Current River Conditions:
Expect the river below Balls Ferry to be colored with muddy water from Cow Creek, Cottonwood Creek. Go and fish the riffles and focus on shallow water.

River flows are 4,000 cfs and very wade friendly! It's possible to find rising rainbows from early to mid afternoon eating BWOs and smaller #18 baetis.

If you plan on wading the Lower Sacramento here in Redding, CA., consider purchasing a PFD and a wading staff!

Click here for up to date Lower Sacramento flow

By the way- "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:
• Mercer's Sac Fry
• Pale Alvin #6-12
• Zack's Soft Alevin
• Zack's Zaddis Amber #12-14
• Fox's Beeottis
• Fox's Cinnamon Poopah #12-14
• RK Flatulator BWO
• Eng Thing #14-16
• 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 #16-18
• 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