Mayflies and Midge patterns are the toicket on the Lower Sac right now

Sacramento River - CA


by The Fly Shop
12-11-2011
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Current River Conditions:
For this week, expect mostly sunny conditions with a chance of rain Wednesday and Thursday. Expect cool daytime temperatures throughout the week. River flows are 5,000 cfs! Not bad for wading! Check in with us before you decide to wade this mighty river. Wading the Lower Sac is very dangerous. Consider purchasing a PFD. The fishing has been fair to good this week. Anglers are doing best where spawning salmon are found.

Insect hatches are comprised of mostly of BWOs, Baetis and small, #18 tan and dark Caddis. Midge hatches in the AM hours produce most of the "fish feed". Flies like Pat's Rubber Legs, Zack's Thurmanator Stones, Fox's Olive/Gold Beeottis, Lightening Biot Baetis, Mercer's Micro Mayflies should produce hook ups. Definitely bring egg patterns like Boles Bazookas in peachy king and sockeye, Micro Spawns in Salmon Egg and MC Redd Reapers in all colors! Try swinging a Muddler Minnow or a Matuka!

Click here for up to date Lower Sacramento flow

"Good fishing can be found at these private water destinations this winter: Luk Lake and Steiner Lake"

The Fly Shop's ? Tips:
Fishing a long, 9' leader tapered to 3x (the second fly can be attached using 4X) with a big indicator and an SSG split shot will get the flies down to the fish. If you are wading the river and not in a drift boat, add another AAA or even a second SSG to your rig. The sooner the flies get to the bottom of the river, the more time you spend "fishing". At this time of year, look for hatches of Baetis, BWOs and midges. The "egg" bite is slowing down and mostly done.

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
• Parachute Profile Spinner BWO
• Norman's Loop Wing BWO
• D&D Cripple-Any!

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
• Fox's Beeottis
• Drifting Flashback #18
• Mercer's Gidget
• Pat's Rubberlegs #4-8
• Zack's Thurmantor Stone
• CB Birds Nest #12-16
• S&M #16-18 (Any Color)
• Pseudo May #18 Olive
• Red Micro Mayfly #16-18
• Skip Nymph #16

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

Eggs:
• MC Redd Reaper
• Micro Spawn
• Single Eggs
• Surreal Eggs
• Boles Bazookas