Northern California Salmon Fishing Report: Salmon Fishing Charters Ready Their Drift Boats For The “Last Dance”

Do you enjoy salmon fishing? Like eating salmon maybe? Then you might not want to miss this last call for the 2024 California salmon season on the Smith River. This is kind of like “the fat lady singing” if you will. The end is near. And what a great season and experience it has been here on the North Coast. This weeks rainfall will bring the majority of remaining colossal king salmon in from the ocean. For Salmon anglers on the North Coast, drift boat season on the Smith River is like the World Series, or the Super Bowl, or the Stanley Cup, you get my point. It’s the big salmon fishing event before the season will close and the run will end around thanksgiving. During the final weeks, some of the best salmon fishing in the country will be had by fishing charter drift boats. If you know, you know. If you don’t know, you going to want to know. Some of the most epic and memorable days of salmon fishing plays out on the Smith River during this short period. The accumulation of all the coastal fall chinook will enter the river, continuing to migrate far up all three forks of the Smith River. In search of their ancestral spawning grounds. This much needed rain will give life back to the river system as it has gone stagnant this past week with no rainfall since around Halloween. These storms will bring the second large push of salmon into the river system as rain runoff swells the river and signals the remaining awaiting king salmon. Angler can expect above average salmon fishing for the remainder of this week and the next. If you’ve been on the fence about heading over to the Smith River, now’s your chance!

The Smith River is currently open to salmon fishing and under no kind of low river flow restrictions. For those unfamiliar, no fishing can take place while the river levels are under six stage feet on the Jedediah Smith hydrography. The river was closed on Sunday November 10th as river levels dipped below the six foot threshold . As mother nature will have it, and as it appears to the meteorologist, the rain storm schedule to make landfall on Monday November 11th will saturate the North Coast and open the Smith River by Tuesday morning November 12, 2024. Allowing the salmon fishing charters, and their fishing guides to access the Smith River. Putting their clients on some high pace, salmon fishing action. Some days are better than other days of course, but all days are good days. There are days we get up to twenty Fall Chinook Salmon to our drift boats. Other days we may only get a half dozen kings to the boat. Kwikfish and flatfish are generally the preferred method of take for us once the salmon are in river. In my opinion there is no better way to experience king salmon fishing then with a “plug”. I would highly recommend hiring a professional guide to show you the ropes on the Smith River before exploring it on your own. It will be money better spent then going through the learning curve while salmon are passing you by. There are a handful of salmon fishing guides to choose from if this is your plan. How do you go about choosing one???

A few things to consider when looking for a salmon fishing guide on the Smith River. There may be somewhere from a dozen to a dozen and a half (fishing guides) that will operate on the Smith River out of their drift boats. Some of these fishing guides are local to the north coast. Others are not, and have traveled to do guide work here far from their homes. Which brings us back to the question of “who is the best guide out there to hire? Personally I feel like this question can hinge on several different things. Personality, availability, size of the group, pricing, and other things that may very from guide to guide, or client to client. Personal preferences tend to primarily lean towards the bottom line…. “Which fishing guide catches the most salmon”? After all, this is what you came fishing for…. to catch fish. Most client/guide relationships and founded by personality, or personality conflicts on occasion. Finding the fishing guide that your personality clicks with, and who sends you home with fish from your trip. Is the task at hand, and can be easier said then done. Sometimes you may have to try several fishing guides out before you find who is right for you. The relationship will build itself when you do find what you are looking for. Catching fifty salmon with someone you can’t relate to or have a personality conflict with, will be less enjoyable than time spent with a guide that catches ten fish but you can find common ground with and carry on a competent conversation. Maybe even with a good sense of humor. It’s really just up to the individual preferences of the person booking the trip. Building a lasting relationship of mutual respect, and knowing each others expectations will make the guides job easier each time ours Which is a big consideration if you intend to repeat the guided fishing experience year after year.

