Lance Gray & Company

2015 Spring Catalog

Spring is here, even if the calendar doesn’t reflect it yet – Mother Nature

has shown her hand. The trees are in full blossom, the air is warm, sun

seems higher and the hatches are starting to sputter along the river.

As we move into our third drought year with the lack of water on

everyone’s mind – there are fish out there that need attending too. That

being said, LGC has many options for the fly fisher looking for a great

angling experience.

Every season we put together a great list of venues set with a back drop of

last year’s photo ops. I believe that images tell you much more than I can

with my terrible ramblings. So, here is to springtime here a little too soon,

and to the great fish that will bend our rods and leave a timeless memory.

The Lower Sacramento

River

The Lower Sacramento has been running brown

most of the winter and has continued it into this

early spring. (It is getting better) We have no idea

when it’s going to come into fishable shape. My

fellow guides and I have been guessing for months

to no avail. When it does come into shape it’s going

to be fantastic. With hungry trout and the spawn

ready to begin, the trout will be very willing

participates.

Other options for the Lower Sac are to fish an

evening drift. Running into a fantastic hatch can be

a truly amazing experience. The fish take dries with

reckless abandon, nothing better than a trout

sipping up a dry! June and July the river should be

in top condition for these great dry fly fishing drifts.

Learn More

The Feather River

The Feather River is fishing decently with wild

spring run steelhead just starting to show

there selves into the system. By March the

run will be in full swing, and yes swinging soft

hackles and caddis pupas will be out of

control. The drift can be customized for the

angler. We can start late and stay on the river

looking for a late evening caddis hatch, or

start early – getting the jump on hungry fish

looking for breakfast. Learn More

LGC’s Fly Fishing Tours

LGC’s Fly Fishing Tours

The tours are in their fourth year with new tours

being added and original tours becoming main stays

for anglers all over the west. The tours teach you the

access areas, rigging and different techniques to fish

particular water. The tours give the fly fisher,

confidence in their own abilities at that particular

fishery. The tours are truly empowering teaching

tools. The tours are a combination of touring, fly

fishing workshop and a guided trip.

Upper Sac Tour

The Upper Sacramento River Tour hosted by Tim Fox

is a tour that we have added over this last winter. This

is a great tour. This timeless river is a true blue ribbon

trout stream that generations of fly anglers have

enjoyed and treasured. Tim is a perfect fit for the

tour. His knowledge of the river is outstanding

combined with his passion for wild fish is unmatched.

The tour has over fifteen different access spots, with

high stick nymphing, dry fly fishing and stripping

streamers – it’s a must tour for anglers. Learn More

The Hex Hatch Tour at Lake Almanor

The Hex Hatch Tour at Lake Almanor is our newest

tour that was added for 2015. This is a one day

tour that focuses on one subject – the Hex! The

tour will concentrate on the life cycle of the

Hexagenia. The access areas of Lake Almanor just

for the Hexagenia combined with the overview of

the equipment, riggings, flies, and proven fishing

techniques. Learn More

Lake Almanor Tour

The Lake Almanor Tour is one of our oldest and time tested favorites. This year, we only have one Lake

Almanor Tour on the schedule. This two day tour is centered on the Hexagenia hatch at Lake Almanor. It is

much more than that; it’s a tour of Lake Almanor and the fishing found around it. It includes Butt Valley

Reservoir, Butt Creek, North Fork of the Feather River, Warren Creek, Hamilton Branch and Deer Creek. It’s

a tour that will include stillwater tactics to Tenkara dry fly fishing. Learn More

Davis Lake Tour

The Davis Lake Tour hosted by Jon Baiocchi is a great

tour. Jon is the true expert at Davis Lake. Jon hates for

me to say this – but Jon is to Davis Lake as Jay Fair is to

Eagle Lake. Jon is an amazing guide, person and teacher.

