Fishing on the Upper and Lower Sac is outstanding, Trinity slows, Klamath freshies!

Fly fishing on the Lower Sacramento and Upper Sacramento Rivers has been outstanding and the Klamath and Trinity still have a few steelhead hanging around for those who want to sneak in their last trip of the season. We appear to have some much needed spring showers on the way midweek with the forecast calling for clearing over the weekend. River conditions could not be much better with low and clear flows which should make for an exceptional spring and opportunities to take advantage of the best hatches of the year.

Water conditions on the Lower Sacramento River are ideal with clear, steady flows from Keswick which were bumped slightly on March 20th to 3750 cfs and there are currently no scheduled changes. Hatches have been good on most days, sparse on others with Pale Morning Duns being the main feast. There are still a few March Browns, Blue Wing Olives and on and off spring caddis with large Stoneflies and summer caddis starting to show. Most fish prefer eating the small nymphs but of course our land rate is higher when they eat our large rubberleg patterns as most of the bow's we've seen have been big and hot!

The Upper Sac has been mostly a nymphing affair with a Rubberleg or Goldenstone and small nymph combo. Similar to the Lower Sac, most fish are eating the small Mayfly and Caddis offerings but our land rate on the bigger bug is better, particularly on the largest fish. Dry fly fishing is just around the corner, we saw our first Salmonfly of the season and the big Mayfly Drakes are on the way as well. Flows at Delta on the Upper Sacramento River have dropped below 500 cfs, less than a third of the norm and are clear and dropping, which makes access throughout ideal. Flows upstream are nearly at early summer levels with most crossings open. We enjoyed several successful Upper Sac trips this week with the vast majority of fish in the teens, real trophies on this river. We hope to find that illusive twenty incher in our net soon as this is the time of year we get a shot at the biggest fish in the river while enjoying some solitude, as there are few if any other anglers around.

The Pit River had been fishng well until some work began on Pit 3 and flows have blown it out. Work is scheduled to be completed on May 7th. Pit 5 has some limited access providing good opportunities for hearty souls.

Steelhead fishing on the Trinity has slowed but there are still some fish to be found. Some of them have been the largest fish of the season, still a week or two to get in your final steelhead trip of the season.

The Klamath has enjoyed an influx of bright spring fish, both half pounders and small adults from two to four pounds. Some larger winter fish continue to linger but will be spawning soon. Nymphing has been best and despite warmer water temps into the fifties, the swing bite has remained surprisingly slow.

With the low flows, we hope and expect this spring to be the best one we've seen in several seasons and recommend scheduling your spring trips on local freestones, the Pit, McCloud and Upper Sacramento River soon! The Upper Sac and Pit are open year round, McCloud and Fall Rivers as well as Hat Creek open April 26th. Look for our preseason preview post a week or so before the general opener.

Check out our full report with pics and links on our website. Drop us a line if you are headed our way. We are always pleased to set you up with the finest local guides or send you in a direction you can enjoy on your own. We hope to see you soon, until then we wish you tight lines and singing reels!