The Sacramento River was dammed just north of Redding in the early 40's. One result was the formation of Shasta Lake, which tamed the powerful flood waters that had threatened rural communities and farmlands throughout the Central Valley. The agriculture that has become a staple of California life was guaranteed consistent crops by the millions of acre-feet of cheap water utilized for irrigation, as well as enough hydro-electric power to supply tens of thousands of homes. The Sacramento River Delta, however, began a catastrophic decline, and one of the most formidable runs of Chinook Salmon in the world was decimated.

Fly Fishing on the Sacramento
When we opened The Fly Shop in 1978, the tail water below the dam was just becoming a great trout fishery. Two decades without annual flooding had created trout-friendly spawning conditions and the rainbows were beginning to flourish. At the same time the Department of Fish and Game searched for a solution to the decline of the King Salmon. The hatcheries were a failure, and the town of Redding had a population larger than spawning runs of salmon that had once numbered in the millions.

One innovative idea was the construction of a device to extract colder water from the depths of Shasta Lake and send it downstream. The logic was that cooler temperatures would enhance successful salmon spawning. In 1992 the flow-release control mechanism was completed, and the river maintains a consistent temperature today of approximately 56 degrees. These colder flows seem to be working, as the salmon runs are slowly making a comeback.

But the cooler, more consistent water temperatures have proven beneficial to the river in more ways than one. Harry Rectenwald, DF & G Fisheries Biologist for the Sacramento River, has explained that the phenomenal trout fishing that has developed on the river in the past decade is another by-product of the cold water: "The growth cycle of resident trout is now extended by thirty percent."

That means bigger and bigger fish every year. Big fish are better spawners by any standards, and the upward spiral of trout population and trophy fish in the Sacramento River has been remarkable. Our guides report back every day with numbers (and size) of fly caught fish that were unheard of as recently as the early ‘90s. Many of those trout are of trophy proportions, and growing up in the haughty currents of the Sacramento River, they are strong fish and full of fight.

What's more, cooler water extending further south in the river has created viable trout habitat for an extended 50 miles or so. This means fishermen on the river are frequently able to spread out and avoid crowds. Even on the busiest of days, it is easy to find yourself catching huge trout on the river, without another soul around.

Click on the Links below to learn more about The Lower Sacramento River:
•  The Seasons of The Lower Sacramento
•  River Access
•  The Lower Sacramento Photo Gallery