Fall River · Fall River Valley · Late Season
Fall River Fishing Report – Quiet Water, Midday Mayflies
Compiled from the regional sources listed below (gauges, CDFW, weather and shop reports) and reviewed by Travis.
Current conditions in brief
As of October 18, 2026: October on the Fall is all about solitude.
Updated · Always-current Fall River report
October on the Fall is all about solitude. Most of the summer crowd has moved to the Lower Sac and the Trinity, and the spring-fed water stays clear and steady no matter what the weather does.
Current Conditions
- Water: Clear, at normal spring-fed flows.
- Bugs: Small PMDs and BWOs, with the best emergence from mid-morning to about midday.
- Fish: Many trout are sitting shallow along the weed beds. Look for subtle rises.
Best Time of Day
Be on the water mid-morning and fish the hatch hard. The wind usually picks up in the early afternoon. When it does, switch from dries to stripping small leeches or water boatman patterns along the weed edges.
Quick Rigging Tips
- Use a long, fine leader and make downstream drifts, so the trout sees the fly before the line or tippet.
- Small rusty spinners and PMD/BWO dries cover the risers. Hang a tiny mayfly nymph off the dry for fish that won't come up.
- Bring a sinking or intermediate line for the windy part of the afternoon.
Access
Nearly all of the river runs through private land, so it's fished almost entirely from flat-bottomed prams with electric or small gas motors. Fishing with a guide who has a boat is the simplest way to get on it.
Weather & What to Wear
This is the coldest stop on my list. Morning lows are in the low to mid 30s, and highs drop from the mid 60s early in the week to the mid 50s by Thursday. Rain chances build from Tuesday night, and rain is likely Wednesday night. Bring a warm hat, gloves, and a real rain jacket. Monday afternoon gusts could reach 18 mph.
Season & Regulations
Fall River is open all year. There's no November closure, so you can keep fishing it into the winter. It's catch-and-release (0 trout), and only artificial lures with barbless hooks are allowed. Check current CDFW regs before you go.
Fall River questions this week
Is the Fall River fishing well right now?
As of October 18, 2026: October on the Fall is all about solitude. Most of the summer crowd has moved to the Lower Sac and the Trinity, and the spring-fed water stays clear and steady no matter what the weather does.
Ready to book a trip?
Call or text Travis at (530) 722-8331 for a quick, same-day response, or book through The Fly Shop at 1-800-669-3474.
Sources
Gauge readings are provisional. Dates show when each source was published or read.
- California Fly Fishing Reports (10/14)
- The Fly Shop (10/14)
- Confluence Outfitters, Fall River guide page (accessed 10/18)
- CDFW 2026 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations (updated 7/10/26), §7.50(b)(47) "Fall River Complex"
- NWS forecast, Fall River Mills (10/18)
More reports from October 18, 2026
- Sacramento River Fishing Report – The Egg Bite Is On in Redding
- Trinity River Fishing Report – Winter Flows, Bright Fish and an Egg Bite
- Upper Sacramento River Fishing Report – October Caddis Season Is Starting
- McCloud River Fishing Report – Cold Water, Pre-Spawn Browns, First October Caddis
- Pit River Fishing Report – Steady Canyon Flows, Fall Pocket Water
- Hat Creek Fishing Report – Cold Spring Water, Fall BWOs and Pre-Spawn Browns