Lower Sacramento Fly Fishing Report

Dave Neal reports on May 16, 2019

A return to whacky weather has us pulling out the Gore-Tex shells
and waders… again. The winter won’t relinquish! Before the rains returned we were experiencing solid days on the Lower Sac during that last warm and sunny stretch these past few weeks. As you would expect, caddis have been the main event
driving the good fishing - especially in the sunny and warmer afternoons. Trout are also looking for and chowing on random stonefly nymphs – a testament to the amount of fish netted on Rubber Legs these past few weeks. Have some of these patterns in black and brown, #6-10 but don’t forget the little yellow stones, too,
UV Sallies #12-14, Mercer’s poxyback #14 The entire river is fishing well from Redding to Cottonwood, which has been nice because the crowds and guide boats have spread out accordingly. It will be interesting to see how this return of colder, wet weather changes things this week… be prepared to observe, adjust and “keep fishing”. In other words, be flexible. What you caught em’ on last time may not be what is happening now. I suspect we’ll see a few more mayflies enter the game on these rainy/cloudy days. It’s only mid May and there are plenty of bwo, pmd
and maybe some of the bigger clinger bugs still looking for an opportunity to make a push for the surface and party. Oh, and eggs. Eggs and cloudy days on this anadromous river are synonymous. I have a few open days I’d like to fill… May 28, 29, 30. Lets go fishing!