Fly Fishing The Lower Sacramento River: A Fly Fisher’s Paradise
Why is the Lower Sacramento River one of the best fly fishing spots in California?
There are more than a few reasons the Lower Sacramento River is a fly fisher’s paradise. First, let’s talk about the water. Water quality is crucial for both the fish and the anglers.
Northern California and its mountain ranges have a lot of water. It’s amazing.
Just north of Redding, California, you’ll find Shasta Lake. Shasta Lake is fed by the McCloud River, which starts from the snowy slopes of Mount Shasta, about 50 miles north of Redding. The McCloud River is cold, clear, and has a great reputation for fly fishing.
Another river feeding into Lake Shasta is the Pit River. The Pit River is made up of the North and South Forks. Many springs and small streams flow into it, including Ash Creek, Burney Creek, and Hat Creek. The Pit River starts in the Warner Mountains near Alturas, and the South Fork begins near the town of Likely.
The Upper Sacramento River is the biggest source of water for Lake Shasta. It also starts on the slopes of Mount Shasta. There’s also Squaw Creek, a smaller contributor.
Lake Shasta acts like a huge collection pool, gathering water from Northern California’s largest drainage system. This area includes the northern Sierra Nevada to the southeast, the southern Cascades to the north, and the Siskiyou and Klamath Mountains to the west.
The amount of water flowing into Lake Shasta changes with the seasons, rainfall, and snowmelt. The lake’s watershed covers about 6,665 square miles. Lake Shasta is the biggest reservoir in California and the 9th largest in the USA.
On average, about 9.9 million acre-feet of water flows into Lake Shasta each year, depending on the amount of rain and snow.
The Lower Sacramento River flows out of Shasta Dam. It starts at Keswick Reservoir, which is between Shasta Dam and Keswick Dam. From Keswick Dam near Redding, the river flows south through the Central Valley, passing cities like Red Bluff, Chico, and Sacramento. It continues through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, reaching Suisun Bay, San Francisco Bay, and finally, the Pacific Ocean.
Along its length the Sacramento River offers tremendous fly fishing opportunity. For the fly fishing angler, rainbow trout thrive in the cold, clear waters from Redding, CA. all the way to Red Bluff CA.
Below Red Bluff the waters transition into Bass and Striper fishing.
How productive is the fishing? Good to great on most days. Wind and sometimes spring runoff can make the fishing less than ideal. The waters through Redding fish productively all year long except during high water releases from Keswick Reservoir.
There is hardly a river that offers more opportunity to enjoy and excellent day of fly fishing. With over 300 miles of river, the angler could spend a year fishing all of it from trout to salmon, bass to striper. The Sacramento is one of the worlds most incredible rivers.
About the fishing: How, when and where?
The Lower Sacramento river is large. It’s average width along 300 miles is 100 to 500 feet in width. The average depth is 10 to 30 feet with limited wadable access along the edges. Although good fishing opportunity can be found wading in select locations, the most productive and safest way to fish the river is from a boat. You can find out about productive wading options for trout here.
Fishing from a boat? How and what kind of boat?
You can use a raft. I have seen people floating down river in float tubes. But this is a dangerous river. The average flow of the Lower Sacramento River is about 23,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). This flow increases during spring snowmelt and rainy seasons, sometimes exceeding 100,000 cfs during floods. In dry periods, the flow decreases but remains steady due to controlled releases from Shasta Dam and input from tributaries.
It is the volume of water and it’s powerful currents that are dangerous. Water temperatures through Redding down to Red Bluff average 50°F to 65°F (10°C to 18°C). Swimming in such cold water can be a threat. Hypothermia can be a reality if you have to swim to the shore. Turbulent water can make swimming impossible unless one has a life vest on and even then, swimming is to be avoided.
A jet boat is a good option in moving up and down river. The jet boat can access impossible to get to wading. A jet boat can also hold in swifter, deeper currents allowing anglers to spend more time in a given piece of river. But, the jet boat option is best for those who are familiar with the structure of the river. There are hard to spot shallow gravel bars and tree trunks and roots that hide just under the surface.
The most popular mode of fishing on the Lower Sacramento river is from a drift boat.
A drift boat floats with the current, letting the oarsman steer close to riffles and edges. Anglers can stand in leg braces to cast fly rods, which help them stay balanced. Drift boats can have a tiller motor for moving downriver and upriver. Anglers often catch more fish when fishing from a drift boat with an experienced oarsman. In the swift currents of the Lower Sacramento, inexperienced anglers can miss the best fishing spots as they drift by carried by swift river flows.
What is the best method for fishing the Lower Sacramento River?
Fly fishing on the Lower Sacramento with a professional guide is hard to beat. A guide takes care of transport, food, and drinks. They also bring flies that are proven to work. The same flies that worked yesterday.
Tailored Instruction: Fly fishing can be technical. A guide helps, whether you’re a beginner or experienced. They teach casting, fly selection, and how to read the river. With a guide, you can improve your skills and have a better fishing experience. For the experienced angler, time fishing is spent in the best water for any given time of day.
Safety and Conservation: The Lower Sacramento River has fast currents and can be hazardous. A fly fishing guide ensures your safety, especially if you’re not familiar with the river. They also promote responsible fishing practices like catch-and-release to protect the river’s ecosystem and keep the trout population healthy.
Tying it all together:
The river’s insect population sustains the trout all year, leading to healthy growth and vibrant colors. From early spring to late fall, various hatches of mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies attract hungry trout. This abundance of insects gives anglers many chances to match the hatch and catch these magnificent fish.
Why the Lower Sacramento River is a must visit fly fishing destination:
- Year-Round Fishing: The Lower Sacramento River offers fly fishing all year. The constant cold water flow from Shasta Dam keeps the river at a steady temperature, perfect for trout. This makes it a top spot for year-round fly fishing.
- Incredible Size and Numbers: The river has a large population of rainbow trout, both in size and number. The nutrient-rich waters support a healthy food chain, leading to big trout. Anglers can catch trophy-sized trout and hook multiple fish in one trip.
- Scenic Beauty: Fly fishing on the Lower Sacramento River is a visual delight. You’ll enjoy stunning views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, lush forests, and picturesque meadows. The peaceful setting and chance to connect with nature make each fishing trip memorable and refreshing.
Conclusion:
Fly fishing the Lower Sacramento River between Redding and Anderson, California, is a dream come true for anglers. With its abundant rainbow trout, beautiful scenery, and year-round fishing, it is one of the world’s best fly fishing spots. Hiring a fly fishing guide is highly recommended to get the most out of your experience. Their local knowledge, personalized instruction, and focus on safety and conservation will make your time on the Lower Sacramento River both rewarding and unforgettable.
References:
- USGS Current Conditions for California: Streamflow. Retrieved from USGS.
- Sacramento River – Wikipedia. Retrieved from Wikipedia.
- Sacramento River – Water Education Foundation. Retrieved from Water Education Foundation.