Feather River

Remote canyon freestone/tailwater below Belden Dam in the Feather River Canyon. Steep gradient with pocket water, plunge pools, and boulder gardens. Multiple PG&E dams (Rock Creek, Cresta, Poe) create short tailwater sections between impoundments. Highway 70 parallels with pulloffs at Tobin, Storrie, and Pulga.

Best for: Wild rainbow trout (8-14"). Small-stream pocket water nymphing and dry fly. Beautiful remote Sierra canyon. May-Oct when conditions are best.

Wild and Scenic river flowing through the Lost Sierra from the Portola/Graeagle area through the Scenic zone to Merrimac. The Recreational zone (Clio to Mohawk/Sloat) offers the best access with meadow and canyon sections holding wild rainbow and brown trout averaging 12-16 inches with fish to 22 inches possible. The Scenic and Wild zones below Sloat are increasingly remote and rugged.

Best for: Wild rainbow and brown trout. Dry fly and nymph fishing. Spring (Apr-Jun) and fall (Sep-Nov) peak seasons. Lost Sierra solitude.

One of four major tributary forks converging at Lake Oroville. Smaller mountain stream with wild and stocked trout in a forested canyon setting. Less well-known than the North and Middle Forks but offers uncrowded fishing.

Best for: Wild and stocked trout. Small-stream fishing. Low pressure.

Mountain stream flowing from below Little Grass Valley Reservoir through steep Sierra terrain to Lake Oroville. The best trout fishing is in the tailwater below the reservoir dam where cold releases support wild rainbows and browns to 14 inches. Picturesque tree-lined pools with productive nymph fishing during June stonefly and mayfly hatches.

Best for: Wild rainbow and brown trout. Tailwater nymphing below Little Grass Valley. June stonefly and mayfly hatches. Mountain stream solitude.

Classic tailwater riffles, runs, and glides immediately below the Fish Barrier Dam. Cold, clear water year-round. The most productive section of the Low Flow Channel. Wild Trout Water designation with catch-and-release, artificial lure only regulations.

Best for: Wild rainbow trout year-round. BWO and caddis hatches (Mar-May and Sep-Nov). October Caddis in fall. Winter midging.

River widens and deepens through riffles, deeper pools, and gravel bars. Cottonwood and valley oak line the banks. More room to spread out than the Wild Trout section. Larger average fish in deeper pools.

Best for: Year-round nymphing. Streamers for larger fish in deeper runs. Steelhead staging in fall/winter.

Wider, slower water with deeper pools and sandy/gravel runs toward the Thermalito Afterbay outlet. Water temperature increases in summer. Better boat/kayak access.

Best for: Trout and steelhead (Oct-May). Shad (May-Jun). Drift boat fishing expands coverage.

Full river flow restored below the Thermalito Afterbay outlet. Wide, powerful river with gravel bars, deep runs, and side channels. Primarily a seasonal anadromous fishery. Boyd's Pump boat ramp provides drift boat access.

Best for: Steelhead (Nov-Mar). Fall Chinook salmon (Sep-Dec). Shad (May-Jun). Striped bass (spring).

Continuing south through the Sacramento Valley agricultural land. Wide river with gravel bars and side channels. Salmon and steelhead staging water.

Best for: Steelhead (Oct-Mar). Fall Chinook salmon (Sep-Dec). Shad and striped bass (spring).

Sacramento Valley river flowing through agricultural land past the Yuba River confluence. Wide, slow water with gravel bars and side channels. Popular for steelhead, shad, and striped bass. Yuba public boat ramp and Feather River Wildlife Area provide access.

Best for: Steelhead (Oct-Mar). Striped bass (Mar-Jun). Shad (Apr-Jun). Drift boat or jet boat fishing.

Lower Feather River flowing south through the Sacramento Valley to the Sacramento River confluence at Verona. Wide, slow valley river. Nicolaus Bridge and Star Bend are popular access points. Good striped bass and shad water.

Best for: Striped bass (Mar-Jun). Shad (Apr-Jun). Seasonal steelhead. Sacramento River confluence fishing.