When winter settles over Northern California’s rivers, the steelhead show up with a power and presence that keeps anglers coming back year after year. And while swinging flies will always hold a special place in our hearts, float fishing with light-tackle conventional gear has become one of the most effective—and exciting—ways to target winter steelhead when conditions get tough. Whether you’re new to float fishing or just looking to fine-tune your setup for our coastal and

Winter steelhead season in Northern California carries a special kind of anticipation. Storms roll through, rivers change color overnight, and every swing brings the possibility of a fish that will stay in your memory for years. Whether you’re planning a Spey trip, an indicator day, or a coastal mission, winter is when rivers come alive — and when preparation matters most. At NorCal Spey, we spend our entire winter chasing these fish across the Trinity River, the Lower Sacram

Swinging a run on the Eel River There’s a special charge in the air this time of year. The mornings get colder, the rivers start to rise, and the first true pushes of winter steelhead begin to slip into our Northern California waters. For many anglers—and for me as a guide—this isn’t just another season. It’s the heartbeat of our year. Winter steelhead have a way of grounding you. They make every cast feel important, every swing feel electric, and every day on the river feel

The Chrome of the Lower Sac: A Guide to Steelhead Fishing The Lower Sacramento River is one of California’s best year-round fisheries. It offers wild trout, steady flows, and every fall, a push of hard-fighting steelhead. When these ocean-run fish start showing, the river transforms into an angler's paradise. At NorCal Spey, we spend our fall and winter chasing these chrome-bright fish from Redding downstream. Whether you’re swinging flies or nymphing deep, the Lower Sac is a

Chasing September Steelhead: The Calm Before the Push September in Northern California is a special kind of quiet. The mornings are...

More Tools. More Techniques. Same Wild Fish. We’re excited to introduce expanded trip options that go beyond the swing —perfect for...

When most anglers think of steelhead, they imagine long two-handed rods, elegant spey casts, and the meditative rhythm of swinging flies....

Chasing Ghosts: Summer Steelhead on the Swing — Featuring the Legendary Trinity River There’s something about summer steelhead that gets...

# Swing Season: The Magic of Summer and Fall Steelhead There’s something almost sacred about chasing summer and fall steelhead on the...

Exploring Multi-Density Spey Lines: The Game-Changer for Modern Fly Anglers In the world of spey casting and two-handed fly fishing,...

Northern California is a haven for steelhead enthusiasts, offering world-class rivers like the Trinity, Klamath, Eel and Smith. For those...

Finding the Right Water to Swing Flies for Winter Steelhead Winter steelhead fishing is often as much about reading the water as it is...

Swinging Flies with a Spey Rod for Winter Steelhead in Northern California When winter descends on Northern California, many anglers...

Skagit vs. Scandi: Understanding the Differences in Spey Casting When it comes to Spey casting, two of the most popular line systems are...