Biggest Rainbow of the Year | Fly Fishing the McCloud under NEW REGS

[@thelouks]

Just spent the last week fishing the McCloud with great results. PMD hatch is going off and the fish are bitting. Not sure if its the low water levels but I caught more trout than in the past and healthy sizes too. Most fish were in the 15 to 18 inch range with a few in the 12 inch size. Im glad I saw your video and got me motivated to get out there. The best results were from a buggy Hares Ear without a bead in the #14 size.

[@driftstone]

Thanks for the detailed report and I'm stoked you did so well!

[@brianedwards2207]

My all time favorite memories are fishing here with my dad when I was a boy. I grew up in Mt. Shasta and would fish the McCloud often, usually from the upper falls and upstream to the dam and campground. Haven’t been there since the ‘80s and dad passed in ‘99 but feel like yesterday watching your videos

[@jeromedamian5740]

Its always great to see different areas people hit , that place is like going back in time , the browns are incredible and so powerful. I can't help but feel we are so blessed to havev such a fisherie in are backyard, the rightfull home of bows around the globe.

[@jdemartini9807]

You’re right. That’s a very big rainbow for the McCloud. Love that river

[@driftstone]

Yeah, this fish still stands my rainbow PB. The Mac can hold big fish though, don't discount it.

[@thebluewoollybugger]

Looks like a beautiful place to fish. Thank you for sharing! Enjoyed experiencing the river vicariously through you.

[@driftstone]

The scenery here cannot be beat. Highly recommend it

[@layton-b9828]

How you don’t have at least 10k subs i will never know, quality of the video and editing is insane 👏👏👏

[@driftstone]

Haha well thank you. ❤️

[@louied6065]

Hi Eric. Just subbed. That 21’’ bow was a beast. McCloud rainbows were introduced in the Upper Delaware River where I fish in the late 1880’s. Very powerful fish.

[@driftstone]

Yeah, that's pretty cool to know these fish have been planted all over the world. Thanks for the sub and see you aroudn!

[@nothingbuttrains9241]

11 seconds in, Stunning visuals, I can already tell this is gonna be awesome!

[@driftstone]

😂 Thanks man :D

[@familyflyties3913]

Wow, talk about a beautiful river to fish Eric! The colors of your PB Rainbow were brilliant. I love it when the Rainbows caught are vibrant with their colors.

[@driftstone]

Oh man, there's nothing better than getting a fish back to the net and getting to see a brightly colored fish! Thanks FFT!

[@blackflycreations]

Wow Beautiful as always Eric! Congrats on the PB! I was so happy to see the bow hooked in the mouth and the underwater slow-mo release was sweet! Take care dude! Steve at Black Fly✌

[@driftstone]

Thanks Steve, I appreciate you

[@flowflyfishing2131]

That canyon is amazing in winter! Also great videography. Nice work. You got pretty far down into the canyon. Thanks for sharing

[@driftstone]

Ha yeah, My buddy Fabian had fished all around Ash Camp and he was hoping to set eyes on the Ah Di Na area, so we did a little more hiking that we really needed to. There's so much good water down there.

[@flowflyfishing2131]

Yes, it’s amazing in that canyon. I have fished all the water between the 2, but never made the trek all the way in one day. i always get distracted with fishing. Imagine that!

[@driftstone]

@@flowflyfishing2131 I don't know if you could fish all of it in a single day. At least really ⛏️ it apart like we like to do. You go around a new corner and you have to get down there to fish it.

[@chasingtailwater2999]

Amazing video, congrats on the beautiful PB. That landscape is stunning 🤩

[@driftstone]

Oh man, it's stunning down there. I'm already trying to plan my next trip.

[@elirobertson2324]

@@driftstone is it catch and release only in the mcloud now?

[@driftstone]

@@elirobertson2324 yes, and only between mccloud reservoir and shadta

[@brettcaporale8031]

That is a beautiful looking water nice fish for sure congrats.

[@driftstone]

Thanks, the water there is special. Thanks for watching

[@TroutFlies]

Love seeing the two rigs being put to use. Congrats again on the PB. What a beast! Top notch filming as always.

[@driftstone]

Thanks TF! I really like having the indicator rig. Other then them wanting to split apart in the hand when I'm hiking, I don't mind the extra gear. I'm thinking of getting some kind of way to secure them together to keep them tight.

[@kingkiddfishing]

Top notch filming and editing! Its honestly some of the best work I've seen, and it's got me excited to dive into all your videos when I get the chance. Thats one extremely gorgeous river! To go along with a comment lower down, it's definitely ingrained in alot of fisherman that if it's not in the mouth then it doesn't count. So on my end alot of cheering and excitement was going on as you netted that pig, and could clearly see that fly pierced to his lip! Great job man, Keep up the amazing work!