As for which fishing guide, or fishing charter service catches the most salmon on the Smith River? I’ll be adding links at the end of this fishing report. First it’s important to know a couple things. This is a much more complicated question then one may think. When considering who may be the best on the Smith River, consider the fishing technique taking place. I mentioned previously in this fishing report, most of the salmon fishing on the Smith River is done with FlatFish, Kwikfish, or MagLip’s. With that said, let it be know that it would be hard to find a salmon fishing guide anywhere on the West Coast that has spent more time with a Kwikfish or FlatFish tied onto their rod than a Sacramento River salmon fishing guide. It would always be a safe bet to hire a salmon fishing guide from the Sacramento Valley for this reason alone. Plug fishing, is plug fishing, doesn’t matter what river it’s on. The Sacramento River fishing guides spend six months out of the year with a plug rod in their hand when salmon season is open on the Sacramento River. These salmon fishing guides kick ass with Kwikfish and Flatfish. Again these types of things are serious considerations when looking to book a trip with a Smith River salmon fishing guide. I’m not saying the guides on the North Coast don’t know how to use FlatFish and Kwikfish, because most do. I’m just saying the Sac River guides extensive knowledge in plug fishing likely counts for something.

Another consideration worth mentioning would be local knowledge and experience. I guess you could say the local guides have the home field advantage. Spending more time on the Smith River then guides from the Sacramento River, or Southern Oregon. For instance, John Klar of John Klar’s Salmon and Steelhead Adventures has been doing guided salmon fishing since the mid 1980’s. 1986 to be exact. It’s safe to say John knows a thing or two about salmon fishing on the Smith River, and the entire continent of North America for that matter. One would be hard pressed to find that kind of knowledge and experience. Even after 30+ years of experience, John still grinds on his full calendar as if he was 25 years old still. John has also made a habit of catching fish and keeping happy customers coming back for more, year after year. John Klar may be hard to book due to the fact that his calendar is typically full and the season booked out before it even starts. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of any other fishing guide living on the north coast that has the years of guiding under their belt as John does. As the saying goes “there is no replacement for experience”.

Besides the three pre-mentioned considerations when looking to hire a salmon fishing guide on the Smith River. Let me tell you there is one more thing to consider concerning this topic. That being a guides reputation, other anglers recommendations, and customer reviews. Do a little homework (trolling). As the consumer/customer in these current times you have so much access to internet activity by fishing guides. Guides who post sometimes daily. Showing off photos and describing their daily experiences on their social media platforms: Sometimes for clout and other times to drum up business on short notice. Trolling through the salmon fishing guides social media accounts or by doing a Google search of them will let you see other customer reviews, and experiences. However be careful not to make any hasty decisions based on a single review. People occasionally leave questionable reviews or for one reason or another. It may be they simply didn’t get along with the guide. Or a jealous competitor may leave a bogus review to drag your business down. Never the less reading through the reviews, and taking an overall consensus of how the previous customers liked their experience. Is a very promising way to ensure you will have a good trip, with a professional fishing guide.

Here is a list of five Smith River Salmon fishing guides who’s considerations put them at the top of the list. In no particular order….

Dillyn Parazinski - A North Coast resident with strong Sacramento River ties. Young enough to get after it as hard as anyone, and just old enough to have a plethora of local knowledge.

John Klar - Veteran Northern California fishing guide who knows more about guiding than the rest of us combined. A true legend of a fishing guide.

Ryan Tripp - Probably the most versatile and accomplished fishing guide in Northern California and Southern Oregon. With fishing skills that would rival anyone on the West Coast. Ryan’s the guy you don’t really want to fish around if you are another fishing guide.

Dave Jacobs- Dave has more time fishing plugs then all prior mentioned fishing guides. He has also been doing guided fishing trips on the Smith River for over two decades now. Dave knows how to make a salmon bite a plug, that’s a fact.

Mike Rasmussen - Hey that’s me! The author! Yes I too am from the Sacramento River and cut my teeth on plug fishing for salmon over twenty years ago. I also have extensive knowledge of the Smith River salmon fishery. And have nearly perfect attendance for the Smith River salmon run over the past fifteen years.

