Reel Adventures Guide Service

Some available dates...

I would like to fill several of these upcoming dates... the Sun is finally out and conditions should be solid for some Springtime conditions!

May 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 14, (15th half day), 17, 28, (29 half day), 30 - this would be mostly drift boating the Lower Sac although we can fish anywhere that we think might be better.

June 7, 17, *24-28* (*dates for focusing on the Upper Sac, McCloud River area)

July 16-23, 29, 30, 31 (lots of options at this time)

Visit my website www.reeladventuresguideservice.com for more info on: calendar, rates, rivers and booking info...

It's been a tough year for fishing guides in Northern California. First we had the wildfires and horrible smoky conditions of last summer that (for many reasons) put a damper on fishing around here. We saw our way through it - and had a decent fall season and steelhead season. But when winter finally decided to come around... it didn't stop raining for 3 months. We've experienced the wettest year we have seen in a long time. Over 40" of rain here in Redding (a lot more than that fell in West Redding!).

To be clear, when we have been able to get out on the water the fishing has been mostly good to great. There's been plenty of good fishing days to keep things going... but it's been challenging and inconsistent with the Lower Sac this spring. 

Lower Sac flows are finally set to drop from 40K to 20k by April 17th and will probably remain in a more "fishable" state of 20k or lower (I've heard down to 8k) for at least a few weeks.

I hope we can finally plan on some sunny weather and fishable rivers?? The fishing should be epic for these famous wild trout once we get back out there.

Trout Opener is coming up April 27th and this will provide at least a few more options even though many of our rivers are already open to year around angling. Flows will be high for a while on the McCloud and Pit Rivers. Upper Sac will have windows of fishability and Hat Creek may provide some great escapes. 

 

Last days of Steelhead Season-

(I fished the Trinity River Flies Only section last week by myself...What's an out of work fishing guide to do? It was one of the last days of this season the river was fishable (flows are on the rise) Casting dead drifted dry flies to steelhead under sunny skies...was special. Saw 3 different species of mayfly and had plenty of noses working the surface... I fed several really nice fish and one 23" hen stayed pinned long enough for a photo)

The Trinity River is gonna get big, big water soon... pulse flows of 9k and 11k this spring... the river will be mostly unfishable from now until July when they ramp back down water releases. August the flows will drop to 450cfs. I start fishing the river for steelhead sometime in mid September... this is a great time to swing flies and explore the lower river.

2018/2019 steelhead season was a weird one but it did have its moments. No rain for the beginning of the season in Oct/Nov and then too much rain in the latter half. Every week was different and we had to work for them a lot this past year... but THAT is steelhead fishing.

I'm happy to chase trout for a while and it's nice to have so many great options here in Northern California to explore and guide: Lower Sac, Upper Sac, McCloud River, Pit River, Hat Creek, Fall River and others...

In about two or three months when we are experiencing the dog days of summer and those 100 degree days hit me... I will be thinking about steelhead season for next year. LOL... always thinking ahead and these zany creatures find a way to haunt you!! 

The weather won't quit...

*Update... Lower Sac will drop to around 20K on 4/17/19. No news beyond that but at least that's back into the fishable zone. Woot Woot.

It has been a wet year and there's no end it sight it seems! This incessant winter won't leave us alone... We have plenty of water!

Fishing has been mostly good on the Lower Sac with some slower days thrown in from time to time. Flows have gone from 20,000cfs to 30,000cfs and now *4/9/19 flows are rising again to 40,000cfs Flows should remain for at least a week at this level as BOR draws down Lake Shasta to make additional room for more runoff. At 40K I view the river to be unfishable or at least un-guidable in a drift boat, it's just not worth it.

We have had some fun the last few weeks. See pics below... I look forward to getting back on the river ASAP when flows drop closer to 30K or below.

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(A great looking typical Lower Sac wild rainbow... get up here when the weather improves to meet one... or a few)

(Jack D always finds some quality fish on the Lower Sac...Way to have another fine day, Sir. Thank you.)

(Frank E getting it done on a great day under adverse conditions... We went from, "I don't know, should we even bother?" To, "This is pretty awesome!!" You'll never know unless you go)

Team Stoddard! The fellas faced the toughest conditions in the last two weeks and came away with some good fish and laughs... thanks, guys, those conditions today were ROUGH!!! Tom... we both should have some serious fish Karma stored up!)

(Dou..ble'.... River and his 13 yr old son, Alex,  killing it on the Lower Sac!!)

The force is strong with this young Jedi...

Hang Loose... fish on...

These wild trout never cease to amaze... Lower Sac fish are the baddest around.

I'm taking a few days off to rest and let the river flow for a bit. I'll be back out after this system passes and the sun comes back out.

Dates in May and June are open!!! Check my website for more info.

Book dates now for spring/summer...

It's been on again off again rain this past week. We are having a very wet year here in Northern California for the spring of 2019!! Rainfall for Redding area is 35" for the year, 7" over average. Westside of Redding probably got more than 40" as it tends to rain a lot more here than the where our official gauge is out by the airport.

