The trout fishing on the Lower Sac-
...has been downright stellar these past few weeks. The daytime temps have seen highs 70's to 80's and every day has been sunny. It's been a beautiful, dry fall season. This consistency has lead to amazing and predictable caddis and intense BWO hatches every day. The wild trout have responded in a big way and we have been hooking dozens of great fish each day with many in the 19"-24" range. Somedays have been downright silly with big numbers of fat and healthy 17-19" fish we see hitting the net. It's been a fun time to be a fly fishing guide in Northern California.
The girth of this 23" wild rainbow from the Lower Sac was ridiculous... AK comparable for sure!!!

Much of the Lower Sac's consistency this fall I attribute to the constant weather we have experienced these past few weeks. High pressure days, with lots of sunshine is keeping the caddis going. Perhaps when we finally get some rain and colder temps things may get a little more inconsistent and windows of insane good fishing (catching) may narrow up a bit?
Looking ahead, December is typically not a month for landing high numbers of trout (like Oct/Nov can be) - but it is a time where we see very large trout come out. With the shorter days of December... so too... the fishing window. Bug hatches will be more sparse consisting of small insects like midges and BWO's and will be prime time for maybe 2-4 hours each day. If anything else, the Lower Sac will remain a SOLID Plan B option moving into the winter months.
There are a good number of steelhead showing up in the lower portions of the Lower Sac. Last season we saw a big return of hatchery steelies to the Coleman Hatchery. So, there is also that option as well...
Trinity River Steelhead-
After a VERY slow start to the season things may be perking up a bit. Reports from guides I trust have been improving some this week. Still, 1-4 opportunities a day have been pretty standard. It's been tough... but should get better as we move into later winter season. We've had ZERO amounts of rain for weeks now and that surely is having an effect on the conditions. Hopefully that will change soon!!
I'll have more info on the Trinity next week. I have moved all of my trips to the Sac these past few weeks and not 1 client has complained about that :) haha. But I have some steelhead players showing up soon and we'll give it a go shortly.
For now here are a few more pics of fat, healthy, wild trout from the Sacramento River, right here in Redding, CA

(Steven, from Deep Creek Anglers holding up another donkey-rain-pig-bow)
Lisa always gets after it...

(When these are your cookie cutter average wild trout all day long... You know its a special river!)
For those of you who have still not fished the Lower Sac with me... better get your dates booked for next year! Sept-November is a great time. For those who have Steelhead on the brain... better get a hold of me soon. Jan-Feb will be booking up. With the slow start to the season I expect that we'll see a rush of steelhead at some point when the rains finally come.
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