You honestly couldn’t go wrong with any of the listed fishing guides mentioned above. There are others that are not mentioned that also would provide the proper guided fishing experience for you. Most importantly making the commitment to just come to the Smith River and try something new, and experience a new and extremely scenic fishing location, which happens to have big, beautiful, chinook salmon. Will reward you with fond memories for the rest of your life. This place is not easily forgotten and will likely draw you back year after year. As it did to myself and every other listed guide in this blog. The Smith River is a place to remember!

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.

California Salmon Fishing 10/17/24 Smith River Fishing Report

• The salmon fishing on California’s Smith River has continued to be solid again this past week. A consistent supply of king salmon are coming in and out of the estuary. Putting chinook salmon in the boat hasn’t been a problem for the handful of boats who have been going out daily. “We’ve seen everything from Jacks and Jills, to thirty plus pound king salmon. We’ve even brought a few coho to the boat over the past week.” Reports salmon fishing guide Mike Rasmussen. who goes on to say the silver salmon are always a welcome surprise, but must be quickly released. Causing as little harm as possible to the endangered salmon species. On a positive note, there have been plenty of king salmon willing to bite. The 11” Pro-Troll 360 flasher in chrome prism has seemed to work the best in this estuary fishery. A 24”, 100 pound mono bumper to the flasher from the main bead chain. A 28” leader from the flasher to your bait has seemed to keep the salmon interested in striking. These Smith River estuary king salmon are willing to chew most all bait presentations. Artificial baits like the “cut plug” and “super baits” are effective when stuffed with tuna. However the Yakima Bait Co. “Spin Fish” has quickly become my personal favorite for artificial presentations. When it comes down to it the best bait would still have to be a properly rigged anchovy. The flash from the roll of a properly rigged anchovy is irresistible to king salmon. Proving itself true in the Smith River estuary. As it has on many of the west coast salmon fisheries.

  In the weeks to come, with no particular reference to time. The Smith River estuary fishing will give way to the “up river” fishery. Restricted to the use of a drift boat, kayak, or bank fishing. Basically anything that doesn’t use a motor for propulsion. Motors are 100% restricted on the Smith River above the Highway 101 bridge. This is when the Smith River shines for the drift boat fishermen using a sardine wrapped kwikfish or flatfish, maglips and cured salmon roe. The more traditional “in river” approach to tackle and methods of take. When exactly does this take place? All I can tell you is when it rains….Period. As soon as we get a significant Pacific rain storm to pump a couple inches of rainfall in the surrounding mountains, the estuary will empty out, and the river itself will fill up with salmon. Being one of the very last rivers to not have a dam. This wild river relies heavily on rainfall to raise its river water levels giving the chinook salmon access to their ancestral spawning grounds. As was intended in all rivers prior to colonization of the west coast. Basically when the rain comes we put away our jet sleds and take out our drift boats. Drift boat season has arrived.

• As for now the Smith River has continued to pump out legit salmon fishing, and the quality of salmon doesn’t get any better. I expect a large push of newly arriving salmon to show up in the next week with the onset of this months full moon cycle. The largest tides of October will accompany this full moon phase. Bringing great tidal salmon fishing conditions to the Smith River, and Chetco River estuaries. If you are looking to book a guided fishing trip for the remainder of this month, or for drift boat king salmon fishing in November. Please give us a call at 530-722-8876. Or you can fill out a submission via our website salmonsacriver@gmail.com. We urge everyone who has not taken part in the North Coast chinook salmon fishery to consider experiencing everything it has to offer. I hope to see you all out there. Tight lines….

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.

Northern California Salmon Fishing Report -Smith River 9/29/24

California’s only salmon season is well underway. With only a short 30 - 45 day window of opportunity for anglers to catch a California King Salmon. So we didn’t waist anytime getting right into the action. Arriving on site in conjunction with September’s full moon cycle. The first week and a half kicked off with mixed results. The first couple days we struggled to find consistent salmon fishing in the estuary. As the numbers of arriving king salmon just hadn’t shown up yet. Basically it was a slower start but relatively strong finish scenerio. All signs would eventually indicate a healthy run of Fall Chinook Salmon will be returning to California’s Smith River this season.

