| The Lower Sacramento River is California's biggest | | | | featureless, spring creek-like stretches that are |
| trout stream, and its rainbows are commensurately | | | | broken up by long riffles, deep pools, gravel bars and |
| sized. If you want big fish and year-round fishing, try | | | | islands, many of which are more prevalent during low |
| this river. With a smorgasbord of food (2,500 insects | | | | water. Due to the river's size and the frequent |
| per square foot of river), the average fish grows to | | | | private property along the banks. Those who prefer |
| a satisfying and hard-fighting 16", and whoppers | | | | to wade have two options: fish from public parks and |
| ranging over two feet are not out of the question | | | | access points in the 16 miles between Redding and |
| (bring some heavy gear...). The fishing season is | | | | Anderson or, from your boat, get out at the riffles |
| year-round, and water temperatures remain fairly | | | | and take some casts. |
| constant, as the river emanates from the bottom of | | | | The river is open year-round. Summer can be |
| Shasta Lake (drainage of such blue ribbon fisheries as | | | | extremely hot and dry, with temperatures over 100 |
| the McCloud, Upper Sacramento, Pit, and Fall Rivers | | | | degrees (though the water remains fairly constant in |
| and Hat Creek). As if a healthy trout population were | | | | the 50's and provides welcome relief for those who |
| not enough, the Lower Sac also boasts runs of | | | | wade). Fall and spring are mild, with some rainfall. |
| Steelhead and Chinook salmon. However, because | | | | Winter is not cold (highs in the 50's and 60's), though |
| the water is warmer than than the mountain streams | | | | rain is common. Highest flows are in summer, when |
| to its north, the Lower Sac also holds populations of | | | | water is discharged from Shasta Lake for irrigation |
| shad, squawfish, stripers and largemouth and | | | | and hydroelectric power. Caddis and salmon eggs are |
| smallmouth bass. Highest flows are during the | | | | the top items on the trout's menu. From March |
| summer, when a drift boat is recommended (there | | | | through September, caddis abound, with the high |
| are six launch pads). Wading is possible around riffles | | | | point being the April "Blanket Caddis" -- a hatch so |
| during high flow, and across much more territory | | | | prolific that it seems to cover ("blanket") the entire |
| from fall to spring. Access is fairly easy from | | | | surface of the river. In between hatches, nymphing |
| Interstate 5, which parallels the river. Another bonus: | | | | the riffles can be productive. In fall and winter, trout |
| The Fly Shop is located in Redding, at the top of this | | | | gorge on the eggs of spawning salmon. There are no |
| great 25-mile stretch. | | | | fly fishing only sections, though the upper section |
| The Lower Sacramento is big tailwater with big, | | | | from just below Keswick Dam to the Deschutes |
| powerful rainbows. The water consists of long, | | | | Road Bridge below Anderson requires barbless hooks. |