Smoke is Definetly an Issue Right Now

Sacramento River - Upper - Shasta, CA (Shasta County)


by The Fly Shop
8-31-2021
Website

Report: Smoke is definitely an issue right now, some days it can be quite thick. The good news is the smoke has cooled the river off quite a bit, but make sure you carry a thermometer if you go and head higher in the system when the temperatures get north of 65 degrees. Fish up around Dunsmuir or higher in the system where you will find cooler temperatures.  
If you do go, October Caddis pupas are moving around with fish grabbing them off of rocks and in faster water. Small black flies, Sweet Peas, Zebra Midges, S&Ms are working well in the mornings. Some fish will chase sculpin patterns too. Your best chances for the dry bite comes towards evening. With caddis beginning to show in numbers at dark, dark #14 & #16 Missing Links along with Chubby Chernobyls, and yellow Stimulators in #8 & #6 for the stonefly bite.  

Upper Sacramento Flows at Delta

Hot Flies:  
Dry Flies:
• D&D Cripple - March Brown
• Low Water Baetis - #18
• Adams - #12-20
• Mercer's Missing Link - Dark #14-16
• Parachute Adams - #14-18 

Nymphs/Wet Flies:
• Mercer's Tungsten October Pupa
• Morrish October Pupa
• Skip's TB October Caddis
• CB Birds Nest - #10-14
• Red Copper John - #16-18
• Zebra Midge - #18-20
• Mercury Black Beauty
• Mercer's Glass Bead Micro May - #22
• Mercer's GB Dark Stone - #8
• Mercer's Dark Stone - #6
• Pat's Rubber Legs - Brown #6-8
• GB Birds Nest - #12-14
• Gordon's Amber Wing Prince - #12-18
• Swink's BTS
• Mercer's CB Micro Mayfly - #14-16 

Streamers & Leeches:
• Sheila Sculpin
• Woolly Buggers
• Muddler Minnows - #10