Like most coastal river systems the Smith River saw an influx of salmon arriving at the mouth of the river during this months full moon phase. Instinctually arriving to coincide with the months largest Pacific Ocean tides, brought on by the full moon. Which gain coastal king salmon access to their river system prior to any significant rainfall. Salmon congregate around the mouth of the river to start acclimating to the rivers fresh water, in preparation to spawn in the coming months. As the salmon arrive they will enter the fresh water of the river’s estuary, then return to the ocean for some time, then back in again. This exchange takes place sometime throughout a tide cycle. Repeating itself until the chinooks are ready to live the rest of their days in fresh water. This is part of the acclimation period, and typically carries on until rainfall arrives and the acclimated king salmon charge up the river system to their spawning grounds. Let it be noted this is a generalization and some salmon will start slowly heading up the river prior to the rainfall which signals the majority of arriving salmon. Smaller groups of ambitious kings will creep up the lower river at night under the cover of darkness. Making them feel less vulnerable to predators.

The first week of fishing did see some great fishing after getting off to a somewhat slow start. Only landing one nine pound Silver (Coho) Salmon on the first day out. Things quickly changed as the full moon tides brought scores of fresh king salmon to the estuary. With every tide change came new opportunities. Big Chinook Salmon started hitting the deck mid last week. The highlight of the season so far came from Carson Tharp form Roseville, Ca. Who landed a true Smith River Tyee (40 pound king salmon). Also Carson’s PB king salmon. Showing the real potential the Smith River has for giant king salmon. The afternoon prior to Carson’s behemoth king salmon two opportunities at the same class of giant kings salmon were lost. The first lost opportunity came during the strong outgoing tide. A salmon that appeared to be nearly four foot long buried the 10’ 6” Buzz Ramsey Douglas 360 trolling rod. After several big head shakes it headed back to the Pacific Ocean. It never looked back. Taking all but ten feet of the Berkeley Power-Pro from the reel. Leaving us feeling sick and frustrated. We never even had a chance at that lifetime fishing achievement. To make matters worse less ten minutes later one of our rods was again buried in the rod holder. A short battle ensued. This king was never seen. It broke free from the 40lb Maxima leader that held the bait behind the 360 Pro-Troll flasher. Again disappointed reared its ugly head. Needless to say some very large chinook salmon are showing their presence early in the 2024 salmon season.

Bank anglers have been finding daily success casting “Cleo’s” (spoon). This is the preferred method here on the Smith River for “bankies” and it works! The bank fisherman who are made up of mostly locals, line the North bank at the mouth of the Smith River every morning and evening. Casting their Little Cleo’s. Every day is different here, actually every tide is different here. Some days everyone is hooking up. Other days only a few salmon get hooked from the bank. However on most days at least a handful of chinook salmon get caught and drug up on the shores of the Smith River estuary.

If you are considering visiting the Smith River estuary for an early start to the 2024 salmon season. You may consider checking out a few places that make this experience easier on the wallet and more convenient and practical for the salmon angler.

LODGING AND BOAT LAUNCH FACILITIES- The XAA-WAN’-K’WVT Village and Resort is the place to stay if you are intending to spend a few days fishing the Smith River Estuary this salmon season. This resort is very reasonably priced and puts you at ground zero for salmon fishing. The majority of productive salmon fishing in the estuary takes place literally right out of their back door. This resort has Trailer and RV hook-ups for the DIY camper. As well as a series of river view cottages that overlook the bay but wont break your bank account. They also have the only boat launch available for putting a fishing boat in the bay (this is clutch). The office staff is super friendly and willing to answer any questions, make reservations, sell your group fishing licenses and North Coast salmon report cards (required in possession while fishing for salmon on the Smith River), and offer up any other information you may need while staying in the area. The management runs a tight ship and see’s to it all your belonging are safe and your experience while staying here are pleasant and without any hiccups. I recommend giving this place a look before searching for all these accommodations separately.

Overall the Smith River has been shaping up to have an outstanding salmon season. This past week had shown us there are plenty of king salmon already entering the mouth of the Smith River. This should only increase in the days and weeks to come. Reaching its peak just prior to the October full moon. These California kings are simply waiting for rainfall to raise the Smith River and gain them access to their ancestral spawning grounds. At this point the estuary will empty out as the king salmon quickly vacate the tide water and head directly into the fresh water of the Smith River. This 2024 salmon season has already shown the potential to catch the salmon of a lifetime. Like Carson’s 40 pound king, and the two others that ate up the tackle. The near by Chetco River has already produced a Goliath King weighing 52 pounds. There are trophy king salmon that swim up these rivers every season. Getting in front of one is the challenge. Landing it is a whole other story.

