The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Hey BTrout, it tends to be a place where you have to drive from riffle to riffle if you are boatless. It's a BIG river.

As for gear, I'll tell you that I fish a 9'6" 7 wt rod on the Lower Sac. If you are doing it right (whatever that means) it is going to be a lot of long drifts and throwing a puff ball with two flies and weight... it makes good, good sense to have a bit of a heavier rod. A 5 wt. would be a bit under gunned. Lots of folks use 6 wts, but I've loved having a 7 out there. The line I love for this river is a Steelhead taper. You get the shooting qualities of a weight forward line, but a longer belly to still have some line control on a 40-50' drift. I was out with a friend a while back and he had a 5 wt. and was just under gunned the whole day. Still, you go fishing with the rods you have, not the rods you might wish you had.

I have not done streamer fishing on the Lower Sac... sounds very interesting, but I can't tell you squat about it cause I don't know anything about it.

The fly shop has maps and local knowledge and they won't put you somewhere you don't have a chance to go.

I remember the first trip I did with sd... I was roll casting and getting it out about 30 feet. I look down and he's popping out fancy roll casts going 60-70 feet. Things of beauty. Turns out that cast is a single handed spey and if you fish some place like the Lower Sac or the Klamath, it is a really, really great tool to have.

If you are on foot, I wouldn't expect 10+ fish days. You might pick up 2 or 3, a really good day for me on foot might be 7 or 8... but the 15" fish is kind of a rare thing, or at least it has been for me. I rarely seem to catch a fish smaller than 17" and my largest on the LSac is 25.5". It's a great, great river, but it can be tough on you while you figure it out.

awe shucks Don...

Your 'first cast big fish' spot from last fall .... almost dry ground now. River's super low !

The past two weeks, fishin's been consistant... we dealt with 20+ mph winds today, so things were tough (casting, rowing, mending... ya know, the little stuff), but my guys hooked about 30-35 fish. They were eating really small nymphs this a.m. so we had 6 or 7 in a row come unbuttoned, but they ate the big bugs in the afternoon, so we got more in the net.
See how it goes tomorrrow....

I have had 100 fish days on the Sac. During salmon spawn season, in a boat with a good guide, it's just fish after fish. Some areas you could get 30-35 fish without moving 75 yards. Usually you are getting out the boat and wading these areas.
I have had some real good days wading without a boat, too. Not just during salmon season. 20-25+ fish. Its just a matter of good timing and getting to know the river. I have spent a good amount of time on the river, learning it. Plus, I have had trips with a couple of great guides who have helped with the learning curve.
One thing to remember: because of the flow changes thru the differnt seasons, it is like learning 10 different rivers instead of one. The fish change their holding spots and feeding patterns throughout the year. That's why a good guide is worth their weight in gold.

"I remember the first trip I did with SD... I was roll casting and getting it out about 30 feet. I look down and he's popping out fancy roll casts going 60-70 feet. Things of beauty."

Yup, like Bjorn said... Then the snake roll comes out.

I sometimes stop fishing and end up watching SD fish for a while... I might get fewer hook-ups in the short term, but figure it will help me in the long run. Good line control can't be over-stated! I'm just too thick skulled (read: slow) to pick up "the little things" right away. Mknuckles stopped dragging on the ground yesterday.

As stated before, he is that good. (without taking anything away from anyone else)

the 10ft 5 acts like a 6 so I think it will work, that rod I specifically got for single handed spey casting indecator rigs a long way so I feel good about it, but I will definanlty take a 7 as backup since you said that. thanks for the info
I am thinking about heading down to the area around 299 tomorow, I guess I'm bringing lots of eggs and beatis nymphs so hopefully I'll catch some fish. would that be a solid plan?? is it worth getting there early or would I be better off getting there once it started warming up?
if you see ohio plates or a young guy with an orange hat say hello!

So...sd...sorry I didn't call you this week. I fished it one day and had a great time. At these flows you can wade just about anywhere, too bad there are no fish in the river . I grew up here and still fish it at least a few times a year. This is the lowest I have ever seen it. sd knows this river better than anyone I know and is very willing to give all the information you need without him guiding you. You would have a great day if you did have him guide you any time any flow.

Hey BTrout, I'd ask at the shop if the egg drop is still on... if there aren't salmon around, the eggs shouldn't be the first thing you put on. SD said the small stuff was working, so that might mean little micro mays, or it could mean midges. Again, ask the folks at the fly shop, they usually give you good info. Small and dark is usually a good idea... could mean 20#, could mean 16#... pays to get the info from the guys that are out there all the time. I lived in Redding a couple of years, where sd introduced me to that bad-a$$ fishery. I fish it a few times a year, but to get it dialed, you need to be there a lot and see it at the different flows, like others have said.

I fish pretty much 3x floro (there and nearly every where else). I think sd might go a little lighter at times, heavier in others.

Enjoy, have low expectations and that way if you do well, you'll be happy.

Some folks have talked about 100+ fish days. Personally, I've had one 100+ fish day and that was fishing a combined three little creeks where the bows were chowing dries... I've never had a 100+ fish day on a bigger river. I had 70 something on the Lamar a couple years back or something like that... I wouldn't go out expecting that kind of fishing. The Lower Sac takes a while and if you are starting out, I'd expect modest returns... over time the effort you put in will pay off, like the stock market... no, strike that... better than the stock market.

Enjoy.

I've fished with little sd a time or two. I'd probably pay for the honor if he asked me to, but he never has....

big SD

Hey Dave !!
How are ya man ?? Hope things have been well with you.

I got hitched this year, so won't be heading north for the summer, or south for the winter... at least not for months at a time.....so....If you're in the area anytime soon, give me a heads up and we'll wet a line somewhere. Lots of options right now with the nice weather we've been having.

The LS has been fishing pretty good lately, and there's nobody out there !!
I'm finally getting a little time off, so a sixer or two and some lunch, and it's off to the water!