Lower Sac fishing has been fair to good depending on you you talk to

Sacramento River - CA


by The Fly Shop
9-7-2011
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Current River Conditions:
River flows are stable at 11,000 cfs. The fishing has been fair to good. The quality reports are out there, just depends on who we talk to. Some anglers and guides are reporting good days and some are reporting fair. The rainbows are definitely holding tight to the bottom of the river or snugged up into the riffles. Seems like the fishing gets better after 11:30 AM and stays consistent through the rest of the day. Everyone is getting into fish, just expect a lull in the bite here and there. That's fish'n!

Click here for up to date Lower Sacramento flow

The Fly Shop's ? Tips:
As the weather warms up, rainbows will start keying on various caddis nymph patterns like Fox's Cinnamon Poopah #12. In the late afternoons and early evenings, anglers should find fish rising in the shallow glides and tail outs of the big riffles on the Sac. Look for midge and baetis hatches in the mornings. Have #16-18 Red Zebra Midges on your leader in the mornings, Fish #12-16 Birds Nests in the afternoon. The best way to fish the Lower Sacramento is out of a drift boat, especially at this time of year! Fish nymph patterns using a big indicator and 0.8 to 1.6 gram shot, using 3x - 4x tippet. Depth between indicator and shot can be from 5ft.-8ft. Start looking for rising rainbows along the edges of the river and in shallow tail outs. Try a yellow micro spawn!

Bridge News:
All of the construction projects have finished their in-river work, so there are no longer hazards in the river at any of the bridges, and there are no longer flow-related boating restrictions anywhere on the river. Yeah!

River Fact:
How did the Sacramento River get it's name? In 1808, Spanish explorer Gabriel Moraga, on a journey to find suitable sites for the construction of missions, became the first foreigner to see the river clearly. Judging its huge breadth and power he named it Rio de good Sacramentos, or "River of the Blessed Sacrament".

Flies:

Dries:
• Mercer's Missing Link #14-16
• Cutter's E/C Caddis Tan #14-16
• Dean's Twilight Caddis #10-
• Crowning Poopah Cinnamon

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
• Pat's Rubberlegs #4-8
• Eng Thing #16
• Black Zebra Midge #16-18
• GB Flashback Olive PT #16-18
• CB Birds Nest #12-16
• S&M #16-18 (Any Color)
• TB Pseudo May #16-18 Brn/Olive
• Zaddis Amber #12-14
• Red Micro Mayfly #16-18
• Cinnamon BH Poopah #12-14
• Skip Nymph #16

Streamers/Leeches:
• Muddler Minnow #10
• Freshwater Clouser Olive/White

Eggs:
• Micro Spawn Oregon Cheese
• Boles Bazookas (Any)