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.

Sacramento River Striped Bass Fishing Report 5/27/24 “Couldn’t have asked for a better…”

..striped bass season on the Sacramento River. In fact I don’t believe you could find a striper fishermen in Northern California to argue the fact. In my twenty years spent as a fishing guide here in Northern California. I can safely say this 2024 striped bass season was as good as any other season that I can recall. Sadly the action has finally tapered off this past two weeks. A river wide spawn has been underway over the last 10-14 days. So the massive numbers of striped bass that were stacked from Butte City, Ca all the way to Verona, Ca have dwindle lower and lower in numbers each day. As spawning occurs the striped bass when finished start to migrate back down the Sacramento River. Heading back through the California Delta and on to the Pacific Ocean. Where they will again live before returning to spawn again in a couple years time. This is not to say the spring striper spawn is completely over. It is not. However the fast pace, slam dunk, all you want type striper fishing is.

Some striped bass post spawn will head up the Sacramento River and feed on American Shad. Which are also in the Sacramento River to spawn. These stripers will spread out throughout the upper Sacramento River. Locations like Woodson Bridge, in Corning, Ca, the greater Red Bluff, Ca area, and of course Hamilton City, Ca will all have post spawn striped bass taking up residency for the summer. Fishing trips taken on the Sacramento River in the coming month can include both striped bass and American Shad. Making for some fun fishing, and a great opportunity to get the kids out on some action. As the American Shad are plentiful currently. Spend your early mornings and late evenings throwing glides like Sneaky Pete. Or take advantage of the pre-dawn top water bite that goes on throughout the summer months.

If you still desire to chase the striped bass, consider heading over to the other side of the Sacramento Valley. The Feather River at current time is your best bet for striper fishing. (Fishing guide) Raith Herryford of Rh Guide Service is still finding good action on the Feather River. The stretch of river between Verona, California and East Nicolas California has been the best bet. All standard methods of take apply.

Here at SalmonSacRiver we have moved up the Sacramento River near Red Bluff, California. We will continue doing striped bass and American Shad combo fishing trips. As well as trophy rainbow trout fishing trips in the upper Sacramento River for our customers. We will continue engaging these fisheries until mid July, 2024. This is a great opportunity to catch stripers on top water as well as loads of American Shad. This is also a great time for families to come out and go fishing on the Sacramento River in Northern California. Children out for summer break enjoy the fast action the American Shad and rainbow trout provide. Take advantage of this opportunity to get your children involved in the outdoors, as they are the future of this sport. Tight Lines….

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.

Sacramento River Striped Bass Fishing Report - May 9, 2024

What a heck of a month April was for striped bass fishing on the Sacramento River. From start to finish, the month of April did not disappoint. Nearly every fisherman polled will tell you the same thing. “Best we’ve seen in years”. A vibe that was long over due for Northern California fishing guides and recreational anglers suffering through the loss of two separate fisheries this past year in the Sacramento River. As Fall Chinook Salmon and White Sturgeon hit the chopping block by CDFW ( California Department of Fish and Wildlife). Their failure to manage these public resources before it reached a crisis level caused a state wide fishery shutdown for both species in the Sacramento River. Nevertheless this striped bass season came as a huge relief for those looking to get back on the Sacramento River.

The month of April flew by for anglers who were caught up catching large quantities of striped bass. Which continue to show up in the Sacramento river until current time. Fishing Guides and recreational anglers have enjoyed the success of limit out style fishing for the entire month. Some adaptions had to be made for this continued success. Anglers who typically rely on live minnows or casting swimbaits decided to make some changes and dig their trolling lures out of their tacklebox’s and started trolling. For whatever the reason, the success was overwhelming. Swimbaits and plastics in general, never really showed the same consistent success as they have in years past. While live minnows will always work the troll by certainly was king. Not to mention the grade of striped bass caught while trolling was far superior to the striped bass caught while dragging live minnows. As well as a heck of a lot easier on the wallet. And who doesn’t like a big ol plug bite?

