Lower Sacramento River August 18th & 19th – Gary and Jimmy

Too hot to handle!

Date: August 18 & 19
Weather: Blue skies and HOT, in the 90’s off the water
Water Temps: Always cold on the Lower Sac
Fish: Rainbow Trout
Gear: 6wt 9’6″ Redington Vice with 7/8 ACE and Rio Elite Indicator Line, 5wt 11’0 Red Truck Switch with 5/6/7 Grande and Rio Elite Indicator Line
Boat: Clacka
Motor: YES! 6hp Yamaha Four Stroke
Water Clarity: Stained green flavor. A lot more color than I expected
CFS: 10k

The last report of Summer 2025. It’s weird to say that but it is. And wow, only a couple of days on the water after the last report which makes only 6 days of guiding in August. I can say that I do that sort of voluntarily but also, wouldn’t mind doing more trips in on the Trinity or Lower Sac before I take off to AK. I hope next year, some of you join me for the first couple of weeks of the opener for the Lower Sacramento River and some summer Trinity River shredding.

It was HOT. But the fishing was hotter. If that’s possible to define the fishing hotter than the weather. I hadn’t been to the Lower Sacramento River since the last report but the bite didn’t change much.

The fish were eating and Jimmy and Gary were ripping them up. We stayed up top for the first day and decided to fish Lake Redding. It was a lot of little fish for the first half of the day and then Jimmy found the big dogs after lunch. Pretty much every pass, we’d hook one or two, sometimes a few. The water was a beautiful looking green and moving at around 10k CFS. 4k less than the last time I was out. Perfect conditions.

Water temps were still very cold and I got to admit, it’s weird not seeing anyone around in Lake Redding but we were fishing on a Monday. When we went to Sundial on Tuesday, something. Maybe 3 people. I love weekdays on the water in Nor Cal.

Light weight and very small flies was the ticket. Both days fished well all day with most of the bigger fish coming midday. Market Street fished really well actually and I was sort of surprised considering how much pressure it has gotten in the past few weeks.

I was stoked to get back out on the Lower Sac for some August trips. I didn’t get to hit the evening hatches this time around but hoping we can get at it next year.

Of course, as always, you can find more details in the Juicy Report and learn the exact flies and rigs I was using.

Thank you Jimmy and Gary! I had so much fun and can’t wait to see you in Alaska!