GUIDED FISHING TRIPS
Matt is diverse in guiding various watersheds to Include: the Lower Sacramento River, Klamath River, Trinity River, Pit River, Upper Sacramento, McCloud River, Eel River and Coastal regions. We operate on all the waters listed plus many others as well. We hold permits in the Shasta/Trinity National Forest, Six Rivers Forest, and are licensed and bonded. Please review our cancelation policy here.
Lower Sacramento River • Upper Sacramento River • Pit River • McCloud River • Hat Creek • Shasta Lake • Lewiston Lake
The lower Sacramento River is arguably one of the best tailwater fisheries in the country and a recent top 5 rating to prove it. The Lower Sac is the home to an abundance of large rainbow trout and steelhead which are not uncommon to be 24 inches or bigger; the river also has four distinct runs of chinook salmon, with the fall-run bringing the large numbers and famous “egg bite”. Fly fishing the Lower Sac is primarily accomplished from a drift boat. Some of the finest water on the system flows right through the Redding city limits and continues south over 50 miles.
We fish the Lower Sacramento River year round and it is a great place for an introduction to fly fishing and definitely the river to support large groups trips that want to fish close together. We guide all the tributaries which feed Shasta Lake to include Shasta Lake which is a great place if you are looking to target bass on the fly rod. The Upper Sacramento River, McCloud River, Pit River, and Hat Creek, support great insect hatches in the spring, summer, and fall and offer great opportunity for wild rainbow trout and brown trout. These destinations are walk and wade only with the exception of Shasta Lake being fished by boat.
Trinity River • Klamath River • Winter Steelhead
The wild and scenic Trinity River is less than an hour drive west of Redding and begins at Lewiston Dam, traveling west to its confluence with the lower Klamath River. This pristine fishery has several runs of both Steelhead and Salmon with the occasional surprise of catching large brown trout. The Trinity is one of the major arteries to the Klamath River which then meets with the Pacific Ocean. The Klamath River is basically a major highway for fish coming and going from the Ocean to the fresh water to spawn.
Prime time to book a trip on the Trinity or Klamath is between the months of August and March when the majority of these anadromous fish return to their birthplace from the ocean. Winter Steelhead are known to be the largest in size for the seasonal runs and some of the most rewarding fish you will ever encounter. They are big, mean, bright, and absolutely beautiful on their return to the freshwater from their ocean environment. Although we fish the Trinity and Klamath from Fall to Spring, we begin to focus on other steelhead fisheries in coastal regions as well; to include the Eel River, Smith River, Mad River, and several others. Much of this pursuit is done by swinging flies with spey rods (two-handed fly rods), or indicator fishing from a drift boat, or raft. Winter Steelhead begins in January and goes through March.