Northern California weather couldn’t have worked out better for striper fisherman. The weekly onslaught of winter storms throughout the month of April, kept the striped bass from spawning. Water conditions ( flow and temperature) remained favorable for anglers on the Sacramento River until early last week. Just before this last cold storm Sacramento River water temperatures jumped above 62 degrees. Prompting the striped bass to start a heavy spawn. Primarily due to the USBR choking off river flows to a dismal 6,000cfs. With less flow the river water slows down, and exposure to the sun is greater. This causing the Sacramento River to warm up as it runs through the Sacramento Valley. Nevertheless a pretty significant spawn occurred last week river wide when river temperatures climbed above 62 degrees. Making the stripers harder to catch for about two days. Before the weekend storm dropped river temperatures dramatically and put the bass back on the bite.

The striped bass action has slowed from its peak a little over a week ago. Not to say the season is over by any means. Just that the stripers arnt jumping in your boat like they had been. Fishing Guides Robert Petty, and Ryan Tripp are still pulling limits of mixed fresh and half spent striped bass for their customers. Tanner Carrick, owner of TC ‘s Guide Service put a great box of bass together for his clients on Tuesday this past week. While fishing an afternoon trip out of the Colusa State Park. Raith Herryford of RH Guide Service has also shown no signs of slowing down either. Making daily live feed videos on his Facebook page. Catching striped bass real time for his followers to see. While some striped bass have spawned and are backing out of the Sacramento River system. There are new schools of stripers making their way up the river to spawn. The Sacramento River at current time is on the rise. Which in turn will keep the river water cooler, and the stripers from starting another spawn. Good news for everyone who isn’t ready for the season to wind down.

Expect the month of May to be consistent striper fish as it traditionally is. In fact some anglers prefer the month of May as apposed to April for the simple fact boat traffic and the non stop relentless fishing pressure subside to some degree. As I mention earlier new batches of stripers are arriving on the striper grounds surrounding Colusa, Ca as you read this report. Also look for night fishing to kick in big time as daytime air temperatures reach the 90’s in the coming weeks. The troll bite has still remained outstanding and is the go to method of take for most anglers fishing the “ditch” south of Colusa. While fishing North of Colusa live minnows and chucking plastics have been clutch.

If you’re looking to book a reservation for a striped bass fishing charter, or fishing guide service in the Colusa, Ca area. You shouldn’t have a problem locating one. There are several mentioned in this fishing report as well as others that are still operating locally in the Colusa area. Kittles Outdoor and Sports in Colusa is still stocked with live minnows and any other bait or tackle you may need. Plenty of opportunities still exist to experience great striped bass fishing here in Northern California on the Sacramento River. This fishery is a excellent choice for taking family groups out fishing. Kids typically love striper fishing as it provides fast action and keeps the youngsters from getting bored while waiting for a fish to get on the line. More importantly it gets families in the outdoors as a whole and exposes children to all the Northern California outdoors has to offer. As the school year comes to a end fishing is a great opportunity for a quick summer get away. Tight Lines!

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.

Sacramento River Striped Bass Report - April 28, 2024 - “Bank Fishing Spots”

I thought it to be appropriate to do this striped bass fishing report for the bank fisherman. Running a full time fishing charter here in Northern California, keeps me in a boat ninety percent of the time these days. However I have never forgotten my roots. Which started from the banks, not the boat launches. As I travel up and down the rivers I always keep in mind the public access spots I see nearby. Spots that would be good fishing from the bank if they were known about by determined bank anglers. So this fishing report is for the bank fisherman. Timing, location, and access are the main factors for succes here. If you read this fishing report reel time (within a day or two of publication), the locations I’m about to give you will be producing you keeper striped bass for the next week or more.

