Moving to Sacramento

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Steelhead
Hello!

I'll be moving down to Sacramento for two years as my girlfriend is doing her grad program down there. For those who have lived in and around, how's the fly fishing around there? Oh and any spots in and around sac we should avoid or move to/

Thanks!
 
Plenty of trout fishing in the foothills and sierras. Upper and especially the lower Yuba, Feather. Further north on the Lower Sac, the pit, McCloud, upper sac are all great fisheries. Too many lakes to even bother naming.

The delta is an amazing bass fishery. LM and stripers. More of a boat type place but some shore opportunities, or if you are adventurous a pontoon or kayak.

I don't know sacto proper but if you can be on the east side you will be closer to lots of it. If not there near the 505 gets you to the northern rivers quickly and Putah is a nice winter option.
 
Plenty of trout fishing in the foothills and sierras. Upper and especially the lower Yuba, Feather. Further north on the Lower Sac, the pit, McCloud, upper sac are all great fisheries. Too many lakes to even bother naming.

The delta is an amazing bass fishery. LM and stripers. More of a boat type place but some shore opportunities, or if you are adventurous a pontoon or kayak.

I don't know sacto proper but if you can be on the east side you will be closer to lots of it. If not there near the 505 gets you to the northern rivers quickly and Putah is a nice winter option.
Boat options would be a better for the delta and the lower Sac, especially after dark.
 
I lived there for a couple years in 90 and 91. The Sacramento and American rivers have stripers, salmon, and steelhead runs.
The American river has greenbelts practically the length to Nimbus Basin. Plenty of wadable water, so a boat is not necessary.
 
Shad too
That is a fishy city with a fishy day-trip radius!
My info on which neighborhood is best is not helpful as it seems the neighborhoods are changing. I live about 2 hours away and only look at it for work/Rivercats games/eateries. Lots of cool stuff to do and eat there though!
Many people from Sac come this way to fish the Truckee. If I lived there I would fish small streams, anadromous waters, the coast and the delta!
Btw Roseville is the suburb/satellite city up against the foothills.
 
Avoid the area off I5 north of the American river (Natomas?), a coworker lived there and very negative. Roseville is a bitch of a commute into downtown or anywhere south of the American, only 2 bridges and gets crowded. I worked out of Rancho Cordova and commuted in from Shingle Springs which was about 25 miles and 30 minutes. Depending on where she’s going to school (CSS?) there is pretty good light rail that a lot of my coworkers used.
When I left the area near the Capitol was getting pretty desirable; Lavender Hill IIRC. Lots of young people and older homes and shade trees.
The steelhead runs in the American are not doing well, there are some spring run 1/2 lbrs that are eager to take a swung damp fly and some stripers that occasionally chase and/or eat the trout you’ve hooked. Break ins to cars parked in river access were getting bad when I left, doubt it’s much better.
That said, there’s a lot to like about Sac, gets about 25-30 inches rain a year but summers are dry and warm to hot, there’s usually a delta breeze in evenings that offers relief. Great restaurants, sports, wineries and close to the Sierras.
 
Doesn't the Sacramento River have a winter Chinook run?
Historically there were 5 runs, the only one that is now open is fall(?), October-November.
To expound on Yard Sale comments, Redding is 2.5 hours and the Sac is arguably one of the best tailwaters in the west; chunky trout, chance at a steelhead, striped bass from Red Bluff to Sac, shad. Trinity is 40 minutes from Redding, countless lakes, Hat Creek, Fall River, the McCloud, etc, etc.
PM me when you get there
 
I've spent some time in Sacramento here and there. Can't say I was a big fan of the city, but to be fair cities in general stress me out so that's nothing to hold against Sacramento specifically.

I do know you will find plenty of cool fly fishing options and of that I'm a bit jealous!

Mainly just wanted to say that I think it's pretty rad that you're willing to make such a move for your girlfriend. No doubt she appreciates it greatly.

Best of luck with this new phase of life! Maybe afterwards you'll find yourself back up here and we can fish again
 
Avoid the area off I5 north of the American river (Natomas?), a coworker lived there and very negative. Roseville is a bitch of a commute into downtown or anywhere south of the American, only 2 bridges and gets crowded. I worked out of Rancho Cordova and commuted in from Shingle Springs which was about 25 miles and 30 minutes. Depending on where she’s going to school (CSS?) there is pretty good light rail that a lot of my coworkers used.
When I left the area near the Capitol was getting pretty desirable; Lavender Hill IIRC. Lots of young people and older homes and shade trees.
The steelhead runs in the American are not doing well, there are some spring run 1/2 lbrs that are eager to take a swung damp fly and some stripers that occasionally chase and/or eat the trout you’ve hooked. Break ins to cars parked in river access were getting bad when I left, doubt it’s much better.
That said, there’s a lot to like about Sac, gets about 25-30 inches rain a year but summers are dry and warm to hot, there’s usually a delta breeze in evenings that offers relief. Great restaurants, sports, wineries and close to the Sierras.
Shell be going to Davis so probably trying to stick to West sac/the grid!
 
