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Lower Sac

An angler with a wild trout caught near the Sundial Bridge
Guided Float Trips
Full Days: $600 for 1-2 Anglers or $650 including hotel pickup and shuttle
Half Days: $450 for 1-2 Anglers or $500 including hotel pickup and shuttle
  • Year-round
  • Drift Boat Trips

The Lower Sacramento River between Redding and Red Bluff is California´s premier wild trout fishery. It is one of the few destinations where anglers can expect to hook into 18+" fish on a regular basis. Clear, cold, consistent flows coming out of Lake Shasta provide excellent conditions for the aquatic insects that trout eat. The Lower Sac is open to fishing year round. The Confluence Outfitters guide team can get you hooked up with quality wild trout on the Lower Sac at any time of year!

Lower Sac guide trips usually start between 7am and 9am depending on arrangements made with your guide. Most of our Lower Sac guide trips are drift boat trips, although we also do a lot of jet boat trips for folks who want to use Trout Spey techniques. Most of our guests opt for the shuttle-included rate, which means your guide can pick you up at your hotel and then drop you off again at the end of the day. If you opt to not include a shuttle, then plan on following your guide to the river in your own vehicle and assisting with shuttling the guide's vehicle to the take-out. You can hop into the boat in regular street clothes most days - waders are only necessary in inclement weather. Our guides can put more fish in the net by keeping their guests in the boat all day, but will definitely accommodate you if you want to do some wade fishing. Most days we fish nymphs and indicators all day long. Lunch is served on the river and trips usually wrap up by 5:30pm. On any given day you could be on one of six full-day floats - well over 60 miles of river. If fishing is red-hot in one area, our guides will sometimes do the same short float twice in one day.

Dry fly fishing can be very good almost any time of year. Our guides are always on the lookout for splashy rises in shallow riffles and stealthy risers in the flats. The best time for dry fly fishing is usually after lunch when water temperatures are warmer and there is more bug activity. If you have an interest in dry fly fishing please let your guide know so he can plan the day accordingly. The fish don't rise everywhere - you really have to be in the right place at the right time.

Lower Sac Guide Team

Our Lower Sac guide team includes Andrew Harris, Brian Kohlman, Kevin Kay, Luke Geraty, Ben Thompson, Peter Santley, Colin Coogan, Mike Wright, Scott Saiki, Mat Squillante, and Andreas Fuhrmann.

Recent Lower Sac Fishing Reports

Lower Sac Fishing Image
September 12, 2025
Lower Sac Report by Kevin Kay

It's been a bit of a tough year on the Lower Sac.  From super-high flows in the spring to massive up and down flow changes, none of these things do the fishing any favors.  But now that the flows are coming down things are looking up!  I had a great day with Jesse and Andrew.  Except for a bt of a lull right after lunch, we had almost constant action from beginning to end.  We caught big fish, little fish, and in between fish.  I think I changed one or two flies all day, but even that wasn't necessary.  Altogether an ideal day: no other boats, no wind, and a double at the take out!  I expect that fishing will get better and better as we head deeper into fall.

Lower Sac Fishing Image
April 25, 2025
Lower Sac Report by Peter Santley

Friday was my first Lower Sac trip of the season! It felt great to be back on the river with the father/Son combo of Rick and Rick from thr RRFF ! We had a good day of playing with rainbows! Some nice fish caught and good times were had! We were using eggs and pmd nymphs and the fish were cooperating! This is a good time to get out and play! I am trying to fill a few dates if you are interested May 13th, 14th, 16th, and 19th! Book a day and let's go fishing! This time of year has several options and we have the guides to get you on the water!Thanks and good fishing!Peter Santley

Lower Sac Fishing Image
March 25, 2025
Lower Sac Report by Kevin Kay

You may have noticed a lack of Lower Sac reports recently.  That's because there hasn't been much to report!  Similar to last year we've had lots of rain and some big flow changes.  In February the flows went up to 60,000 CFS to make room in Lake Shasta for more rain.  That blew the river out and it resembled the Mississippi more than our trusty Lower Sac.  Flows came down pretty quickly to around 6000 CFS.  I was ready to give it a try last week and overnight the flows jumped to 16,000 CFS.  Jeez.  Now they're coming down again, targeted to be 6,500 CFS by the 28th.  I went out today to check it out and although the visibility is only 2-3 feet I caught some nice rainbows in a few hours of solo fishing.  More rain is forecast but the totals don't look to be massive.  Things should settle down pretty quickly so probably a good time to get a trip on the books!

Lower Sac Hatch Chart

Mayflies
March Browns
Baetis
PMD
Callibaetis
Caddisflies
Brachycentrus
Rhyacophila
Hydropsyche
Stoneflies
Golden Stones
Giant Stoneflies
Little Yellow Stones
Other
Salmon Eggs
Steelhead Present
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Lodging Recommendations

The Lower Sac runs right through Redding and Red Bluff. Please visit our Redding Info Page and Red Bluff Info Page for ideas on lodging, logistics, and other activities in the area.

Lower Sac Photo Gallery

A very large trout on the Lower Sac
Fishing the edges of the current from the drift boat on the Lower Sac
Fishing some interesting water on the Lower Sac
A guest with a great wild rainbow trout from the Lower Sac
Wade fishing can be very productive on the Lower Sac
Guide Andrew Harris lands a Lower Sac rainbow
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