Sacramento River Fly Fishing Report - August 16, 2026
SACRAMENTO RIVER
ReportAUG 16 — 23, 2026
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Flow
11500CFS
SACRAMENTO R AB BEND BRIDGE NR RED BLUFF CA
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Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-08-15
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Weather
62–95°F
Mostly Clear
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is running at 11,500 CFS with a gauge height of 4.71 ft at the Red Bluff gauge — solid, fishable conditions with clear water reported throughout the system. Expect a scorching high of 95°F today, so early mornings and evenings will be your most productive windows by a wide margin.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Egan's Thread Frenchie Jig - Olive #12
#12
Blowtorch - Hare's Ear #12
#12
Tungsten Rainbow Warrior - Extra Heavy #14
#14
Tungsten Pat's Rubber Legs - Tan & Brown #6
#6
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Tungsten Split Case Nymph - PMD #20
#20
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Olive #20
#20
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midges | 20-22 | Moderate | 6 AM - 9 AM |
| Blue-Winged Olives (BWO) | 20-22 | Heavy | 4 PM - 7 PM |
| Caddis | 18-20 | Moderate | 6:30 PM - Dark |
| PMD (Pale Morning Dun) | 18-20 | Light | 8 AM - 11 AM |
| Terrestrials (Ants) | 14-16 | Light | 11 AM - 3 PM |
Best Time Window
- 5:30 AM - 9:00 AM: First-light midge and nymph bite in the seams; fish are active before the heat sets in.
- 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM: Heavy BWO hatch kicks off — switch to dries and target rising fish in the flats and tailouts.
- 6:30 PM - Dark: Evening caddis activity peaks; swing soft hackles and CDC caddis dries through the runs for aggressive surface takes.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flows at 11,500 CFS and a 95°F day ahead, focus your nymphing in the 3-5 foot depth range along current seams using enough split shot to keep your flies ticking the bottom — don't underweight in this volume of water. During the late-afternoon BWO hatch, position yourself downstream of rising fish and present your dry fly with a reach cast to buy yourself an extra foot or two of drag-free drift in the flat water. Evening is prime time on the Sac right now, so plan to be on the water from 5 PM until dark and work the caddis swing in the last 30 minutes of light — that's when the biggest fish of the day tend to show.
Main Species
Rainbow Trout
Chinook Salmon
Steelhead
