Matt Dover Fly Fishing - guided fly fishing - Northern California

Current Lower Sac Fly Fishing Report: 10/09/2024

Fly fishing on the Lower Sacramento River has been exceptional this October 2024! The flows remain steady, with a slight decrease expected as we move deeper into the month. Hatches of PMDs (Pale Morning Duns) continue but they are diminishing return as we close in on winter. What has been fun are the hatches of BWO’s (Blue Wing Olives), providing plenty of action, interest and anticipation. It has been a fun autumn. For the most productive experience, drift-boat nymphing is still the recommended approach. It’s too big a river to fish on foot and the best water is beyond the rivers edge. Expect to cast a fly all day and get tight to the might Lower Sacramento River Rainbow!

October fishing on the Lower Sacramento always offers some of the years greatest prospects, for trout and steelhead. You can expects consistent fish activity and plenty of prime opportunities to land impressive fish. Promise. Expect October to be one of the best months for fly fishing on this legendary river!

Where is the best fishing through November on the Lower Sac?

Best fishing? Definitely happens in a drift boat. Wading becomes more of an option once we get into late October ~ November but I prefer to use the drift boat to access river braids and islands that one can’t wade to. So, we float, get out and fish, maybe throw dries at rising fish when we have BWO’s coming off.

Just know that even a “slow” day on the Lower Sac in autumn is a great day by any river’s standards. We will find fish, maybe steelhead and some get great photos.

Water conditions are good. The lower river, below Anderson is in great shape.

There are some King Salmon showing in Redding which means rainbow trout keying on the eggs. We do not nor can we fish for King Salmon in this river. The fly fishing can become a beaded egg throwing event where we cast into shallow water downstream of “Salmon Redds”, but really, we focus on the more productive prevailing options of fishing nymphs and on occasion dry flies. If the King Salmon show up in significant numbers well… that would be amazing and great for not just us as anglers but great news for the fishery!

Find out about King Salmon Spawning Redds here -> What is a Redd?

BP Weiss nymph, Zebra Midges in #16 & 18, #18 Olive Hotspots and other small, black flies will hook fish. We are seeing increasing numbers of salmon in the river, no real egg bite…yet! Rubberlegs are another producer from time to time, it is always a good idea to start with one tied on. And make sure you are fishing the shallow water. ;) And we would like to stress, yet again, the river below Anderson is fishing well, so if you would like some peace and solitude, those waters are well worth your attention!

Hot flies:

  • #8 Brown Rubber Legs
  • Just about any small nymphs in brown or black. Think #14 ~ 18 (Smaller dark flies in 18 or even smaller are noticeably productive)
  • Dark colored Micro Mays in #14 – 18
  • Pheasant Tail Nymphs in #16

All my Lower Sacramento River reports include the following for your benefit:

Fishing the Lower Sac is a big piece of water to dissect. The riffles look good but when drifting in a boat, as we and other boat associated anglers drop into those riffles, any rainbows holding nose-against the riffle structure will be spooked by the boat. So, throw flies into the deeper water as you drift through, and then get back upstream (back row), anchor and throw into the riffle after fish have had a chance to return. This won’t be an ideal strategy for every riffle, or all river conditions. Many spots are simply to big and deep at high flows, but ideal at low flows.

Respect this river. It is powerful, deep and unforgiving. Wear a flotation device. Here’s and article that goes into “Personal Flotation Devices” for fly anglers -> Hatch Magazine

I have calendar dates available and can’t wait to take you and yours fishing. Contact me at (530) 338-8526 or send me a message using my form below:

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