The rain hasn't stopped the great fishing on the, Lower Sacramento River, right in the heart of Redding, CA. We've had to deal with a little color in the water on days it's rained for long periods - but the river has remained fishable each day. The flows are going back up slightly tomorrow, 3/26 from 10k to 15k... this is a great flow for spring and summer, especially for floating the river in a drift boat... with a competent local fly fishing guide.

As we move into April and May the fishing conditions will get even better as more wild trout return to feeding lanes in the river after their spring spawn. Bug hatches should get more steady and more prolific, too, with a return of warmer weather and more seasonal weather. We shall see the best and most diverse hatches of the year with: spring caddis, bwo's, pmd's, (already seeing the first Pink Alberts) along with drakes and several different stonefly species getting more active over the next few months.

(Image: John A and Blake came up and fished a day w/ me recently... both anglers netted their first trout on a fly rod including this 22" beast that John landed. We fished Baum Lake on this day and it was sunny and beautiful)

The Lower Sac will continue to be our best local fishery for the next couple months. I believe the good fishing should continue through May and June this year. The water conditions will be fun as the river will be flowing high and green. If you have not given it much thought I would suggest looking at my calendar and getting some dates booked! See open dates below 

(Images: Got to spend a fun two days with Deuce and his son, Zachary, who usually fish with my good buddy, Brad McFall. We had one day of sun, one day of rain, but both days were a lot of fun with non-stop hookups from the first cast to the last cast!)

(Images: Jim H and his wife, Joan, spent a rainy, colder day on the Lower Sac. It was Joan's first day fly fishing and it was POURING rain most of the morning... We had to work for them a bit but the afternoon ended up great!)

(Image: Zach, with another of many, many, awesome wild rainbow trout on the Lower Sac)

(Image: These L Sac fish are stunningly beautiful and pull very hard due to their historical steelhead genetics...)

Here are my open dates as of this morning...

April 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 29

May 1, 2, 6-9, 14-17, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30

Get here in the spring while the weather is perfect for fly fishing. It's not too hot, not too cold and the trout are super grabby. Visit www.reeladventuresguideservice.com for more info

 

The Lower Sac has been Fantastic...

I have been guiding the last 6 days straight on the Lower Sac and happy to report the river and its famous wild rainbow trout are in great shape! Flows are settled now at 10,000cfs - down from 40,000cfs a few weeks ago. Color is perfect green 3-5ft depending on where you float (below Clear Creek it's murkier after rain, but still super fishy).

Fly fishing conditions have been stellar... with the weather playing a role in things. We've had every other day go from 75 degrees and sunny to 50 degree and raining. It's officially Spring Season now and the battle of wet vs. sunny weather rages. Every day has been different this week. I go from wearing a T-shirt and flip flops to Gore-Tex and waders.

(Image: When the average cookie cutter wild rainbows are solid 18" badass fish... you can see why this river is so amazing)

(Images: Ken and Mike had a fun two day visit to Redding, CA We got into the fish really well w/ 10 double hookups this day)

(Image: Ken with a dandy wild rainbow... too many to count on this day... many like this and bigger)

(Image: These are average sized L Sac fish and we caught them all day long... 30-50 hookups per boat, each day,  are common for competent, local, fly fishing guides who know the river well)

As good as it's been this week, fishing conditions should only get better and better as we move towards April and May. Bug hatches are prolific on the sunny and warm days with little black caddis driving the best periods. In addition, PMD's, and BWO have been on the menu as well. The fish seem a little more grabby and aggressive to me with the warmer weather and the days the caddis are more active. 

On the cooler & rainy days it's been more egg bite centric as trout key in on eggs and larger stuff like Rubber Legs... this has probably more to to do with visibility (darker water and dirtier water from storm runoff) than anything, although, we know how much trout & steelhead love eggs. Clarity has been good to about 4-5  feet up top, and less than that below Clear Creek.

March dates are pretty much booked up now - but I still have some Prime-Time April & May dates available. Simply put... these next few months are the BEST time of year to fly fish the Lower Sac from a drift boat. If you're already a fan of this river or have yet to experience what it's all about - I would get some dates on the books ASAP and come visit me in Redding, CA. We are going to have a fantastic spring and summer fishing season up here. The river and fish are in great shape and the entire system is very healthy. 

Dates still open:

April 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 29

May 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14-17, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30

June dates are going fast... check website calendar for availability 

Please visit my website www.reeladventuresguideservice.com for more info including rates, availability calendar and booking info. Also I have lodging recommendations for Redding area.

I will post more later... still have lots of other photos and report from last few days...

Make Plans Now To Fish....

Received some GREAT news tonight... the flows on the Lower Sac are scheduled to begin dropping this weekend 3/17/19!

   Image: Lower Sacramento below Sundial Bridge at 30,000cfs and dropping... it is fishable now but will get even better in the next few days...)

My advice... check my online calendar soon right here and get up to Redding ASAP!!!! March dates are going quickly but April has some openings! March - May are fantastic months for spring fishing on the Lower Sacramento River right here in Redding, CA

Do It!!!!

Available dates:

March 28, 29, 

April 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 29

May 1, 2, 6-9, 14-17, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30

Get here in the spring while the weather is perfect for fly fishing. It's not too hot, not too cold and the trout are super grabby. Visit www.reeladventuresguideservice.com for more info