I've spent some time in Sacramento here and there. Can't say I was a big fan of the city, but to be fair cities in general stress me out so that's nothing to hold against Sacramento specifically.

I do know you will find plenty of cool fly fishing options and of that I'm a bit jealous!

Mainly just wanted to say that I think it's pretty rad that you're willing to make such a move for your girlfriend. No doubt she appreciates it greatly.

Best of luck with this new phase of life! Maybe afterwards you'll find yourself back up here and we can fish again
Thanks Nick! We're planning on coming back so I'm sure we will! I need to find that video of me finally hooking a pink with you and swearing up and down lol
 
I ended up down here in the Sacramento area, now in Auburn, and there is great fishing around here. The American river is a good place to start when the steelhead, salmon or shad are running. Great access with a trail running from downtown up to the damn at nimbus. Also good bass fishing around, lots of ponds and lakes with them. If you head up 50 or 80 into the mountains you will find great fishing at allot of the alpine lakes and streams. As mentioned the yuba and delta are great.

Get on Bill Kienes forum to help figure some stuff out.
Hit me up when you get down here and I can probably get you pointed to some good places.
West Sac is not the greatest area around.
These are from lakes at higher elevation within an hour from Sac.
sacf3.jpgsacf2.jpg
trout.jpg
Some of the warmwater stuff
cat.jpgsacf1.jpg
Steelhead
Trinity steel.jpg
 
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I lived in Briggs Ranch ( in the town of Folsom which is east of Sac off of Hwy. 50 ) area about 1/4 mile from Folsom Lake for a little over eight years in the early 2000's. During the mid to late 80's I guided the American below Nimbus seasonally for Steelhead and taught entry level classes on the south fork for a few seasons. Also lived in Yuba City, ( about a mile below the confluence of the Yuba & Feather Rivers ) which is to the north of Sac-O-Tomatoes, for a couple of years.

Too many fishing, hiking, general outdoor destinations to begin to list.

The greater Sacramento area is one of the best cycling areas in the country.

If you're a heat and sun lover like me, you'll be in heaven, if not, just give it a little time and you'll acclimate.

There are two great fly shops in the area, Kiene's off of Hwy 50 and Fly Fishing Specialties off of I-80. There's also a Bass pro shop off of I-80 and Sportsman's Warehouse off of Hwy 70. So finding advice and gear should easy.

While I no longer live in the area, I'm there for a few days, every two to three months. As for areas I wouldn't move to, anything within five miles of an air force base would be out. I wouldn't live within a mile or two of the American River ( From Nimbus to its confluence with the Sacramento River ), nor the Sacramento, Feather or Yuba Rivers.
I wouldn't live in Yuba City today, nor Marysville, Linda or Plumas Lake.
I wouldn't live within 10 miles any of the arteries ( highways 99, 5, 50 or I-5) where they intersect Sacramento proper.

If you've got the dime, then Granite Bay, Rocklin, sections of Roseville and Folsom are nice, along with Eldorado Hills and most of the small foothill communities further up I-80 ( like Foresthill ) or up highway 50. But those would require a commute down to the intown campuses, let alone if she was at U.C.Davis.

Ah' just read that she'll be at Davis. Might want to track down the founder of Kiene's Fly Shop ( Bill Kiene, now retired and living in Florida ), he's still active on the Kiene's Fly Shop bulletin board and on facebook. He lived in Davis for many years and likely has some insights as to where to live there.
 
I ended up down here in the Sacramento area, now in Auburn, and there is great fishing around here. The American river is a good place to start when the steelhead, salmon or shad are running. Great access with a trail running from downtown up to the damn at nimbus. Also good bass fishing around, lots of ponds and lakes with them. If you head up 50 or 80 into the mountains you will find great fishing at allot of the alpine lakes and streams. As mentioned the yuba and delta are great.

Get on Bill Kienes forum to help figure some stuff out.
Hit me up when you get down here and I can probably get you pointed to some good places.
West Sac is not the greatest area around.
These are from lakes at higher elevation within an hour from Sac.
View attachment 73556View attachment 73557
View attachment 73560
Some of the warmwater stuff
View attachment 73558View attachment 73559
Steelhead
View attachment 73561
Looks amazing! You've got me very excited to move down now ha! I'll make sure to reach out when we are all settled.
 
Plenty of trout fishing in the foothills and sierras. Upper and especially the lower Yuba, Feather. Further north on the Lower Sac, the pit, McCloud, upper sac are all great fisheries. Too many lakes to even bother naming.

The delta is an amazing bass fishery. LM and stripers. More of a boat type place but some shore opportunities, or if you are adventurous a pontoon or kayak.

I don't know sacto proper but if you can be on the east side you will be closer to lots of it. If not there near the 505 gets you to the northern rivers quickly and Putah is a nice winter option.
Agreed…I’ve Lived here for years…
 
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