California Fly Fisher’s Most-Read of 2025
This past year marked a milestone for California Fly Fisher—our first full year publishing online. Over that time, a handful of stories rose to the top, not because they chased trends, but because they resonated. These are the pieces our readers returned to again and again in 2025: stories rooted in place, history, and the enduring pull of California’s waters.
10. Spotlight Destination: The Trinity River
By Mike Malekos
A cornerstone of Northern California fly fishing, the Trinity River continues to inspire. This destination feature examines its runs, seasons, and enduring role in the state’s angling culture.
9. Spotlight Destination: The Truckee River
By Matt Heron
Flowing from alpine headwaters to desert valleys, the Truckee River offers both beauty and complexity. This spotlight explores its character, access points, and the strategies for fishing the ‘tricky Truckee.’
8. From the Archives: Winter Steelhead on the American River
By Lance Gray
Cold water, chrome fish, and persistence. This archival story on American River steelhead remains a go-to read for anglers drawn to winter’s particular rewards.
7. From the Archives: The East Walker River
By Bob Gaines
A reader favorite from the archives, this piece revisits the East Walker River—its rhythms, its challenges, and why it continues to draw anglers back season after season.
6. Urban & Wild: Fly Fishing in the Heart of Los Angeles
By Bob Semerau
Fly fishing in L.A.? Absolutely. This story reveals a surprising side of urban angling—where wild fish, concrete channels, and committed anglers make the most of the urban jungle.
5. Spotlight Destination: The Forks of Kern
By Tim Huckaby
High in the Southern Sierra, the Forks of Kern remain wild, challenging, and deeply rewarding. This popular destination feature captures the rugged beauty and solitude that define this wild watershed.
4. Simms Launches the Grateful Dead Collection
By Tracey Diaz
When fly fishing meets counterculture, sparks fly. Readers flocked to this announcement of Simms’ Grateful Dead collaboration—a bold blend of technical gear, iconic art, and West Coast heritage.
3. Spotlight Destination: Pyramid Lake
By Bob Gaines
Home to the massive Lahontan cutthroat trout, Pyramid Lake remains one of the West’s most compelling fisheries. This spotlight dives into its unique history, techniques, and enduring allure.
2. The Many Faces of Piru Creek
By Bernard Yin
Tucked into Southern California’s rugged backcountry, Piru Creek defies simple definitions. Bernard explores the creek’s shifting personalities, complex management history, and why this lesser-known water continues to intrigue anglers willing to look beyond the obvious.
1. A Fly-Fishing Institution Says Goodbye: Bob Marriott’s Closes After 46 Years
By California Fly Fisher staff
The closing of Bob Marriott’s Flyfishing Store marked the end of an era for West Coast fly fishing. This widely read piece reflects on the shop’s legacy, its deep roots in the angling community, and the generations it helped shape.
These stories reflect not just what we published in 2025, but what our readers value most. As we move into 2026, we look forward to sharing more voices, more waters, and more perspectives—continuing a conversation shaped as much by our community as by the places we explore.