[@driftstone]

Thanks man, let me know if you have any questions about anything. You're definitely right about the snag/foul hooking. It's still a legit catch, but I think us fisherman like to think we're fast enough to get a good hookset in the mouth. Snags are definitely harder to land :D

[@tightliningmd]

I must say this is top notch. Really great camera work here. Phew that intro is just perfect. Really impressive stuff. I know how difficult it is to carry al that gear and rods. Glad to paid off with your PB and a fish on your first cast. Keep up the great work!

[@driftstone]

Thanks man, I really appreciate your feedback and encouragement. It's been a process getting all the gear dialed because if it's not easy to get to, it doesn't get used. The next tweak I want to make is some way to bind the two rods together. It never fails that I cannot hold them together in one hand when I'm walking through low branches, etc. :D

[@tightliningmd]

@@driftstone George Daniel, a god on the east coast, and well I guess everywhere lol, used like the craft store twist ties with fuzz on them. Sorry I don't know the technical term. He usually does it with rods broken down to get thru brush, but same concept can be applied to multiple rods to keep them packing in tight. I know exactly what you mean. I just deal with it, but that is a simple fix.

[@driftstone]

Yes! I've seen him use them to secure his droppers. I was thinking the same stuff for the rods. Btw, I use orthodontic bands to secure my droppers.

[@dynamicphotography_]

Those split water shots are incredible. Awesome footage and catches! 🙌💯

[@driftstone]

Thanks Jeffrey, I really love them too. It's a bit of work carying the dome for that, but it's worth it!

[@brainbowroll]

Wow amazing shots. Thanks for the effort you put into these videos while you’re on the water fishing! That’s some dedication I’m certainly appreciating. Keep it up! Subscribed.

[@driftstone]

Thanks Brain, I appreciate the support and look forward to chatting further in the Discord

[@kabu7073]

Great videos! I'll look forward to your new content and always got an eye out. I used to live in mt Shasta and family still there. Maybe see you out there some time!

[@driftstone]

Oh nice, thanks for stopping by! If you ever spot me on the river, come say hi!

[@cascadeflyfisher1489]

Awesome that shot at 10:19 makes the video great video

[@driftstone]

I agree, I really love these underwater release shots.

[@FreeFormFlyFisher]

Awesome video Eric. Very fun to watch. Tight lines

[@driftstone]

Thank you sir! I'm glad they're entertaining!

[@DoubleBogeyBass]

Incredible place, awesome footage, and some insane fish! Great video!

[@driftstone]

Thanks man, it was a pretty special catch. I appreciate you stopping by!

[@SufferingOutdoors]

So jealous of how beautiful your streams are! I was thinking the rainbow looked like a steelhead. Great video.

[@driftstone]

If that fish were from another stream, it would have been a steel. We're pretty spoiled with the rivers up here. What part of the world do you fish in?

[@SufferingOutdoors]

@@driftstone I’m in Pennsylvania. Northern part of the state. We do have really good trout fishing. 95% of our fish are brown trout or brook trout as far as the wild fish population.

[@markfischer1012]

Roll cast in those tight spots, great video , Hopefully Late June to be up your way

[@driftstone]

Always a good tip, the fish will be here waiting for ya

[@Gbow17]

That was beast! Congrats on the BP Eric.

[@driftstone]

Thanks Gary, I was super shocked when I saw how big he was.

[@purpledrakefishing]

Congrats on your PB rainbow! what a stunning fish 🍻

[@driftstone]

Thanks PD! Slowly starting to figure this nymphing game out :D Your DVD definitely helped me down this path.

[@JUNationFishing]

Amazing scenery to boot! 👍🙏🎣⚒

[@driftstone]

Oh man, It's so pretty in there. It's crazy how different it is from it's sibling rivers the Upper Sac and the Pit.

[@JUNationFishing]

@@driftstone I haven’t been there in years. I miss it. 👍🙏🎣⚒

[@driftstone]

Ca has so many great rivers and lakes to choose from.

[@The_Westward_Scout]

Hey man that is an amazing Redband. Congrats on the fish and being able to fish gorgeous places. If you're ever up in Central Oregon and wanna fish for Lower Deschutes Redbands let me know.

[@driftstone]

I haven't really put Oregon on my radar yet. Definitely need to get on the Deschutes one of these days.

[@mr.striper6296]

Awesome video as usual. I would be excited to come tag along with ya sometime to do more watching than fishing. I'm pretty new to fly fishing for trout and soon I will be buying the Epiphany as well to dabble at euro nymphing too.

