Sacramento River Fly Fishing Report - October 4, 2026
SACRAMENTO RIVER
ReportOCT 4 — 11, 2026
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Flow
6240CFS
SACRAMENTO R AB BEND BRIDGE NR RED BLUFF CA
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Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-10-03
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Weather
63–99°F
Mostly Clear
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is running at 6,240 CFS at the Red Bluff gauge (gauge height 1.99 ft) and ticking up slightly from last week's 6,020 CFS, with clear water that continues to improve wading access in the upper river. Fall Chinook and steelhead are pushing through the system, and with temps forecast to spike into the mid-to-upper 90s this weekend, expect fish to be most active during the cooler morning and evening windows.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Egan's Poacher - Olive #12
#12
Egan's Poacher - Black #12
#12
Slush Egg Apricot - 14 #14
#14
Wiggly Worm (TBH) #8
#8
Olsen's Straggle Stone Brown Barbless #12 - 32
#12
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Tungsten Pat's Rubber Legs - Tan & Brown #6
#6
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midge | 20-24 | Moderate | 7 AM - 10 AM |
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 18-22 | Light | 9 AM - 12 PM |
| Caddis | 16-20 | Moderate | 5 PM - 7 PM |
| Stonefly (Golden) | 6-10 | Light | 8 AM - 11 AM |
| Terrestrials (Ants) | 12-16 | Moderate | 11 AM - 3 PM |
Best Time Window
- 6 AM - 9 AM: Prime window before the heat builds — nymph the deep seams with egg patterns and stoneflies, and watch for early BWO and midge activity on slower flats.
- 9 AM - 11 AM: BWO hatch window on the slower inside bends; switch to a dry or emerger if you see consistent surface rises.
- 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM: Evening caddis activity picks up as temps drop — work the riffled edges with a CDC caddis and swing streamers through the tailouts in the last light.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows at 6,240 CFS and a heat wave pushing air temps to 95–99°F this weekend, fish will be most active in the first two hours of light and again in the final hour before dark. Focus your nymphing efforts in the 3–5 foot depth range along the transitional seams where fast water meets slow — that's where both trout and staging Chinook will be holding. If you're targeting steelhead or big trout, swing a Sparkle Minnow or Rubber Legs through the deeper tailouts with a slow, deliberate presentation and be ready for a hard take at the hang-down. Midday, shift to terrestrials along shaded, grassy banks — the ant bite can be surprisingly productive when nothing else is moving.
Main Species
Rainbow Trout
Chinook Salmon
Steelhead
