Reel Adventures Guide Service

Half Day Trips on the Lower Sacramento River

Half Day trips on the Lower Sac have been perfect these past few weeks... this is a great way to beat the heat and fish the prime time of day. 

Half Day drift boat floats 1 or 2 anglers $370 - 4 hrs (typically 4pm-8:30pm)                                                                      Includes all fly fishing gear, flies, etc, and drinks (no lunches)

It's been real good... Matt M last Thursday finishing strong

Summer caddis hatches are the mainstay right now but we are also seeing prolific and intense mayfly hatches (the little bitty ones) before sunset on most evenings.

Matt Miller everybody... getting bent!

Lots of quality wild trout hitting the net this week in the evening time...Matt with another of many Toads he landed.

Currently, I have August 19-21, 23, 26, 27 and September 3, 4, 9, 18 still available

Go to www.reeladventuresguideservice.com for more information

Trinity River - Salmon & Steelhead

The flows will bump up on the Trinity River in late August for the Hoopa Tribe's boat event and ceremony. This flow bump of cold water WILL do some great things in the river and get some fresh fish moving upriver. The time period from Sept 3rd - Oct 15th could offer some very good fishing for early steelhead and the fall run salmon... If I had a dog whistle for my steelheader peeps I'd be blowing on it pretty hard right now. Hint. Wink. Contact me soon...September 3, 4, 9, 18, should be lit!!

Evening Half-Days...

The Lower Sacramento River in Redding, CA is fishing well, especially during the late afternoon/evening time. We've been fishing evening Half Day trips lately -- This is a great way to beat the heat!

Even on the hottest days it's quite comfortable out on the river in the evening. Another bonus is the short 4-5 hour Half Day is less expensive and less committing at $370 for 1 or 2 anglers. This is a great deal for a solo angler just looking to get out for a few hours of action during primetime. 

I have dates available: August 19, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27... and September 3,4, 5,9, 18 

Jack D showing off one of the many nice, wild trout he landed the other night... The river conditions were perfect and comfortable from 6-8:30pm. With the water temps in the low 50's it creates a cool air affect with air temps around 80 degrees. 

We are seeing solid caddis activity and prolific tiny mayflies coming off as the sun gets low in the sky. The big fish are chowing! Possible dry fly opportunities exist right at sunset to dark. The best fishing often follows the hottest days... this is a very unique wild trout fishery.

Sundial Bridge on the Lower Sacramento River, Redding, CA a super secret spot...

This one time...when I realized that I forgot my boat net in the garage. Luckily, I keep a utility crate in my boat which typically acts as an anchor rope manager, water jug holder and trash collector... add impromptu fish landing device now.

And... it's exactly 21" long inside! Ask me how I know.

We were able to successfully land all the  fish, except ONE, that Jack hooked this night. 

Who's noticing the little mayfly hitchhiker there!

The fish calmed down in the crate with water in it... much more than in a net, actually. I was interested to learn this...

Jack leaning on another good one destined for the crate... and then released of course.

Let's go fishing...! Call or email me for more info on August and September fly fishing options... or visit my webpage www.ReelAdventuresGuideService.com

Some good open dates available...

Fly fishing in Northern California has been very good these past few weeks and there are some cool things happening...

Charlie fished with he big Cal Trout crew last week and ended the day with this amazing 23" badass wild rainbow from the Lower Sac... the top section has been growing em big!

I have some very good dates open these next few weeks. Let me talk more about our options:

Trout fishing... has been stellar on the Lower Sacramento River right here in Redding, CA. The "top section" of the river has reopened after a 4 month break. We have been seeing some solid fish in the net each day with a few over the 20" range on most days.

Most of the fishing is being driven by the caddis hatches in the late afternoon and evening with some intense numbers of evening mayflies showing as well. I have been doing mostly PM Half Day trips to target the best fishing time and possibly some dry fly action.

Despite the very hot daytime temps the "on the water" temp is not at all uncomfortable once the sun gets low in the sky after 5pm. The evening floats have been awesome and not that hot at all. I had a client point out to me the other day that it was 80 degrees on the water (LSac flows cold at 53 degrees) despite it being around 100 degrees about 50 yards off the water. Big difference... 

