Montana Fish Report
The river is in great shape!

by The Fly Shop
5-26-2026
Website
Fishing conditions: Great
Report: The fishing remains very good, the river is in great shape with excellent clarity. The flows are 11,000 CFS. PMDs, Yellow Sallies, and caddis continue hatching daily, mostly after mid day through the evening. I don't want to sound like a broken record, but good flies are still Rubberlegs, Peaches 'n Cream, Ginger Snap, Eng Thing, Olive Hotspot, Cinnamon Fox Poopahs, and Bird's Nests. The new addition to this week's lineup are Yellow Sally nymphs, so a UV Sally or the Jiggy Yellow Sally are good producers. Now would be the best time to get up here and rope some Lower Sac Hogs!
As we get into late spring and summer, ask us about our split days and evening trips! Beat the heat early, get a siesta, and get back out on the water for an evening session in the heat of the hatch!
To get a day on the books with one of our guides this spring, give Bryan a call in Outfitters at 800-669-3474
The Fly Shop does not offer a shuttle service. Kim at Sac River Shuttle can get your shuttle done seven days a week. You can reach her at (530) 782-9090
Access To the Lower Sacramento
The Lower Sacramento has many publicly accessible areas with good wading opportunities when the flows are below 7,500 CFS. Stop by the shop and we'd be happy to point you in the right direction.
Fishing Large Rivers Can be Frustrating
There are many great places you can get in and wade this blue ribbon tail water. Having said that, the absolute best method to fish the Sac is from a drift boat. Aside from being able to access all of the water, you can fish the long runs on a dead, perfect drift which is deadly on these legendary wild rainbows. And who would be a better oarsman than one of our Professional Guides? They know every nook and cranny of the river, what insects are and will be hatching, and the setups and methods that will get you onto the fish of a lifetime.
Recommended Equipment & Setups
Most of our fishing, whether from a drift boat, or wading when the releases are low enough, is done dead drifting nymphs. The Fly Shop's Signature Indicator Rod is nine and a half feet of indicator nymph fishing perfection designed by our professional staff right here on the Lower Sac. Teamed up with a 6 or 7 weight Scientific Anglers Amplitude Anadro Floating Fly Line or a Rio Intouch Xtreme Indicator Fly Line it will put a center pin rig to shame.
Hot Flies:
Dry Flies:
• Mercer's Missing Link, Dark
• Spotlight Caddis Emerger - Spotlight Caddis Emerger
• Comparadun - BWO, PMD
Nymphs/Wet Flies:
• Jigged Birds Nest - Natural, Hot Spot #14-16
• Fox's Poopah - #12-14
• Bubbleback Caddis, - Amber #14
• Olive Hot Spot, - #18
• Weiss Nymph, -
• Peaches n' Green, -
• Peaches n' Cream, -
• Ginger Snap, -
• Pat's Rubber Legs - #4-8
Eggs:
• Micro Spawn - Peachy King, Shrimp Pink
• Boles Bazookas - Shrimp Pink, Peachy King
