Our Favorite Spring Fisheries…

At 530 Outfitters, we all share a passion for fly fishing and the stewardship of nature. That said, we do have our favorite fisheries that we like to share with people each spring….

We love the Lower Sacramento River in the spring for trout fishing. While the river has had its share of ups and downs over the past few years, we are especially excited about this spring for a few reasons.

1. Strong salmon returns
   We saw the largest salmon returns in nearly a decade during the fall and winter. This means the trout have been feasting on eggs for months and have been eating well all season.

2. A mild winter and stable river flows
   Add to this a mild winter and a lack of large flushing flows or major blowouts. Because of that, the insect life is already looking great heading into spring, and we expect strong PMD and caddis hatches in the coming months.

Lower Sac Spring Rainbow

There are few places more iconic in Northern California fly fishing than Fall River and Hat Creek. Much like classic English chalk streams, these legendary spring creeks offer anglers the opportunity to fish pristine trout water from a boat or carefully stalk rising trout along the undercut banks of a mountain meadow.

the iconic Hat Creek

Thanks to minimal runoff from our mild winter, many of our freestone rivers and creeks will fish much earlier this year. Waters like the Upper Sacramento River and other small streams throughout the region should become excellent spring fisheries much sooner than usual.

Wanna Get Away? Try Spring Small Stream fishing this year

One of the most consistent spring fisheries in Northern California is our bass reservoirs. While many trout fisheries slowly ramp up through the spring and often peak in early summer, bass fishing is at its best from March through May.

We fish from motorized boats and use a wide range of techniques including the popular float and fly, stripping baitfish patterns on floating lines, and throwing topwater poppers and baitfish patterns when conditions allow.

Our bass lakes offer outstanding opportunities for both beginner and experienced anglers, making them a great option for anyone looking to get on the water this spring.

Doubles all day…