The weather up here at Trout Underground/Man Cave World Headquarters hasn’t been record-breaking warm – it’s been almost record-breaking warm, and it’s been that way for weeks.

And yes, local fly fishermen know the drill; the Upper Sacramento and McCloud Rivers long ago fell into the “fly fish early & late” routine that allows you to fish when it’s good and lay about in the shade (largely guilt-free) when it’s not.

It's been hot like this for weeks. That's unusual.

It’s unusual to experience the “dog days” quite this early, and it’s hard not to wince a little when you see the state of the area’s smaller streams, which look perfect in late spring. When you fish them in spring, you wonder why you’re only getting tiny fish, but by fall, they’re reduced to a trickle, and you’re reminded – on a very visceral level – why the trout never get too big.

I understand that’s how these streams operate – to become fully functioning trout streams they’d need to be fed by mountains that are at least a couple thousand feet higher – but that doesn’t stop a greedy fly fisherman from wanting more than nature’s going to give you.

I spoke to local guide Wayne Eng, and he agreed that things were a little advanced for this time of the year, but that the usual rules applied: fish the white, oxygenated water; look for tricos on the lower river in the mornings, and get back out on the river at dusk (and hope like hell for an evening hatch).

Of course, you can always load up you float tube and head for one of the high-country lakes that stay cool year round, though their “best” fly fishing time has also passed.

Cue the Distractions

Then again, if there were monster hatches going right now, I wouldn’t be lamenting the higher-than-normal temperatures – I’d be asking why the good hatches always happen when I’m too busy to bathe, much less fish.

I’m Ride Director for the Shasta Summit Century bike ride (135 miles, 16,500′ of climbing), which comes off (flawlessly let’s hope) this Sunday (August 2).

The last week before the ride is always something of a fire drill, but in this case I’m also slated for a quick client trip to the Bay Area (cue the violins).

And realistically, if you’re going to actually work at self-employment like you mean it, there are worse times to be overbusy than a long stretch of dog days.

See you on the River (just not this week), Tom Chandler.