Fishing Season: Year Round

Feather River - CA

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

58

Joe Garza's Tip of the Week

Recently I've seen a lot of poor river etiquette from both boat anglers and bank anglers. Bank anglers, when you arrive at a run and there is a boat with anglers there, don't walk out into the water in front or behind the boat and start casting. That boat is going to row back up and drift down the river there several times. Just as the boat should give you the right of way if they came upon you in the run, and move on, bank anglers should do the same for the boat anglers. Or if you are the bank angler you could wait until the boat finishes working the run and moves downstream. Remember that the boat will be moving downstream shortly.

Directions open in app

Map of Feather River

Water Flow Data

Tidal Conditions

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

J.A.G. Fly Fishing

5-Day Outlook as of 12/5/25

Fishing on the the Lower Feather River has slowed a little with the salmon spawn fisnishing up. However, this is the time of year we start to see the larger female Steelhead show up. Also, this is time of year the the pressure lightens up. Indicator fishing has been the most productive, with tightline and spey a close second. There are still salmon spawning Eggs (8mm), Baetis (#16/18) and Caddis (#14/16) continue to be productive. With less salmon in the system the spey game is starting to get good. We should start seeeing Alvin in the system any time now. Once the Alvin start hatching fishing will pick up.

Techniques & Tips as of 12/5/25

Indicator Nymphing, Tight Line/High Stick Nymphing, Single Hand Swing, Spey/Switch, Dry Fly.

Local Species Available Year Round

  • Fish Icon

    Steelhead

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    Striper

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    Salmon

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    Shad

Joe Garza's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Shaky Worm Red 12
Hickey's Tungsten Bead Auto Emerger N/A 18
Higa's S.O.S. Olive, Black 18
Meg A Egg Sucking Leech Pink, Orange 8
Fox Poopah Cinnamon 12, 14
E.C. Caddis Tan, Olive 12, 14
Vitso's Psycho Spawn Chartreuse, Pink 14
Prince Nymph N/A 14, 16
Hale Bopp Leech Olive, Black 8
Sac Fry N/A 12, 14

Shaky Worm

This trout fishing worm pattern will make you a believer.

2.49

Item #0K7T

Buy Now

Joe Garza's Recommended Gear

Description: About Feather River

This tailwater fishery flows out of Oroville Dam, the tallest earthen dam in the country. The river is best known for its Steelhead and Salmon fishing. Holding both hatchery and wild Steelhead/Salmon, there are also opportunities for Striped Bass or Shad during certain times of the year. Just below the dam, water is diverted to the Forebay and Thermalito Afterbay for water storage, hydro-electric power, and flood control for the local area. This causes the Lower Feather River to be broken into two different sections, known as the low-flow area and the high-flow area. The low flow starts at the Feather River hatchery and ends approximately 5.5 miles downstream at the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet. The high flow starts at the Afterbay outlet and ends approximately 8.5 miles downstream at the Gridley boat launch. With 14 miles of river to fish, there are many options for both drift boat trips and walk and wade trips. The Lower Feather River offers a variety of methods to search for hard-fighting steelhead throughout the year. Those methods include indicator nymphing, tight line/high stick nymphing, single hand swing, and spey/switch. The best times to fish for Steelhead on the Lower Feather River is during the Fall run (September through December), and the Spring run (February through May).

Nearest Airport:

Sacramento International Airport

Hatches:

Eggs, Caddis, Baetis, Worms, Alvin, Chironomids, PMD's, Little Yellow Stones.

Best Time to Fish:

9am to 3pm

Best Stretch:

Low Flow

Best Access:

10th Street