8 | Hex Paradrake | |
| Caddis | #14-16 | Elk Hair Caddis | |
| June | Hexagenia | #6-8 | Lawsons Hex |
| PMD | #16-18 | PMD Cripple | |
| Trico | #20-24 | Trico Spinner | |
| July | Trico | #20-24 | Trico Spinner |
| PMD | #16-18 | PMD Dun | |
| August | Trico | #20-24 | Trico Poly Wing Spinner |
| Midge | #20-24 | Griffiths Gnat | |
| September | PMD | #16-18 | PMD Sparkle Dun |
| Blue-winged Olive | #18-22 | Parachute BWO | |
| October | Blue-winged Olive | #18-22 | Sparkle Dun BWO |
| Midge | #20-24 | Zebra Midge |
Nymphs
Subsurface patterns matched to this river's chart and catalog. Fish them at the size the chart lists, not the size that looks good in the bin.
Dries
Dries and terrestrials for the Fall River. If the chart says a size 18 PMD, do not start with a 12.
Streamers
Streamers and wets for stained water, banks, and low light. This is not a claim that streamers are "on" today.
Setup
5X and 6X fluorocarbon on nymphs, 5X on dries unless the fish are on Tricos, then 6X or 7X. A 3.0–3.8mm tungsten on the point and a lighter dropper is a default until you see the water. Tight-line the near bank and the heads of pockets. Use an indicator only when you need to search water you cannot euro.
FAQ
- What flies work on the Fall River?
- Start with BWO Sparkle Dun and Zebra Midge, then match size to the hatch chart for the month you are standing in. The Fall River does not need a 40-pattern box. It needs the right size on the insect that is actually in the drift.
- When is the best time to fly fish the Fall River?
- The editorial window we list is May, June, September, October. That is a planning month range, not a guarantee. Shoulder months can fish well if flows and water temperature cooperate.
- Do I need a guide on the Fall River?
- California has walk-up wade water and, on some sections, float water. A guide is worth it for a first float or a technical tailwater. A hatch chart and a gauge are enough for a first wade if you already nymph. We list local guides and shops on this page when we have them.
- Where can I see live flow for the Fall River?
- Open the Fall River river page for the USGS gauge, access notes, and the same hatch chart this fly list is built from. We do not publish other people's spots or fish counts.
- Is this a report of what's working now on the Fall River?
- No. Executive Angler does not publish other anglers' catches, GPS, or a crowdsourced hot fly. This page is hatch-chart patterns plus catalog flies. Presence on the river page is gauge and weather only.
Related
Fall River
Access, hatch chart, USGS gauge.
California
Trip planning for this region.
BWO Sparkle Dun
Dry
Zebra Midge
Midge
BWO Parachute
Dry
Confluence Outfitters Guides
Jack Trout
Confluence Outfitters
Northern California
Jack Trout Fly Fishing
408 Main St, McCloud, CA 96057
Hat Creek
Open the river guide, then its fly list.
McCloud River
Open the river guide, then its fly list.
Truckee River
Open the river guide, then its fly list.
Upper Sacramento River
Open the river guide, then its fly list.