Dry fly fishing in the evenings has been spotty lately with inconsistent and cooler evenings we have experienced. I believe the best evening caddis hatches will happen later in August when we get consistent 100 degree afternoons... they really do like it hot... these bugs will get most active later in the day.

CalTrout Director, Curtis Knight, always keeps em' wet...

Good things will continue through this month and September should be consistent as well. The lower river is fishing well, too, and we are seeing a very good return (already) of Chinook (king) salmon in the lower reaches below Cottonwood and downriver. Steelhead should be arriving soon with all these fresh salmon around. October egg drop could be a barn burner this year...

A lot of quality wild ones caught this week - these fish have not skipped a meal lately...

Salmon/Steelhead... There has been a fantastic showing of Springer salmon this season into the upper Trinity River. I can't get enough of this river right now especially from about 6:30am to 1pm.

The springer salmon season has been very good for the conventional gear anglers with most boats limiting out within the first hour or so. And, to think that we almost didn't have a salmon season this year? (DFW commission reversed vote by keeping the season open this year)

Along with good salmon returns we have also seen a good number of steelhead making their way upriver already. Flows are perfect @ 450cfs for swinging flies right now and nymphing with indicators.

Springers are hands down the best eating salmon caught in inland rivers...they may be smaller but they are delicious. The Trinity, Klamath and Rogue are three very good fisheries w/ viable numbers of spring-run salmon. Another unique factor is that we float the river in drift boats as opposed to fishing in crowds from big jet boats. Buddies Mike and Steve on a guides day off...

Sometime late August they will be releasing a pulse of water from the dam for the Hoopa Boat Dance (odd years is Hoopa and even years it's Yurok). This big increase of cold water WILL bring fresh fall-run salmon and steelhead upriver. The Fall Salmon season is up next beginning Sept 1st and all indications are that it will be a very good run. I'd recommend contacting me soon for more details... You want to look at that window from Sept 3rd - Oct 15th as flows will be perfect.

As of right now my open dates are:

August 19-23 and 26, 27

September 3-5, 9, 18, 23, 24 

These dates are good for trout, steelhead and salmon trips. Call or email me for more info... www.ReelAdventuresGuideService.comwww.ReelAdventuresGuideService.com

Lower Sac re-opener has been good...

The top section of the Lower Sac reopened August 1st after four months of non-fishing rest (the closure is intended to protect winter and spring-run Chinook salmon spawn)

On the morning of the 1st there were drift boats being launched at sunrise (5:30am) in order to avoid the assumed barrage of anglers and guides. I let my clients decide if they wanted to join the masses at a more reasonable 7:30 or 8am start, or, start much later in the day at 1pm and fish till dark (my preference). Glad they opted for the later start... we had a fantastic time once the trout got going on the caddis hatch and the crowds were gone. 

I'll let the pictures tell the story...

Justin with a bent rod at the iconic Sundial Bridge, Redding, CA

Brandon with the first fish of the day - on the very first cast of the day!!

As the sun got low the fishing got better and better...glad we waited for the later start. Justin and Brandon have booked Aug 1st for the last few seasons so they know what to expect... which is nothing... just fish hard and it will be!!

A beautiful sunset and a bunch of large trout... thankful it wasn't like last year with horrendous smoke and half the town on fire during the Carr Fire...

Brandon had an epic dry fly eater in the last spot we fished... such an awesome end to a great day! You can see his smile even from this angle...

Hot on the heels of the 1st day crew came the venerable Jeff M gang for 2 days. These guys are fun hogs that roll with a crew that likes to have a good time.They fish hard all day and then enjoy the rest of the evening doing what fishing trips are supposed to be about... sharing camaraderie, good food and making memories with plenty of shenanigans and banter thrown around. 

Flip flops and board shorts... mandatory attire for this crew of misfit central coast Californians

Super chunky wild trout... the Lower Sac is famous for these hard pulling amazing fish...

Jeff M with a familiar pose...

 

Another perfect specimen Lower Sac will trout...

Greg and Sam got into them pretty good on a half day session this week...

My old neighbor Sam. A year ago today he was busting his ass with the rest of Redding's finest, Cal Fire and a whole slew of wildfire agencies trying to save the Town of Redding and the surrounding area from the devastating Carr Fire. Cannot thank the brave men and women first responders enough for their heroics during that terrible tragedy - we will never forget...

