Freestone · Mixed · Northern California

Upper Sacramento River

Lower Sacramento River terrain map
Terrain map

Classic pocket-water freestone tumbling from Mount Shasta down to Shasta Lake, easy to reach off the I-5 and rail corridor.

Species

About as good as it gets

River high but settled. Fish are looking up — bigger flies, confident takes.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for rainbow trout
Ideal
17°C est.ideal 10–18°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for rainbow trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity8518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure757% weight
  • Insect activity6612% weight
Conditions
Level
1.37 m
Water temp
16.8°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
29°C
Wind
W 16 km/h
Gentle breeze
Pressure
1013 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • CDFW general trout season; some reaches open all year — verify.
Directions
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About this water

Classic pocket-water freestone tumbling from Mount Shasta down to Shasta Lake, easy to reach off the I-5 and rail corridor. It got knocked flat by the 1991 Cantara spill and came back, which says something about rivers and about luck. Wild rainbows and browns hold in the pockets and tailouts, and once the spring runoff clears out they'll come up for caddis, stoneflies and a well-drifted attractor. Fish are looking up here more than you'd guess.

  • Mixed
Seasons & zones
  • TroutLast Saturday in April → 15 November
Other water nearby · 2