Sacramento River Fly Fishing Report - November 1, 2026

Fly Fishing Report

SACRAMENTO RIVER

Report
NOV 1 — 8, 2026
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Flow
6710CFS
SACRAMENTO R AB BEND BRIDGE NR RED BLUFF CA
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Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-10-31
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Weather
42–67°F
Partly Cloudy
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Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is running 6,710 CFS at the Red Bluff gauge (gauge height 1.95 ft) with clear water — nearly identical to last week's conditions that produced excellent nymphing for rainbow trout. Sunny skies and a high of 67°F today set up a textbook fall day on the water.
Best Time Window
  • 7 AM - 10 AM: Prime midge nymphing in tailouts and slow pools before the sun warms the water and fish become more selective.
  • 11 AM - 2 PM: BWO hatch window — watch for rising fish in flat glides and switch to emergers or dry flies on fine tippet.
  • 3 PM - 6 PM: Streamer and attractor nymph time; swing or strip along current seams and gravel bar edges as light angles low.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith 6,710 CFS of clear water, trout are stacked in the seams along the main current edges and in the deeper tailouts — set your indicator depth to 1.5x the water depth and lead your flies through the strike zone with a high-stick mend to eliminate drag. During the 11 AM - 2 PM window, watch for subtle surface dimples in the slower glides signaling a BWO emergence; switch to a dry or emerger and lengthen your tippet to 5X or 6X. In the morning, focus your nymphing effort in runs of 4-6 feet with a heavy anchor fly like the Pat's Rubber Legs to get your smaller midge patterns into the feeding lane fast. As afternoon light fades, swing the Sparkle Minnow Sculpin through the tailouts — fall trout are aggressive and will chase a well-presented streamer.
Main Species
Rainbow Trout
Chinook Salmon
Steelhead
Report generated November 1, 2026 — Next update: November 8, 2026