Not a scale out of place... the fish are so amazing.

Mike C was all grins after this fish... and to think this was before the August 1st opener. Yeah they live in here and in the entire river...

I'll post more later... gotta run.

Still have August 19-23, 26, 27 open and Sept 3-5. Go to www.reeladventuresguideservice.com for more info

So many options for fishing right now....

Summer is in full swing and there are literally dozens of options and destinations for fly fishing in Northern California right now. Thanks in large part to a very wet and extended winter/spring season we are experiencing higher and cooler water levels than average for mid July. Fishing has been solid lately and there is much to be excited about as we move into mid summer mode. Get up here!

Greg K enjoying stunning views and great fishing on this day on the McCloud River... This is a pocket water paradise and we caught fish nymphing and dry fly fishing in some pretty amazing water

"I bet there is one in there... Schwack...Yep!"

Rivers such as the McCloud, Upper Sac and Pit River offer incredible wade fishing opportunities throughout the summer months. Don't you wish you could be here right now?

As we move into late July and August the fishing will continue to be solid with terrestrial bugs (ants, beetles, grasshoppers) becoming more important to the opportunistic wild trout. There will be flurries of mayflies and ever-present caddis and midges, also.

Greg K caught many fine wild ones on this day...and the best part is that he used many different techniques. Our favorite is always the dry fly eaters!!!

There are many strategies and techniques an angler must utilize (its good to have a repertoire of tricks up your sleeve) while fishing freestone rivers. Are you competent in all the techniques of nymph fishing: slack lining with an indicator, w/o an indicator, tight-line nymphing (Czech nymphing) dry/dropper?

I have specific rods/lines for each technique... The flies are important, too, often we use specific flies for each technique Ex: heavy tungsten beadheads on "tournament hooks" for tight lining. Sometimes your guide is a "rod caddie" as well as instructor, fly tier and entomologist! 

I find that timing can be an important factor with summertime fly fishing. The days are very long right now and by midday the sun is hot and bright. During summer months i like to fish early morning till about noon and then late afternoon through evening time. Basically, the shadier time periods of the day. Focusing your fishing effort on a specific 4-5 hour window - AM or PM - is a good strategy. Of course, every river is different and sometimes the middle of the day can be great! It just varies from river to river...this is a guide's job... knowing the best time and where to be.

Upper Sac goodness... waist deep and getting rewarded while achieving the perfect cast and drift on the far side seam... Greg K getting after it after re-positioning, re-angling and figuring the drift out.

Don't sweat the summer heat. Wet wading is the solution to hot summer days and enjoying your time on the water, well, in the water. lol. Not only is it more comfortable not wearing plastic pants all day and sweating your ass off... but you feel more in tune with the river and the refreshingly cool water on a hot day.

I prefer getting in the river and staying in the river in order to stalk the trout like a Ninja. Sneaking up on plunge pools or making that difficult cast and presentation under shaded overhanging branches or tight to rock walls. Knee deep prospecting and anticipation of that next blow-up rise is the best part of fly fishing!

As I mentioned above... there are literally dozens of rivers in Nor Cal worth fishing RIGHT NOW. Places like:  McCloud River, Upper Sac and Pit River along with small streams Hat Creek, Burney Creek and others. While boat trips on Fall River or drift boat floats on the Lower Sac here in Redding and Trinity River (there are springer salmon, half pounders and steelhead in the Trinity right now) are totally worth it.

The amazing Fall River in north eastern Shasta County... its an incredible summer fishery with incredible wild trout. Come see us at Clearwater Lodge. This is a river with limited public access (private ranches border it) fished entirely with small prams or Jon boats

My days a slowly booking up for summer and the Fall Season is almost completely booked!! Here's a quick look at some dates to consider:

July... all booked!

August... 15, 16, 19-23, 26, 27, 30

September... 2-5, 9, 18, 23, 30

October... all booked! due to cancellation Oct 1st is open

November... 1, 20, 21 (Steelhead!)

December... 11, 12, 13 

Visit my website www.ReelAdventuresGuideService.com for more info, pictures and descriptions of each river we fish, rates, and availability calendar.