The top section of the river is opening soon!

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


by The Fly Shop
7-22-2025
Website

The top section is opening on the first, just over a week away. If you wonder where all of the big Rainbows are, they are parked behind the spawning Winter Run Chinooks above the Hwy 44 bridge eating salmon eggs. Flows and temps from Keswick have been rock solid at 14,000 CFS and in the low fifties. We are seeing good Caddis, Yellow Sally and PMD hatches. Fish up top are definitely podded up, if you venture below Anderson you will find more fish and a few Steelhead have shown up. Current flies are the dark brown or black Rubberlegs in #8 & 6, Olive Hotspot, the Jigged Bird's Nest, UV Sally, Ginger Snap, and Peaches n' Cream. You can swing soft hackles for big fish in the evenings or throw a dark Missing Link. 

To get a day on the books with one of our guides this spring, give Bryan a call in Outfitters at 800-669-3474

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, Dark
• Spotlight Caddis Emerger - Spotlight Caddis Emerger
• Comparadun - BWO, PMD

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
• Jigged Birds Nest - Natural, Hot Spot #14-16
• Fox's Poopah - #12-14
• Bubbleback Caddis, - Amber #14
• Olive Hot Spot, - #18
• Weiss Nymph, -
• Peaches n' Green, -
• Peaches n' Cream, -
• Ginger Snap, -
• Pat's Rubber Legs - #4-8

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




More Reports

The Fly Shop Reports
for Tuesday, July 22nd

Fall River: Fall River Updates
Hat Creek: Hat Creek Updates

The Fly Shop Reports
for Tuesday, July 15th

Fall River: The Hex hatch is on the wane
Hat Creek: Hat Creek Updates
Klamath River - Middle: Definitely worth fishing!
Sacramento River: Lower Sacramento Updates
McCloud River: More good reports on the McCloud
Pit River: Be aware of the flows!
Trinity River: Solid reports on the Trinity
Sacramento River - Upper: Fishing continues to be quite good
Baum Lake: Good option for topwater action
Shasta Lake: It is all about Bass now
Lewiston Lake: Some good reports coming in
Manzanita Lake: July is a good month on Manzanita!