The Lower Sacramento River

California's top fly-fishing destination for big, wild rainbow trout.

It just happens to run right through my hometown of 45+ years, Redding, CA. Yep, I'm a true local boy. Proudly raised fishing Northern California rivers since the late 1970s.

A short three hour drive from the Bay Area and an even shorter two hour drive from Sacramento puts Redding within easy striking distance for a one-day or multi-day trip for anyone.

Redding is lucky enough to have arguably the best wild trout river in California - running right through our backyard. Our healthy trout are all rainbows, and they average 17 inches around Redding and 15-16 inches downriver around Anderson. Trophies over 20'' are not uncommon! When the fish are in a good mood, dozens and dozens of opportunities come to those who get good natural presentations with the right flies in the right spots. I started studying just that in 1996.

Northern California hosts not only the popular Lower Sacramento River and its 30+ miles of great trout water: Within a 90 minute drive from Redding, anglers can choose from the Trinity River, Fall River -California's largest spring creek, world famous Hat Creek, the wild and rugged Pit River, the beautiful Upper and Lower McCloud, miles and miles of rarely touched water on the Upper Sac, tons of lakes, and a few others I don't talk about much....special places I go on my days off.