Lower Sacramento River Fly Fishing Report – Striper Fishing Update
By Capt. Hogan Brown
Striper fishing on the Lower Sacramento River has been consistently good, and we are seeing quality fish spread throughout the system from Colusa north to Red Bluff. The majority of fish are running 18–25 inches, with more of the larger stripers beginning to show as the shad run comes to an end. We have already hooked—and lost—a few double-digit fish, and we expect the action to continue improving.
As we approach the July 29 full moon and the opening of California’s salmon season later this month, more big stripers should move into the river’s prime feeding zones to take advantage of the increased food supply. Historically, this is when the Sacramento River striper fishing really begins to shine, with larger fish becoming much more active throughout the day.
Most of our success has come on heavy sinking shooting heads paired with weighted Clouser-style flies. During the morning and afternoons, however, we’ve been switching to intermediate shooting heads with unweighted flies. This is one of our favorite ways to target stripers because many of the eats happen in shallow water, allowing anglers to watch the entire strike unfold. Few experiences in Northern California fly fishing compare to seeing a big striped bass track down and crush a fly in clear, shallow water.
River conditions continue to improve. Flows are lower than they were this time last year, and aquatic weeds are beginning to return throughout many of the river’s shallow flats. Combined with the return of salmon, these conditions should concentrate more fish in skinny water over the coming weeks. That sets up some excellent opportunities for anglers looking for exciting visual takes and aggressive fish.
If you’re planning a Lower Sacramento River fly fishing trip, the weeks ahead are shaping up to be some of the best of the summer. With improving conditions, abundant bait, and larger fish moving into the shallows, now is an excellent time to get on the water and experience some of the best California striper fishing of the season.
