The fishing on the Lower Sacramento has been stellar

Sacramento River - Lower - Redding, CA (Shasta County)


by The Fly Shop
4-21-2022
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The fishing on the Lower Sacramento has been stellar. The spring storms are muddying up the river below Cottonwood and Cow Creeks, check the turbidity gages before fishing below Jellys Ferry. PMD's are definitely on the menu now, Mercer's Poxyback PMD & Jiggy PMD, Peaches N' Cream, and the Crackback nymphs are all must-haves. Look for March Browns coming off from Balls Ferry and lower in the river. Yellow Sallies are coming off in pretty good numbers right now, although tough to believe this early, it is happening. The amount and types of Caddis coming off continue to expand each day, we'll be swinging soft hackles in the evening before too long. In the meantime, the Bubbleback Caddis and Bird's Nests are something you should have in your box. The spring storms are definitely needed, the fishing may be tougher on some days, but still great!

The Fly Shop does not offer a shuttle service. Kim at Sac River Shuttle can get your shuttle done seven days a week. You can reach her at (530)782-9090

Access To the Lower Sacramento
The Lower Sacramento has many publicly accessible areas with good wading opportunities when the flows are below 7,500 CFS. Stop by the shop and we'd be happy to point you in the right direction.

Fishing Large Rivers Can be Frustrating
There are many great places you can get in and wade this blue ribbon tail water. Having said that, the absolute best method to fish the Sac is from a drift boat. Aside from being able to access all of the water, you can fish the long runs on a dead, perfect drift which is deadly on these legendary wild rainbows. And who would be a better oarsman than one of our Professional Guides? They know every nook and cranny of the river, what insects are and will be hatching, and the setups and methods that will get you onto the fish of a lifetime.

Recommended Equipment & Setups
Most of our fishing, whether from a drift boat, or wading when the releases are low enough, is done dead drifting nymphs. The Fly Shop's Signature Indicator Rod is nine and a half feet of indicator nymph fishing perfection designed by our professional staff right here on the Lower Sac. Teamed up with a 6 or 7 weight Scientific Anglers Amplitude Anadro Floating Fly Line or a Rio Intouch Xtreme Indicator Fly Line it will put a center pin rig to shame.

Hot Flies: 
Dry Flies:
Mercer's Missing Link, #18 Dark
Mayfly Cripple - Limestone #18
Norman's Loopwing - BWO

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
CB Birds Nest - #14
Mercer's Micro May - #14-16 Brown
Mercer's Poxy Back PMD - #16
Bubbleback Caddis, - Olive #16
Pat's Rubber Legs - #4-8

Eggs:
Micro Spawn - Peachy King, Shrimp Pink
Boles Bazookas - Shrimp Pink, Peachy King