Jon implements all tactics on this big stillwater. Jon

demonstrates and teaches techniques for deepwater

midging to spot and stalk trout shoreline fishing. Davis

Lake holds big rainbows and the fishing can be off the

hook. Let Jon show you the ins and outs of this great

fishery. Learn More

American River Shad Tour

The American River Shad Tour is a tour for the anglers

looking to learn more about this deepwater ocean fish.

Every year hundreds of thousands of shad start the

journey up the Sacramento River to spawn. A great

number of fish split off and go up the American River.

Once found these fish like to eat flies, the trick is to

finding them. This tour will give you the access points

and we will show you the water on which to find these

great fighters. The tour includes a river front tri-tip

dinner and fishing until dark. Learn More

Manzanita Lake

Manzanita Lake was just named as one of the California Fish and Wildlife’s wild trout fisheries. It’s an ancient lake

formed by a gigantic volcanic mud slide originating from Mount Lassen, which soars over the lake. It’s a magical

place. Eagles, osprey, deer, muskrats and many other species of mammals and birds make it home.

The wild trout that call it home are a combination of gorgeously painted rainbows and browns. The fishing can be

technical at times with trout refusing offering after offering; snobby is a great word to describe these wild fish. At

other times these fish are crashing on the traveling sedge and the carpenter ant hatches like there is no

tomorrow. We use our driftboat to fish this gem of a lake. It’s a great floating picnic with wild fish all around you.

The lake is fishable from ice out to the middle of November. Manzanita Lake is one of the most beautiful wild

trout waters in California. Learn More

Manzanita Lake Tour

Manzanita Lake Tour is the jewel of our

tours. I have nicknamed the lake “The

Aquarium”. It’s a great small, easily fished

lake that can stump even seasoned

anglers. We breakdown the lake in easy to

use and understand terminology. We use

our Fishcraft Driftboat as the command

headquarters touring the lake looking and

discussing the transition zones in the

underwater paradise. Deepwater midging,

dry fly spot and stalk, and stripping

techniques all will be utilized. Learn More

Lower Sacramento Tour

The Lower Sacramento is one of the best trout rivers in the West. The Lower Sacramento tour is and

educated look at this fantastic piece of water. Since the river is so big we key upon fly fishing water only.

The riffles, islands and creek channels that an angler can fish in a safe and productive manner, if you like to

float the river in a pontoon boat. We will help you breakdown the water so you can make the float in a

safe manner. This tour is for anglers looking for a little piece of trout fishing all year long. Learn More

Tenkara Workshop

Tenkara is the ancient, traditional form of Japanese fly-fishing. It’s a simple method using only a rod, a line

and a fly.

My first experience with Tenkara was years ago when I worked at Powell’s Fly Shop. I guided a Japanese

gentleman on one of the local creeks. We fished the American style of fly-fishing. After landing many fish and

having a great day, he opened up this custom leather case and proceeded to use his Tenkara rod. He showed

me how to use it, a guide being guided – amazing! As the three day guide trip grew to a close he was gracious

enough to leave me his Tenkara rod as my tip.

Tenkara is a well suited method for fly-fishing small mountain streams. It’s delicate presentations, ease of

cast, precise cast and being able to place the fly in trout holding areas is terrific. It’s a simple elegance. Our

one day Tenkara workshop will introduce you to Tenkara. All Tenkara equipment is provided and only two

students per instructor.

Tenkara Workshop June 10, 2015

Tenkara Workshop July 11, 2015

$155 per student, limited to 2 students.

Learn More

Booking Terms

50% deposit is required to hold your date. Balance due upon date of trip. Cancellation of a trip within 30 days, deposit will be forfeited. Lance Gray & Company holds the rights to cancel trips or schools do to unsafe water conditions, fishing conditions and or not having enough participants. A confirmation package will be emailed or mailed to you before the planned trip. Please fill out all necessary information and return via email or mail within 5 days of the receipt. Confirmation packages include meeting location, food choices, hotels, restaurants and recommended equipment not provided in the excursion. Contact us at to book a trip at 530-517-2204 or email us at lancegrayandcompany@yahoo.com