Five rivers in three days. And not just any rivers, some of the most iconic fly fishing waters in the state—the McCloud, Upper Sac, Fall, and Pit rivers and Hat Creek. Few places in the world offer such diversity of quality trout fishing within an hour of each other as the greater Mt. Shasta area does.
We hosted 16 anglers at Clearwater Lodge last week for the 5 Rivers Challenge. All proceeds of the event go directly to protecting and restoring the rivers that were fished. The combination of outstanding accommodations (more on that below), pristine waters, and a little friendly competition made for an incredibly entertaining week. This was the third year of our newly resurrected Five Rivers Challenge, but in reality we are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Challenge which was first started by current CalTrout Board Member Dick Galland (shown in photo below giving the 5RC trophy some affection!).
There were more than a few highlights from our days on the water, more than I can name here. Fall River consistently produced the highest totals in inches caught. This was due to many fish in the 8-12 inch range being caught and the largest fish of the tournament being caught here. Both Bruce Skinner and Paul Vais landed a 20†on their last day fishing the Fall. Those fishing the Pit consistently said the same thing, it’s a challenge to wade (an understatement) and wow! there are a lot of fish. The Upper Sac was in a lull and McCloud fish were declared the prettiest. Hat Creek riffle consistently produced.
It is the rivers and the fish that are the focus of the Challenge, but the excellent lodging, food, and camaraderie are equally memorable. Michelle Titus at Clearwater Lodge is running the finest fishing lodge in California—thank you Michelle for all you do for CalTrout and for hosting the Challenge. Patagonia again was our lead sponsor—we are proud to partner with a company that shares our values.
Sincereley,
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Peter Moyle is the Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology and Associate Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences, at UC Davis. He is author or co-author of more than 240 publications, including the definitive Inland Fishes of California (2002). He is co-author of the 2017 book, Floodplains: Processes and Management for Ecosystem Services. His research interests include conservation of aquatic species, habitats, and ecosystems, including salmon; ecology of fishes of the San Francisco Estuary; ecology of California stream fishes; impact of introduced aquatic organisms; and use of floodplains by fish.
Robert Lusardi is the California Trout/UC Davis Wild and Coldwater Fish Researcher focused on establishing the basis for long-term science specific to California Trout’s wild and coldwater fish initiatives. His work bridges the widening gap between academic science and applied conservation policy, ensuring that rapidly developing science informs conservation projects throughout California. Dr. Lusardi resides at the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences and works closely with Dr. Peter Moyle on numerous projects to help inform California Trout conservation policy. His recent research interests include Coho salmon on the Shasta River, the ecology of volcanic spring-fed rivers, inland trout conservation and management, and policy implications of trap and haul programs for anadromous fishes in California.
Patrick Samuel is the Conservation Program Coordinator for California Trout, a position he has held for almost two years, where he coordinates special research projects for California Trout, including the State of the Salmonids report. Prior to joining CalTrout, he worked with the Fisheries Leadership & Sustainability Forum, a non-profit that supports the eight federal regional fishery management councils around the country. Patrick got his start in fisheries as an undergraduate intern with NOAA Fisheries Protected Resources Division in Sacramento, and in his first field job as a crew member of the California Department of Fish & Wildlife’s Wild and Heritage Trout Program.