Best Fly Fishing Strategy On The Sacramento River

Looking for the best fly fishing strategy On The Sacramento River? Whether you’re drifting a nymph through a riffle near Anderson or dead-drifting a dry fly under the shadow of Mount Shasta, mastering a natural drift on the Sacramento River is one of the most important techniques in fly fishing. Big Lower Sac trout don’t eat just any fly—they eat flies that look natural. That means dead drift or nothing.

Here’s how to dial in your drift from Redding all the way up through Dunsmuir, and why it’s the most important thing you can do to catch more fish on the Sac.

What’s a Dead Drift and Why Does It Matter?

A dead drift means your flies are moving naturally with the current—not dragging, swinging, or getting pulled unnaturally by your fly line. On the Lower Sacramento, where the water is big and the trout are selective, your flies have to look like they’re just another morsel drifting downriver with the flow. Anything that looks out of place? Trout will ignore it—or worse—get spooked.

This is especially true when fishing underneath with nymphs. Most of these fish feed subsurface for the majority of their lives, especially when they’re keying in on caddis, mayflies, or PMDs.

Dry Fly Drifting Near Mount Shasta

Upstream near Dunsmuir and in the upper stretches of the Sacramento River near Mount Shasta, you’ll find more traditional pocket water and smaller holding lies—perfect territory for dry fly fishing. A good dead drift here means:

• Casting upstream and across
• Keeping the fly line and leader off the fish’s field of view
• Mending gently to avoid drag
• Keeping just enough slack in your line to allow a natural drift, but not so much that you can’t set the hook

Fish holding in clear, skinny water near the Upper Sac can be incredibly spooky—lining the fish (casting your fly line over them) will send them running for cover.

Nymphing the Lower Sac: The Big Water Game

The Lower Sacramento is famous for big rainbows and heavy flows. Here’s how to rig and drift nymphs for the best shot at fish:

Basic Nymph Rig:

• 7-9 foot tapered leader (3X or 4X works well)
• Attach your strike indicator (Airlocks or Oros work great) about 1.5–2x the depth you’re fishing
• Add split shot above a knot to keep weight from sliding
• Tie on a larger attractor fly (Rubberlegs, Stonefly, etc.)
• Add 10–14” of 4X or 5X tippet and tie on your trailing fly (mayfly nymph, caddis pupa, etc.)

Make sure your flies are drifting at the speed of the current at their depth, not the speed of the surface current—which is often faster on the Lower Sac. That’s why mending is so important.

The Dead Drift Technique: Grid the Water

Start upstream of your target water and cast upstream and slightly across. Visualize the drift in three sections:

1. Set-up Zone (upstream of you) – Get your flies sinking and manage your line
2. Dead Drift Zone (in front of you) – Mend line, avoid drag, and be stealthy
3. Swing Zone (downstream) – Let the flies swing up toward the surface—sometimes a fish will grab here!

Use a grid pattern: make a few casts short, then go longer and further across. Each drift should cover slightly new water. After a few casts, move downstream a rod’s length and repeat.

This method is deadly effective on riffles and glides just downstream of Redding where trout are spread out and feeding actively throughout the day.

Key Drift Tips for NorCal Waters

• Read the current: If you’re standing in slower water and casting to faster current, consider a downstream mend
• Watch your indicator: Any twitch, pause, or dive—set the hook
• Use just enough slack to avoid drag, but not so much you miss the set
• Practice line control: lift excess line off the water as the drift progresses
• Fish with intent: each cast should be part of a strategy, not just random lobbing

The Hook Set: Get It Right

Trout on the Sac face upstream. That means when you set the hook, do it downstream and toward the bank. If you’re on river right, set right. On river left, set left. This drives the hook into the corner of the fish’s mouth and greatly reduces the number of long-distance releases.  Out of a drift boat your greatest advantage is your height in which case a hook set strait up is best!

Final Word: Practice Makes Perfect

Whether you’re fishing the soft edges below Bonnyview Bridge or tight pocket water near Castle Crags, perfecting your drift will change everything. You’ll miss fewer strikes, hook more fish, and start to really read water with confidence. This will be your best fly fishing strategy on the Sacramento River near Redding.

The only way to get better at this? Fish more. The Sacramento River offers a lifetime of water to learn from—and when you start getting that drift dialed in, you’ll wonder how you ever fished without it.

Need hands-on help perfecting your drift on the Lower Sac or Upper Sac?

Book a guided trip with MoJoBella Fly Fishing® and let’s get you on fish that eat confidently. We provide all the gear, top-notch instruction, and local knowledge to help you master the art of the dead drift.

Tight lines!