Right now: 76 for steelhead, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours
Steelhead, hour by hour
Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.
761 pm
76
84
844 pm
66
64
647 pm
64
64
6410 pm
64
64Sun
641 am
64
66
664 am
66
66
667 am
66
66
7410 am
66
66
641 pm
66
66
644 pm
64
64
647 pm
64
64
6410 pm
64
64Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out
Right now
Water
No reading
Steelhead range 40–55°
Wind
3 mph
From the south
Flow
6,420 cfs
steady · 0% in 24 h
Light
Daylight
Sunset 4:59 pm
Sky
Sunny
No rain expected
Air
70°F
NWS hourly forecast
Barometer
Falling
Measured, last 3 hours
Moon
5% lit
Waning crescent
What’s biting
Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are California regulations for these waters.
No water reading here right now. Steelhead bite in 40–55° water, best near 48°.
Why
Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 2–60 ft down.
Keep
2 a day
Open. Keep fish within the limits. Open all year: 2 hatchery trout or steelhead a day, 4 in possession, plus 5 brown trout.
No water reading here right now. Chinook salmon bite in 42–58° water, best near 50°.
Why
Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Settled river level — clearer water, easier wading. Holds 15–150 ft down.
Keep
2 a day
Open. Keep fish within the limits. 2 chinook a day, 4 in possession, Aug 1–Dec 31; closed to salmon Jan 1–Jul 31.
Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works
Fishing report
No current report covers these waters.
We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. California CDFW has the state’s fishing pages.
California's largest river — the upper Sacramento around Red Bluff carries the state's major fall and winter chinook runs plus wild rainbow trout, while the lower river adds steelhead and striped bass. Drifted and bank-fished. Live USGS flow above Bend Bridge.
Deschutes Road bridge to Woodson Bridge: 2 hatchery steelhead a day plus 5 brown trout, all year; 2 chinook a day Aug 1–Dec 31. Steelhead Report Card required; coho must be released.
The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.
1 pm
4 pm
7 pm
Sun
4 am
7 am
10 am
1 pm
4 pm
7 pm
Mon
Shasta Lake49 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
76Worth the trip
Trinity River (Lewiston)51 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
100Go
Feather River (Oroville)56 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
70Worth the trip
Clear Lake83 mi · CaliforniaBest today 4 pm–5 pm
78Worth the trip
Lake Berryessa108 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
68Marginal
Folsom Lake114 mi · CaliforniaBest now until 5 pm
86Go
Questions people ask
Do I need a fishing license to fish at Sacramento River (Red Bluff)?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Sacramento River (Red Bluff) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website
What fish are commonly targeted at Sacramento River (Red Bluff)?
Sacramento River (Red Bluff) is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Chinook Salmon, Steelhead. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.
When is the best time to fish at Sacramento River (Red Bluff)?
It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Sacramento River (Red Bluff) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.
What kind of access does Sacramento River (Red Bluff) have?
Sacramento River (Red Bluff) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Deschutes Road bridge to Woodson Bridge: 2 hatchery steelhead a day plus 5 brown trout, all year; 2 chinook a day Aug 1–Dec 31. Steelhead Report Card required; coho must be released.
Which state's fishing regulations apply at Sacramento River (Red Bluff)?
state agency regulations apply at Sacramento River (Red Bluff). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.
Is Sacramento River (Red Bluff) tidal water?
No. Sacramento River (Red Bluff) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.
Press / anywhere to search. Towns list the closest spots.
