New Year on the Upper Sac Took an afternoon off to take a peek at the Upper Sac. Was hoping for a little Blue Wing Olive hatch and some sipping of dry flies but settled for a few grabs on an October Caddis dry and a number of fish on small olive nymphs and emergers. [...]
Last season, for California Fly Fisher, I queried a number of local upper Sac guides on their expectations for the first-ever winter season, opened under special regulations by the Fish and Game Commission on November 16, 2004. Then, the locals’ theories on winter fishing the upper Sac were pure speculation. We now have a year’s experience behind us. While one winter of fishing doesn’t bring certainty, the locals did come to understand a bit about the winter fishery, while managing to get in some quality fishing.
On June 25, 2004, the California Fish and Game Commission adopted a City of Dunsmuir proposal to revise regulations on the upper Sacramento River to allow year-round angling. Beginning November 16, anglers will have their first opportunity to pursue wild trout on the upper Sac during the winter season. In anticipation of this event, a group of prominent local guides, Ron Hart, Alan Blankenship, Wayne Eng, Rick Cox, Stephen Bertrand, and Charlie Costner, gathered this fall in a roundtable format to share their views regarding the angling opportunities this new fishery will offer, including their views on the potential effects on the fishery and the local economy.