The McCloud River in California stands as one of the most iconic trout streams in America and arguably the world. Flowing for approximately 77 miles as a tributary of the Pit River (which eventually joins the Sacramento River), this emerald-green waterway has left an indelible mark on trout fishing globally. The river rises about ten miles southeast of Mount Shasta in Siskiyou County, with its headwaters bubbling from underground springs that provide consistent, cold flows throughout the year. Famous for its breathtaking beauty, the McCloud cuts through basaltic lava flows, creating spectacular waterfalls and carving a deep, forested canyon filled with riffles, pocket water, and deep, emerald pools. Most notably, the McCloud River is the genetic home of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) that were used to stock waterways worldwide, from New Zealand and Chile to Argentina, earning these native fish the designation of salmo shasta - arguably the most famous and widely distributed trout strain on earth.