Fishing Report,    Upper Sacramento

The Upper Sacramento Is Falling Fast (And A Note About Stoneflies)

By Tom Chandler 5/21/2012

Last week I noted that the Upper Sac was still running high, but that the snow was disappearing fast from the surrounding mountains, and that I expected flows to start falling rapidly, and soon.

Well, it has.

Suddenly the Upper Sacramento is in the 1200 cfs neighborhood, which isn't necessarily fun, but it's certainly getting fishable.

Helpful Mysterious Hint Of The Day:
those who are prone to throwing giant, prehistoric-looking dry flies might want to get their butts up here sooner instead of later.

That's all we're saying. At least for now.

A Few Fast-Disappearing Streams


Older Bro fished a fav Brookie stream and sadly reported that it was barely wet. The lake that feeds it is usually -- at this time of the year -- surrounded by several feet of snow.

Not this year.

In fact, there isn't any snow up there at all.

The farther south in the Sierras you go, the worse it seems to get.

In other words, if you've been daydreaming a lot about fishing that small Sierra stream, then sooner might be better than later.

That reminds me it's probably time to reconnoiter the handful of nearby small streams that have been too high to fish. When they come down, the fun really begins, especially given how much trouble I'm having coming up with daylong fishing trips right now.

Though we pay for it with higher gas, food, insurance and health care prices, one of the benefits of living in the middle of nowhere is the ability to find yourself standing on a happily fishable piece of water less than 20 minutes after the decision was made.

See you on the river, Tom Chandler.

AuthorPicture

Tom Chandler

As the author of the decade leading fly fishing blog Trout Underground, Tom believes that fishing is not about measuring the experience but instead of about having fun. As a staunch environmentalist, he brings to the Yobi Community thought leadership on environmental and access issues facing us today.

And there is no truth to the rumors that I'm suggesting several anglers have found giant gold nuggets on the Upper Sacramento River simply to keep people away from the smaller waters. No truth at all.
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I definitely saw some insects the size of hummingbirds yesterday. Flows high, but manageable-ish.
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PS If I don't make it this week, I'll definately be up there the June 2nd -8th. Woohoo, I'm stoked.
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If you fish the Pit, try Pit #3. Rumor has it a couple of people absolutely crushed them there a week ago.
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Thanks! I'm leaving after work tonight and plan to camp at a spot I know between Mt. Lassen & Mt. Shasta to visit a rarely fished creek I found several years ago. I'll likely fish the Pit on Wednesday. Thursday, if I don't drive to Ah Di Na, I just might end up at the CC Riverside campground or perhaps Cave Springs. I just LOVE the USac when the big bugs are out.
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