Fish Report for 8-23-2023

The recent storm had some good effects on the fishing

8-23-2023
The Fly Shop

The recent storm had some good effects on the fishing, the Rainbows love cloudy days in summer! Releases are being reduced and are around 9,250 CFS for now and the BOR should continue to drop them as we get closer to the fall. The river is fishing super from the Posse Grounds down past Jellys Ferry. Evening Caddis hatches have been good some days and nonexistent on others, probably due to the weather and afternoon storms the past few days. The Baetis are coming off well in the afternoons when it is cloudy. The BP Weiss nymph, the smaller Perdigons especially in olive, and the Olive Hot Spot are good flies to tie on regardless. The Caddis grab will begin in the afternoon and intensify towards dark. Zack's Jigged Bird's Nest, Cinnamon Poopahs, and amber Bubbleback Caddis are great flies for now. Fish deep in the good runs, but keep an eye on the shallow riffles as some fish will get way up in them to chase Caddis coming off. The evenings can have some very large fish chasing the hatching Spotted Sedges way up into the shallow water blowing everything up. This lasts anywhere from 10 - 30 minutes, but holy cow! Swing a Bird's Nest or Soft Hackle in the evenings when you see the bugs hatching. A dark Missing Link in #14 would be good to have too. Summer is here and the Lower Sac is a great river to be on in summer! To get a day out on the river with one of our guides, give Bryan or Chris a call in Outfitters. (530)222-3555

The Fly Shop does not offer a shuttle service. Kim at Sac River Shuttle can get your shuttle done seven days a week. You can reach her at (530)782-9090

Access To the Lower Sacramento
The Lower Sacramento has many publicly accessible areas with good wading opportunities when the flows are below 7,500 CFS. Stop by the shop and we'd be happy to point you in the right direction.

Fishing Large Rivers Can be Frustrating
There are many great places you can get in and wade this blue ribbon tail water. Having said that, the absolute best method to fish the Sac is from a drift boat. Aside from being able to access all of the water, you can fish the long runs on a dead, perfect drift which is deadly on these legendary wild rainbows. And who would be a better oarsman than one of our Professional Guides? They know every nook and cranny of the river, what insects are and will be hatching, and the setups and methods that will get you onto the fish of a lifetime.

Recommended Equipment & Setups
Most of our fishing, whether from a drift boat, or wading when the releases are low enough, is done dead drifting nymphs. The Fly Shop's Signature Indicator Rod is nine and a half feet of indicator nymph fishing perfection designed by our professional staff right here on the Lower Sac. Teamed up with a 6 or 7 weight Scientific Anglers Amplitude Anadro Floating Fly Line or a Rio Intouch Xtreme Indicator Fly Line it will put a center pin rig to shame.

Hot Flies: 
Dry Flies:
Mercer's Missing Link, #18 Dark
Mayfly Cripple - Limestone #18
Norman's Loopwing - BWO

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
CB Birds Nest - #14
Mercer's Micro May - #14-16 Brown
Mercer's Poxy Back PMD - #16
Bubbleback Caddis, - Olive #16
Pat's Rubber Legs - #4-8

Eggs:
Micro Spawn - Peachy King, Shrimp Pink
Boles Bazookas - Shrimp Pink, Peachy King



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