The Feather River near Oroville is home to a
fantastic Fall Steelhead run. The Low Flow section can be a
great place to learn the skills required to consistently get one on the end of
your line. As September ends and the Salmon run begins to
slow, A large run of steelhead follow them up into the entire
feather rive system. These fish can range from 2 to 5 lbs
and can be taken on Egg patterns, Nymphs , and streamers.
This float is usually done from the new Oroville park above Hwy 70
bridge down to the Afterbay, which is about a 5 mile float.
Along this run you will find four distinct riffles that hold lots
of half pounders. In between these rifles you will find your
self rowing through lots of slow frog water.
The high flow section of the Feather river from the Thermalito
Afterbay down the Gridley boat ramp. In this section you are
usually dealing with a lot more water than the Low Flow section.
The main river channel of the Feather river is usually fishable during
Fall and Winter months. It has deep pools and long riffles which
divide the river into two sections for as much as a mile at a time.
The best Floats are the 4 mile Afterbay to palm Ave, and
Palm to the Gridley boat ramp another five miles down river.
The month of May marks the beginning of the feather rivers Striper
run. The sea going Bass make the journey up the river to spawn
in the same waters they were born. The high flow section of the
feather river has deep pools in which these monster fish lurk waiting
to intercept its fellow ocean going friend the shad.
