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. A few units allow anglers to walk in from the parking areas to fish the shoreline of the Sacramento River, however most units are 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. Best time for angling is March-November for species such as bluegill and largemouth bass. A narrow dirt road provides access to an unimproved boat launch area at Packer. There is limited fishing from the shoreline. No facilities are available.

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

A woman waterfowl hunting by a wetland at sunset
Hunting
In the foreground, 2 people with large orange backpacks hike up a steep slope of rock and lichen. In the background are big mountains with snow patches on top, a lake in a valley, and a cloudy sky.
Hiking
bird watchers looking out on packer lake
Wildlife watching
Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge
(530) 934-2801
sacramentovalleyrefuges@fws.gov

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge
752 County Road 99W
Willows, CA 95988