California Fly Fisher

California Fly Fisher is the definitive voice of fly fishing in the Golden State. From the steelhead rivers of the North Coast to the trout streams of the Eastern Sierra, each issue explores California’s rich angling landscape with vivid storytelling, expert advice, and stunning photography. Discover top destinations in and around the state, sharpen your skills with pro tips and techniques, and meet the people shaping the sport—from legendary anglers to emerging voices. With fly-tying insights, conservation features, and deep dives into California’s iconic waters, California Fly Fisher is more than a magazine—it’s a celebration of a unique angling culture.

A LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

California Fly Fisher

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

In This Issue

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Events

To Read

To Read and Watch

A Creek of One’s Own

Local Watershed Heroes

Form Follows Function • Dries for October Caddis

ORVIS® • SHOP FOR ORVIS GEAR AND APPAREL AT THESE CALIFORNIA RETAILERS

AI Knows Everything • Until it doesn’t

The Stan

Middle Fork Stanislaus Quick Guide

Gabe Ethier

GEOLOGY: GOLD AND WATER-STANISLAUS RIVER

MAMMALOGY: THE ELUSIVE SIERRA NEVADA RED FOX

Here Comes El Niño • What this powerful Pacific climate pattern could mean for California fly fishing

Tideline to Alpine • On foot around the historic range of the Southern California steelhead

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout • Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi

Fish Water People Photo Contest 2026

Why Fly Lines Matter: Part III: Two-Handed Spey Lines

Tips on Tips

My Streamer Journey • An introduction to streamer fly fishing in rivers

Love It for What It Is • Discovering Shasta Lake’s surprisingly wild winter bass fishery

Nate Landman

Three Days in the Gorge • Trout nirvana in western Colorado

If You Go:

What Bug Is That? • Learn to recognize the insects trout eat —and choose the right fly to match

The Willful Suspension of Disbelief • The complicated history behind the Truckee River we fish today

Stanislaus

An Ode to Wade Fishing