June 28th Fishing Report

Lower Sacramento River Trout Report

The Lower Sacramento River has seen a few flow increases, bringing it up to 12,500 cfs. Those higher flows have opened up several runs that had been a little too low to fish over the past few weeks. While much of the West is dealing with low summer water concerns, here in Northern California we're in great shape, with healthy flows and plenty of willing fish.

With excellent weather in the forecast this week, we're expecting more of the same—a steady, consistent bite centered around spinner falls, PMDs, caddis, and BWO hatches. We're landing quality fish every day, though we're also losing our fair share of big ones. The trout are healthy, well-fed, and pulling hard. If you're looking for strong, hard-fighting wild trout, there's no better time to be on the Lower Sacramento River.

McCloud River:

The McCloud River has been fishing great. The most productive setup has been a dry-dropper rig. A big Chubby Chernobyl paired with two of your favorite weighted nymphs should get the job done. Most guides carry multiple rods on the McCloud—a dry-dropper setup, an indicator rig, and a dedicated dry fly rod. Throwing larger dries that imitate golden stoneflies will produce eats throughout the day.

Upper Sacramento River:

The Upper Sac has been a solid option, with lighter crowds and countless access points. The techniques are very similar to those on the McCloud. A big Chubby Chernobyl with two of your favorite weighted nymphs has been the go-to setup. Fishing the pocket water has been the most productive approach. Pull off at just about any highway exit, hike along the railroad tracks, and you'll likely have plenty of water to yourself.

Fall River:

The Fall River has been one of the most popular destinations this year. It's a fishery where you can be successful with just about any technique. Indicator fishing continues to be the best option for numbers, but you can also throw dries all day to rising fish and test your skills against these selective spring creek trout. Mid-morning has been the best time to be in your favorite spot on the river. Small nymphs in sizes 16–18 have been the ticket.

Lower Sacramento River Striper Report

The river is settling into full summer mode as we hit the first full moon of the summer season. There are good numbers of 16–25-inch fish holding in most of the typical spots, and we're starting to see increasing numbers of double-digit fish moving around. As the shad run begins to thin, these bigger fish become much more active and feed consistently throughout the day.

As salmon begin to enter the river and we approach the salmon opener in mid-July, the larger stripers will be pushed out of the deeper runs and onto the banks, giving fly anglers better access to them throughout the day. We're catching fish on heavy sinking shooting heads during the middle of the day and switching to intermediate shooting heads during low-light periods in the morning and evening.

Fishing should continue to improve through July and August as more salmon move into the system and the shad migration winds down. If you're looking for your best shot at a trophy striper on the fly, the next couple of months are shaping up to be some of the best of the season.