[@driftstone]

Congrats on the Epiphany, you'll love it. I go fishing all the time, I'm sure we can connect sometime. Hit me up on Instagram.

[@sparkyaone]

My favorite place! Great video! What do you use for an indicator?

[@driftstone]

Back on this video, I honestly don't remember. But these days I'm a huge fan of corq Indy's. They're almost as light as wool and float well.

[@comanderhomer]

Love the music. Where can I find the details to what’s playing?

[@driftstone]

Some of my older videos, I had permission to use music from Dirtwire and those songs are mentioned in the description. Everything else is licensed through stock site and never kept track of the music when I switched. Maybe I should 👍

[@byunique2]

that fish was ridiculous! well done! need a bigger net...lol

[@driftstone]

Ha, you're not wrong about that :D That's a good problem to have I suppose :D

[@RosinFlyFishing]

Good thing he was hooked in the mouth otherwise the PB doesn't count! ;) Gorgeous video and fish Eric!

[@driftstone]

I was seriously thinking that! Thanks man, I appreciate it!

[@FWTBobber]

Amazing video and editing. I love all the different angles. Fishing and scenery is top notch. New subscriber to these videos...👍

[@driftstone]

Thanks man, as you know it adds a ton of work when you're on the water. Glad it's appreciated 👍

[@robertboice4496]

Fantastic video!

[@driftstone]

Thanks Robert 👋

[@rrmerlin3402]

A big rainbow on the McCloud............That's my Everest !

[@driftstone]

I got this one way back off the beaten path. They're out there :D

[@CJfishing-bb4vc]

good to see a new vid!

[@driftstone]

Thanks CJ, I have a bunch of plans for more!

[@tenaciousjponyboy6332]

Man I can’t wait to hit it. I live in Bella vista and have been dying to go fishing there. I hear salmon is great on the fly in the upper sac river too. You ever go for salmon?

[@driftstone]

Salmon in the upper sac? I've never heard of that. Are you thinking the lower? There are landlocked kings in lake Shasta, but I've never heard of them spawning up stream.... Have fun on the Mac, it's legendary

[@tenaciousjponyboy6332]

@@driftstone I could be thinking about lower. I took on this hobby a couple years back and recently moved up by Redding from the Bay Area a month ago. So still green on the areas and skill but I’m hoping to get out there and pick it up

[@mikemarvier9329]

Good morning Eric, I was just checking out those Moonshine rods online and was wondering if there are any local (N. CA) shops that carry this brand? Thanks

[@driftstone]

Hey Mike, sadly I have never seen one for sale at any local shops. I had to buy them on faith, which isn't terrible for a 200 rod, but the higher end Vesper, I'd want to cast first.

[@kevinterra3085]

Awesome video! Keep em coming

[@driftstone]

Thx Kev, I appreciate it.

[@Damdochax]

Are you fishing mono of a fly rod?

[@MsSnipedown831]

Where do you see what part they opened and the new rules? Link pls

[@driftstone]

nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=190413&inline You have to look up your river to see what, if anything, has changed. If you look at the McCloud, you'll see you can fish year round between McCloud Res and Lake Shasta barbless/artificial lure/c&r then the whole river opens after the opener on April 24. Some rivers open later this year, after Labor day.

[@IsaacFNghost]

Do all trout get the red cheeks when they grow to that size?

[@driftstone]

Wild rainbows and cutthroats often have prominently red gill covers. Brook and Brown trout don't

[@markfischer1012]

Did they open Ash camp road and the campground.

[@driftstone]

The road is still closed.

[@LANsolo12]

Were you above or below the falls?

[@driftstone]

Look below the lake

[@Mattytube18]

What month of the yr? Beautiful place!

[@driftstone]

I want to say late fall, early winter. We were eating jackets.

[@mattdavis9628]

They fight harder when you look them in the motor!

[@driftstone]

Even when they're ready and stop fighting, their fins open up and put on the brakes.

[@drowsyflyfishing8728]

That rainbow is something else man!!! When will I get mine 😀😀😀

[@driftstone]

Patience man. It's taken me a year to get this fish in the net. Most of the fish I catch are 12" long. Enjoy the journey and when you do land a big one, appreciate what it took to get it.

[@drowsyflyfishing8728]

Words of wisdom. 👌👌👌👇

[@searchingformoore7667]

Bigger trips as in Montana?

[@driftstone]

I wouldn't be opposed!

[@scottrick5190]

Great vid, how do you like your Drifter?

[@driftstone]

I really like it, I haven't cast many rods, so my experience is limited. That's said I feel like it loads and recovers well. Mines a10' 5wt

[@PalmCirclePete]

Great Video!

