The Upper Sacramento River has been a popular destination for recreation in California since the 1800's, and is still one of our favorite local fisheries.

Current River Conditions: New report from TFS Pro Nick Lawton: (Amazing!!!)

"This week the Upper Sacramento has been mmm, mmm, gooooood. The river is in great shape right now as the spring runoff is tapering down and the hatches of salmon flies, goldenstones, and caddis have resulted in some epic dry fly fishing in the evenings while floating down the river. WHOAAA!!!!!!! Wait a minute, hold the train. Yep, that's right. We have been floating the Upper Sac out of our inflatable rafts with full fishing frames and having a blast. We have had steady results getting down on the dance floor in the mornings with high stick indicator nymphing as well as swinging the tailouts. Afternoons have been steady, but what we have been waiting for on this magic tail water is the epic dry fly grab. The headhunting has been off the charts in the last hour of the day with goldenstones, caddis, and small mayflies being the flys of choice..."

Good fishing can be found all day! Be careful and use a wading staff. Contact us about the Upper Sacramento!

The Fly Shop's ? Tips: Nymphs like Mercer's Beaded Biot Epoxy Golden Stones, Sexy Girdle, Iron Sallies should work. Don't forget smaller nymphs like #16 Micro Mayflies, #16-18 Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Prince Nymphs. Lots of potential on the Upper Sac.

When nymphing on the Upper Sacramento River, always use double the amount of shot in order to get the flies down to the fish in the faster, bubbly water. If a run calls for one SSG, put on two. If you're not ticking the bottom from time to time (yes, this means losing a few flies), you're probably not getting down to where the fish are feeding. Use stronger tippet like 2X-3X for bigger flies in the #6-10 range, 4X for smaller #16-18. Keep your first fly within 6-8 inches of your split shot. Stronger tippet means fewer flies will be left on the bottom of the river. Sink tip lines with streamers attached are a good plan when there is room to cast.

River Fact: On the evening of July 14, 1991, a derailment on a horseshoe curve known as the "Cantara Loop" on the railroad north of Dunsmuir resulted in the release of approximately 19,000 gallons of metham sodium spilled into the Sacramento River. The biocide killed every living thing in the river for a distance of some 38 miles, devastating a popular fly fishing area - one of the most severe toxic spills in U.S. history. The Upper Sacramento River is now largely recovered from the spill.

Water Flows:
• Upper Sacramento River Flows

Suggested Fly Patterns:

Dry Flies:
• Yellow Stimulator #8-16
• Matt's Stoneflies #6-8
• Brooks Hedlite Sally
• Parachute Adams - #14-16
• Yellow Humpy
• Carnage Drakes March Brown #14
• Royal Wulf - #10-14
• Elk Hair Caddis - #16-18
• Adams - #16-18

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
• Zack's Thurmanator Dark Stone
• Sexy Souka #6
• Sexy Girdle
• Mercer's GB Dark Stone #8
• Pat's Rubber Legs - Brown #6-8
• BH Hellgrammite
• Bitch Creek
• Dark Lords - #14-16
• Bottom Roller - Psycho Rycho #14
• GB Birds Nest - #12-14
• Gordon's Amber Wing Prince #12-16
• Poxyback Golden Stone - #8-14
• Micro Mayfly - #14-18

Streamers/Leeches:
• Sheila Sculpin
• Woolly Buggers
• Muddler Minnows - #10

Fly Fishing Gear:
• The Fly Shop's ? Tapered Nylon Leaders
• The Fly Shop's ? Tough Nylon Tippet
• Simms ? Dry Creek™ Chest Pack
• Patagonia's ? Double Haul
• C&F S Series Waterproof Fly Boxes
• Dr. Slick/TFS Quick Release Forceps