Lower Sac Help

[Natekursow]

Still trying to plan where I'm wanting to go for a weekend in early November. I've never been to the lower Sac, and I've heard that it's pretty good. I'd maybe like to check it out, but I don't have access to a drift boat. I do have kayaks that I can use for transport, but they don't work very well for fishing out of. Is walk and wade fishing going to be doable then, if so, where? Will it even be worth it? If not, where would you fish in the area? Thanks a lot!

NK

[PV_Premier]

Still trying to plan where I'm wanting to go for a weekend in early November. I've never been to the lower Sac, and I've heard that it's pretty good. I'd maybe like to check it out, but I don't have access to a drift boat. I do have kayaks that I can use for transport, but they don't work very well for fishing out of. Is walk and wade fishing going to be doable then, if so, where? Will it even be worth it? If not, where would you fish in the area? Thanks a lot!

NK

Walk and Wade should be fine. I'm not sure if the salmon made it up river with the warm temps but fish will be eating eggs in the redds, which is pretty wade friendly, watch your step. Having a kayak for transit between riffles will be a big advantage vs. trying to access from various roads and public access points.

Read the regs, I believe the river is closed above CA44 bridge at this time but I really don't know as I don't fish it much.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Call Mike Mercer at The Fly Shop in Redding, CA. for some good advice on the lower Sac.



Get a friend to go with you and go out with a local guide.



The lower Sacramento river is one of the most consistent good large wild Rainbow trout fisheries in California.



Call lower Sac guide and expert Lincoln Gray at Sierra Stream & Mountain Fly Shop in Chico, CA.

https://tie-fast.com/

(530) 345-4261

[Woodman]

Check the flows at https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?11370500, Sacramento River below Keswick Reservoir. If flows are at or below 5000 cfs, which they should be by November, there is a lot of good wading access. One good spot to check out is Anderson River Park. The undeveloped lower end of the park has good access to a nice riffle.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Talked with veteran Nor Cal guide Lincoln Gray yesterday.

Said not many salmon in the lower Sac but the trout are on the salmon egg drop.

[Lance Gray]

Still trying to plan where I'm wanting to go for a weekend in early November. I've never been to the lower Sac, and I've heard that it's pretty good. I'd maybe like to check it out, but I don't have access to a drift boat. I do have kayaks that I can use for transport, but they don't work very well for fishing out of. Is walk and wade fishing going to be doable then, if so, where? Will it even be worth it? If not, where would you fish in the area? Thanks a lot!

NK

I sent you a PM

[bonish]

I sent you a PM

Make sure you get some of those Lance Gray fly patterns........did really well with them lower on the river last week. And the Yuba the week before that.................

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Veteran Nor Cal guides Lincoln Gray, Lance Gray and Tim Fox really know the lower Sac, lower Feather and lower Yuba rivers.

They all work together so they can do large groups too.


Tim Fox is also guiding turkeys, pigs and deer.

[RRmerlinv12]

Still trying to plan where I'm wanting to go for a weekend in early November. I've never been to the lower Sac, and I've heard that it's pretty good. I'd maybe like to check it out, but I don't have access to a drift boat. I do have kayaks that I can use for transport, but they don't work very well for fishing out of. Is walk and wade fishing going to be doable then, if so, where? Will it even be worth it? If not, where would you fish in the area? Thanks a lot!

NK

We hired a guide out of The fly shop on 10/19/21 Using an indicator and a three fly set up we netted 25 or so 16-20 inches powerful, thick, beautiful. The best part was 5 plus takes per hookup. One of my better days in a while.

[Natekursow]

Hopefully I'll encounter that kind of day! Sounds AMAZING! Care to say what you were using? Thanks!

NK

[Brian Clemens]

If you decided to do the kayak thing, you can pay for a shuttle to take your rig to the take out. I would recommend posse grounds to Bonnyview float, no major nasty water to deal with and its a short float. Just below Bonnyview is a very very nasty big swirly that will flip your kayak, you can of course walk it around on river left, but the float from Bonnyview to Anderson is a very long float.

Eggs caddis mayflies worms and big Jimmylegs have been working well. When I guide it this time of year, if they are keying in on the egg hard then I'll put the egg first then rubberlegs and caddis/mayflies or worm if they arent keying in hard on the egg ill run a jimmyleg caddis then an egg. You don't have to fish very deep, about 5ft from indicator to swivel then another 16" to first fly and so on. I usually have about 3 more feet above my bobber for adjusting depth. I don't adjust much on the Lower sac.

Good luck out there

[Natekursow]

If you decided to do the kayak thing, you can pay for a shuttle to take your rig to the take out. I would recommend posse grounds to Bonnyview float, no major nasty water to deal with and its a short float. Just below Bonnyview is a very very nasty big swirly that will flip your kayak, you can of course walk it around on river left, but the float from Bonnyview to Anderson is a very long float.

Eggs caddis mayflies worms and big Jimmylegs have been working well. When I guide it this time of year, if they are keying in on the egg hard then I'll put the egg first then rubberlegs and caddis/mayflies or worm if they arent keying in hard on the egg ill run a jimmyleg caddis then an egg. You don't have to fish very deep, about 5ft from indicator to swivel then another 16" to first fly and so on. I usually have about 3 more feet above my bobber for adjusting depth. I don't adjust much on the Lower sac.

Good luck out there

Thank you for the tips, Brian! Ended up deciding not to do the kayak trip... I'm probably just gonna walk and wade... thinking turtle bay probably?

NK

[RRmerlinv12]

Hopefully I'll encounter that kind of day! Sounds AMAZING! Care to say what you were using? Thanks!

NK
Much like what Brian Clemens said. The leader started with a solid fairly large indicator, 3 ' to two splits shot, 18" big black rubber leg 18" to hard plastic red egg wedged 1 1/2" above hook then 18" to small Beadhead PMD emerger. It was challange to not tangle and fish were hitting them all.

[JayDubP]

Much like what Brian Clemens said. The leader started with a solid fairly large indicator, 3 ' to two splits shot, 18" big black rubber leg 18" to hard plastic red egg wedged 1 1/2" above hook then 18" to small Beadhead PMD emerger. It was challange to not tangle and fish were hitting them all.


Link to an older article that shows access points plus illustration of how to rig indicator and flies.

https://www.fishingtips101.com/favorite_california_waters/lower_sacramento_river.html

Good luck and looking forward to your report.

Jim