Current River Conditions:
Insect hatches consisting of small #16 dark Sedge (caddis), baetis, PEDs (Pale Evening Duns or Little Olive Mayflies) and a few October Caddis are responsible for the better fly fishing on the Upper Sac. Good to hear! Anglers fishing nymphs are doing best. High-stick techniques with and without indicators are producing the kind of fishing this perfect freestone stream is well known for. Fishing nymphs shallow in the cool mornings and then in the early evening will work just fine. In the middle of the day, the fishing is a little slow and it seems nymphs dragged across the river bottom will dredge a rainbow or two into your landing net. Go prepared with October Caddis nymphs and dries! Best bite is in the morning, and again in the early evening. Fall is a perfect time of year to fish the Upper Sacramento! Fall colors are starting to pop! Oh...dry fly fishing has been good at sunset.

For flies, consider Fred Gordon's Amber Wing Prince in #16-18. Mercer's #16 Brown Micro May is a must have at this time of year. Burks Bottom Roller Psycho Rycho produces hook ups in fast water when fished near the bottom of the river. Reliable October Caddis Nymph patterns are Mercer's October Pupa, Fox's October Pewpah, Zack's October Zaddis. SSG split shot is a must! October Caddis Dries include October Irresistible Caddis, Goddard Caddis, Morrish Adult October Caddis and (it's a secret) Turck's Tarantula!!

Click here for up to date Upper Sacramento River flows

The Fly Shop's ? Tips:
When nymphing on the Upper Sacramento River, always use double the amount of shot to get the flies down to the fish in the faster, bubbly water. If a run calls for one SSG, put on two. If you're not ticking the bottom from time to time (yes, this means losing a few flies), you're probably not getting down to where the fish are feeding. Fish with lighter split shot, like a BB, and not so deep in the early mornings and later afternoon, early evening when rainbow trout are off the bottom of the river seeking food. Use stronger tippet like 2X-3X for bigger flies in the #6-10 range, 4X for smaller #16-18. Keep your first fly within 6-8 inches of your split shot. Stronger tippet means fewer flies will be left on the bottom of the river. Sink tip lines with streamers attached are a good plan when there is room to cast.

River Fact:
On the evening of July 14, 1991, a derailment on a horseshoe curve known as the "Cantara Loop" on the railroad north of Dunsmuir resulted in the release of approximately 19,000 gallons of metam sodium spilled into the Sacramento River. The biocide killed every living thing in the river for a distance of some 38 miles, devastating a popular fly fishing area--one of the most severe toxic spills in U.S. history. The Upper Sacramento River is now largely recovered from the spill.

Flies:

Dries:
• Royal Wulf #10-14
• October Irresistible Caddis
• Goddard Caddis #8
• Turck's Tarantula #8
• Morrish Adult October Caddis
• Elk Hair Caddis #16-18
• Adams #16-18

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
• Dark Lord's #14-16
• Posse Bugger #10-14
• Mercer's October Pupa
• Fox's October Pewpah
• Zack's October Zaddis
• Bottom Roller Psycho-Rycho
• Red Copper John #14-18
• Zebra Copper John #14-18
• Zebra Midge #16-20 Black
• GB Birds Nest #12-14
• Gordon's Amber Wing Prince
• Pat's Rubber Legs Brown #6-8
• Micro Poopah Black
• Poxyback Golden Stone #8-14
• Micro Mayfly #14-18

Streamers/Leeches:
• Wooley Buggers
• Muddler Minnow #10