Return to Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge

Fishing

At Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge

OVERVIEW:  Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge is composed of 30 separate units along an 80-mile stretch of the Sacramento River – from Red Bluff to Princeton, in Tehama, Butte, Glenn, and Colusa counties. Only a few units allow anglers to hike in from the parking areas (Sul Norte, Drumheller Slough) to fish the shoreline of the Sacramento River, while most units must be accessed from the river via boat. Popular gamefish include Chinook salmon, steelhead, striped bass and American shad. The Packer Unit features a 100-acre oxbow lake with an unimproved car-top boat launch area (no gas motors), and opportunities for species such as bluegill and largemouth bass. 

Check with California Department of Fish and Wildlife for regulations and season dates.

FOR MAPS, DIRECTIONS AND MORE INFORMATION visit our Sacramento River - Maps and Recreation page. 

Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge Activities

group of 8 wild turkeys in brown grass
Hunting
Group of people walking a trail at the edge of a grassland and riparian forest
Hiking
bird watchers looking out on packer lake
Wildlife watching
Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge
(530) 934-2801
Sacramento NWR Complex, 752 County Road 99W
Willows, CA 95988
sacramentovalleyrefuges@fws.gov