Redding, CA - Bank/Road Access Wading Spots?

byproxy · 11-27-2009, 02:15 PM

So I'm down here in Redding (from Southern Oregon) visiting family and am trying to figure out where the good places are to wade out and do some steelheading.

Honestly, I don't even really care how good the fishing is. I just want to get out. Went down near the Sundial bridge today and while it was okay - it was JUST okay. Even there, the wading wasn't great. Pretty quick drop off so you have to cast out pretty far to get pass all the junk growing in the water.

Anyone know of some good spots for wading out and getting some good nymph drifts. Obviously, no boat, so need to access from road or trail or whatever.

Bought a two day CA permit, so hoping to get my money's worth and go out again tomorrow for a few hours.

Thanks for the tips!!

Soham · 11-27-2009, 03:06 PM

I don't know if you are set on fishing the Sac but if you have time to drive a little ways I would recommend you hit up the Trinity off the 299. Fished it all through college and went back last week for a couple of days and enjoyed myself. That river is very accessible via the road and you can cover lots of ground easily to find the fish. Lots of Drift boats but that river produces so they are there for a reason. Depending on how much rain has come through the area there should be decent numbers from Douglas City up to Del Loma. If you want some specifics pm me and I will point you to some fishy water. If you still want to fish the sac the only place I know where to wade is right off of auditorium rd and the 44. Hope that helps. Tight lines!

NCL · 11-28-2009, 03:49 AM

Check at The Fly Shop they have a couple of maps available for wading spots. I believe one is for the Knighton Rd. spot, if not them go to Knighton Rd traveling south, exit and take the first left go about half mile and you will see a gate near a bunch of blackberry vines park there and walk to the river. Also the first street that goes north from Cypress just west of I-5, go to the very end and there is a parking lot that give you access to the area south of the 44 bridge. I am not sure if the bridge construction has messed up that spot. There also is a spot off of 273 that The Fly Shop did have a map.

byproxy · 11-28-2009, 05:42 AM

thanks gents!!!

soham... going to the trinity for a couple days for xmas! heheheh. gonna save the joy until then. lol.

ncl... thanks for the tips. it's been so long since i live here, i don't remember knighton road anymore, but i'll tell pops and we'll check it out for sure. i'll also ask about the 273 spot for sure. i do know (because we checked it out yesterday) that the bridge access off of cypress is jacked. it's a giant construction zone now. someone tell me again why that bridge needs to be like 16 lanes or whatever ungodly size they're making it! LOL

anyway, thanks again! hoping for another enjoyable day out on the sac (though, not to cause an argument or anything... but i gotta say i still rate my home river, the rogue, as way better than the sac. hehehehe. i'm obviously biased though).

Flydrifter · 11-28-2009, 08:01 AM

Above the Sundial Bridge is an island, you can park in front of it just down from the boat ramp, wade across and fish the other side. At 3700cfs it's great for wading. Sent PM.

These are in there...

NCL · 11-28-2009, 12:59 PM

Flydrifter,

Nice fish.

Byproxy,

How did it go in this howling wind?

Flydrifter · 11-28-2009, 03:50 PM

Hey NCL, I'm from Red Bluff, live in AZ now. My family is still there and we visit a couple of times a year. Be up there for Christmas.

byproxy · 11-29-2009, 06:07 AM

thanks everyone! got your PM flydrifter. thanks!

it was okay yesterday. we did more driving from spot to spot, checking everything out, than we did fishing... but that's okay. found a couple decent places.

wind was a pain for sure... but not unmanageable. my dad, who's newer to flyfishing than i, was having some issues as he's still hammering down the basics of casting. while i'm no expert, i'm adequate enough at this point that i was able to basically side-cast (not sure if there's another term for it), keeping the line parallel(ish) with and down near the water and was able to cut through the wind pretty easily.

steelymann · 11-29-2009, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soham

I don't know if you are set on fishing the Sac but if you have time to drive a little ways I would recommend you hit up the Trinity off the 299. Fished it all through college and went back last week for a couple of days and enjoyed myself. That river is very accessible via the road and you can cover lots of ground easily to find the fish. Lots of Drift boats but that river produces so they are there for a reason. Depending on how much rain has come through the area there should be decent numbers from Douglas City up to Del Loma. If you want some specifics pm me and I will point you to some fishy water. If you still want to fish the sac the only place I know where to wade is right off of auditorium rd and the 44. Hope that helps. Tight lines!

would go with Soham on this. I went to Humboldt state and spent quite a bit of time on this river. Fun place and beautiful

byproxy · 11-30-2009, 06:37 AM

i'll be there... for xmas. hehehe. spent tday in redding, but rented a cabin on the trinity for xmas. looking forward to it!! i plan on PM'ing soham in a couple weeks to chat about some good spots to hit while i'm there.

thanks folks!

Flydrifter · 11-30-2009, 06:48 PM

Might see you there. Are you renting in Lewiston?

byproxy · 11-30-2009, 07:24 PM

yup. looking forward to it. you spending the holiday there too?

NCL · 12-01-2009, 05:04 AM

I will look for both of you.