[@driftstone]

Thanks Pete, I hope you've been having some great trips yourself

[@roman_lapaev]

How come sage r8 10’ over ESN?

[@driftstone]

I still like to cast fly line

[@marcosmarcos665]

Excellent video! I like it very much. Subscribed! Support!

[@driftstone]

Thanks Marco, I appreciate it more than you know!

[@marcosmarcos665]

@@driftstone I am expecting my first fly kit in a week or two. And this year I am going to try something new, fly fishing. Cheers

[@driftstone]

That's awesome, welcome to the club. I got my first rod 1 year ago. Let me know if you have any questions.

[@charliecurtis8852]

These are just normal rainbows not the McCloud red-band?

[@driftstone]

Yup, that's right. You can find the redbands in the isolated sections of the McCloud up above all the waterfalls.

[@charliecurtis8852]

@@driftstone dang the redbands more rare than I thought then? Is the population struggling?

[@driftstone]

@@charliecurtis8852 I think they're pretty easy to catch, it's just a matter of using the waterfall as a physical barrier keep the rainbows from crossing with them.

[@kylekrummel7447]

So good

[@driftstone]

Thanks Kyle

[@hollyeason6690]

So beautiful

[@driftstone]

It's one of the prettiest around!

[@Dogatemyhomework927]

Nice quality video

[@driftstone]

Thanks for stopping by, have you had a chance to fish McCloud yet?

[@Dogatemyhomework927]

@@driftstone upstream from the lake I camp there for a few days every summer. I catch trout in the lake (some big browns).. a few times I fished ah di na and had a ball. I have to wear felt shoes everywhere on the Mccloud... I love that area.. then I take day trips to lake Britton for a crappie haul.. That’s one of the most scenic and professional looking videos I’ve seen out here... 💯

[@driftstone]

Oh sick! I know fly fisherman tend to target the lower part of the McCloud, but I was hoping to check out the Wyntoon section above the lake. I just don't know much about where the public can go because much of that is private property. I did feel like the rocks in the McCloud were pretty slippery compared to others. Thanks for the kind words, the vids are a labor of love :D

[@Dogatemyhomework927]

@@driftstone neither do I but if I find out, I’ll notify u

[@Dogatemyhomework927]

@@driftstone I’ve boated up the river until almost across from “the castle”.. I’ve heard rumors of rafters dropping in at the lower falls and drifting thru but only rumors. I think Hearst owns everything around there.

[@jribclone]

Hi Eric, nice video but PLEASE remove the gloves when handling those fish. The gloves remove their protective coating and leave them susceptible to disease/death.

[@driftstone]

I'm very aware of handling fish carefully to protect their coating of mucus. It honestly never occurred to me that my gloves might do that more than my hands. When they're wet, they're pretty slick, similar to my hands.

[@ozarkseuro]

Wet bare hands are way safer on the fish, please remove your gloves. thanks

[@pianomoverr]

I live up here fish the Sac and the McCloud, nice fish. Drones suck leave them at home. There is not one second of this video made better by your drone footage.

[@hectord.7915]

Those drone shots were pretty epic tbh!

[@driftstone]

Thanks Hector, perhaps he needed to add the sarcasm /s tag to the end there :D

[@hectord.7915]

@@driftstone Ya not sure but I dig those aerial shots. Your vids allow me to take in even more of the natural beauty. Itching to get back to the Mccloud. I was able to fish it 3 times last year with great results.

[@baygenetics5]

Open to fishing?

[@driftstone]

Yes, the regs changed on March 1

[@allisonh88]

Those gloves do not save the slime coat of the fish. You are damaging them. Otherwise fantastic video.

[@driftstone]

I don't wear gloves when handling fish anymore. 🙏

[@charliecurtis8852]

I’m thinking you’ll get more subscribers if you show/talk about what’s going on in your head as your fishing, as you approach a stream, when you hook one. We wanna learn, we don’t wanna just watch it happen we wanna know why it happened and how you made it happen. As someone else said you have the editing quality, just need to be more educational.

[@driftstone]

Fair enough, I kind of get push back from both sides. Some don't like talking at all and some clearly do. I would tend to agree with you and concede I could do a better job.

[@charliecurtis8852]

@@driftstone thanks for the reply’s man! Nah you do a great job, i just didn’t realize some people don’t care as much for talking. I guess it depends on what you use KZbin for, i use it to learn, not really for entertainment. The editing and camera work is perfect and the mic sounds good man I was just looking for information, your doing a great job keep it up and please don’t stop you have the potential to be the best local fishing KZbinr in NorCal.

[@ozarkseuro]

I like your videos a lot, but I really wish you would not use your gloves while handling fish. Just bare wet hands. The gloves remove their protective slime.