Fishing Season: Year Round

Sacramento River - CA

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

59

Joe Garza's Tip of the Week

Salmon are starting to show in the upper parts of the system. With the flows down, this opens up the upper area to more walk and wade opportunities. Take caution when wading, keeping an eye out for spawning salmon. Please do not wade through redds and actively spawning salmon.

Directions open in app

Map of Sacramento River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

J.A.G. Fly Fishing

5-Day Outlook as of 9/10/26

Fall Chinook are moving into the system with Steelhead right behind them. We are starting to see salmon throughout the lower section and upper section of the river. The Lower Sacramento River is looking good, right now with flows around 7,000 CFS. This has opened more wading access, and the fishing has been really good. The egg drop is right around the corner, and it is looking to be great this year! The usual suspects have been producing well. However, Baetis have been hatching surprisingly good in the afternoon and evening hatches, and the fish are feeding on smaller flies. We are throwing caddis by midday. With midges, Olive Hotspots, Bird’s Nests, and various BWO are all good morning option. Rubberlegs patterns have been producing also.

Techniques & Tips as of 9/10/26

Indicator Nymphing, Dry Fly, Streamer, Spey/Switch

Local Species Available Year Round

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    Rainbow Trout

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    Steelhead

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    Shad

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    Striper

Joe Garza's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
Higa’s S.O.S. black, olive 16,18
TH Duracell Jig tan 12, 14
TH Duracell Jig Black, Red 18
Klinkhammer Olive 16
Low Rider CDC & Elk Caddis N/A 12, 14
Quasimodo Pheasant Tail N/A 16, 18
Pat's Rubber Legs Brown, Coffee, Black 6-8
Birds Nest Tan, Brown, Olive 14-16
Weiss' BP Dark Barbless Dark Olive 18
Fox Poopah Cinnamon 12, 14

Higa’s S.O.S.

You'll appreciate the strike-inducing power of this versatile nymph pattern.

3.99

Item #3R8Y

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Joe Garza's Recommended Gear

Description: About Sacramento River

Located 2.5 hours from Sacramento, and 4 hours from San Francisco, the Lower Sacramento River is a year-round tailwater fishery that flows from Keswick Dam to the San Joaquin Delta. A temperature control device at Keswick dam allows operators to selectively withdraw water from different depths of the reservoir, enabling them to control the temperature of the water released downstream. This gives the Lower Sacramento River cold constant flows year-round. This provides an amazing ecosystem for an abundance of Caddis, Stoneflies, Baetis, PMD’s and Chironomid to thrive. As a result of the abundance of food, our wild rainbow trout and steelhead grow big and healthy. It is common to have 20+ fish days here. The average size fish here run 16” to 18”, with a mixture of 20” to 25” fish being caught consistently. We have 54 miles of river between Redding and Red Bluff that we do several different drift boat floats on. Below Red Bluff we have opportunities to target Shad and Stripers, May through August.

Nearest Airport:

Redding Regional Airport

Hatches:

Baetis, Caddis, Chironomids, PMD's, Eggs - micro spawn Stoneflies, Little Yellow Stones, March Browns, Alvin.

Best Time to Fish:

8am to 11am

Best Stretch:

Posse Grounds

Best Access:

Posse Grounds