Water temperatures in the low flow section of the Feather River have dropped, making ethical and rewarding all-day fishing possible with flows at a prime 1200 cfs. However, if you’re fishing the high flow (currently at 8500 cfs), it’s not recommended to fish past 2 PM, and wading is not advised. If you’re drifting, please keep this in mind and aim to be off the water by 2 PM at the latest. We’re finding steelhead throughout the system, but please be aware of the spring-run salmon. They are abundant, especially in the low flow. If you accidentally hook one, please break it off. These fish have endured warm 75+ degree water on the way lower Feather and need every chance they can get to rest. You might see thousands of dead spring-run salmon in the low flow, which was caused by extremely warm water temperatures and an outbreak of Columnaris disease. So don’t be alarmed if you do, this has been reported, and since then, with our help DWR was increased LFC flows and its helped cool down the entire river system. With that being said though, don’t be afraid to swing or nymph a FLESH FLY HINT HINT!!!!!!!! Again, if you accidently hook a salmon, which you will, please break it off. Your best bet for steelhead is to fish the faster, oxygenated water where the salmon are not holding.
