Feather River - North Fork - Belden

The North Fork Feather River near Belden, CA, offers a wild trout fishery, predominantly featuring robust populations of rainbow and brown trout. This section, upstream of Lake Oroville, maintains a more natural flow, influenced by snowmelt and precipitation, requiring anglers to adapt to varying water levels and gradients. Effective angling includes fly fishing with nymphs and dry flies, and spin fishing with small lures. Recreational high-water flows (700-800 cfs) can significantly alter conditions, necessitating pre-trip flow checks. Specific regulations regarding seasons and limits vary by section (e.g., a five-fish limit from late April to mid-November below Lake Almanor to Belden Bridge)