The “Chico Straits”! This location is considered a famous striped bass fishing location, and has been used by anglers for decades when striper fishing the Sacramento River out of Colusa, Ca. This location is roughly seven miles North of Colusa on the Sacramento River. It has limited bank access from the roadside. Parking on the roadside turnout near the levee gate ( location marker above) will allow you to walk up or down the Sacramento River and find a location to fish from. Don’t block the gate! You will find bank fishing spots that are used by others when the fishing gets good. Fishing is good here right now and will remain so for two weeks to come. The striped bass infest this long, lazy stretch of river in preparation to spawn. They gather here in this mile long stretch of river in great numbers. Anywhere along the roadside would be productive. Personally I would stick to the bottom end of this location. The river flow is slower here and not as much lead will be needed to stay on the bottom. Remember to be courteous and pack out your trash.

The “Tractor Hole”‘ is always a good bet. Located on Butte Slough Rd a couple miles south of Colusa, Ca. The Tractor Hole sits on the east bank of the Sacramento River at the top of a long straightaway. It too is a preferred location for female stripers to spawn. As the big female stripers hold waiting to spawn, groups of males will gather in the surrounding area to wait as well. Making the Tractor Hole a prime bank spot during this time in the season.

The “Princeton Ferry” hole has many options for bank anglers. Like the Chico Straits, and the Tractor Hole, this long straightaway offers outstanding bank fishing from both sides of the Sacramento River. This hole is also a favorite area of the female striped bass. Access on the West side of the river is obtained through turnouts on the side of Hwy 45. Access on the East side of the river is obtained through the town of Afton. Some effort may be needed to access the gravel bar on the East side of the river at the top of the hole. However this would be my first choice of spots in the Princton Ferry Hole.

These three locations are currently fishing great. It’s hard to say what will happen in a week or two’s time. I will say all of these locations are going to hold striped bass every season. So saving this information may come in handy, even if it’s not for this season. I’ll leave bait recommendations up to the individual angler, but all cut baits like, liver, minnows, ect will work. Kittles Outdoor & Sports in Colusa, Ca has all these baits and much more. Also you may want to Google search the “public’s right to waterways in California”. You will find California gives the general public a lot of legal access to waterways across the state. Bridges, dead end roads and other access points are legally accessible to the public. There are many other bank fishing options surrounding the Colusa, Ca area. Especially on the levee roads between Colusa, Ca and Knights Landing, Ca. Make sure to check and see if you are crossing any private property when checking out new bank fishing locations. Good Luck! Tight Lines!

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.

Sacramento River Striped Bass Fishing Report - April 22, 2024 - “NCGASA Striper Derby Weekend…..

…..was a complete madhouse. Colusa, Ca was overrun by striped bass anglers this past weekend. Out of town anglers coming from all over the west coast headed for Colusa to get in on the peak run, striper fishing action. Many anglers visiting the area were participants of NorCal Guides and Sportsman Association (NCGASA) annual striper derby. Which took place over the weekend at the Colusa State Park and City Boat Ramp. Presumably putting a ton of fishing and boating pressure on the striped bass. Shockingly it didn’t seam to matter so much to the striped bass. By all indications on day one, the striped bass had no problems with the heavy boat traffic and non stop fishing pressure brought on by the derby. All reports from the weigh ins were very positive. Nearly one hundred percent of the 185 participants said there were plenty of striped bass to be caught. Many anglers reporting great striper fishing existed just about anywhere you went on the river.

Day one of the striper derby was a very successful day for all the anglers who partook. The target length for this random draw, target length, males only derby. Was drawn by president James Stone just before 5:00am Saturday morning. The target length drawn was 22 7/8”. Estimations for the total day one catch of striped bass ranged anywhere from a thousand to two thousand fish. Some of the professional Sacramento River striped bass fishing guides put up big numbers of stripers for their clients. In hopes of hitting the exact target length of 22 7/8”. Striped bass fishing guide Dakota Townley reported his crew doing 116 stripers to the boat on day one. As he and his crew weeded through the schoolie striped bass looking for the target length fish of 22 7/8”. At the weigh in the day one target length hit the hash mark at 22 7/8 exactly. The name of the winner is unknown to me at this time. However it was known to be a female angler who had reportedly caught the money fish on a live minnow. Big fish of the day went to a client of striped bass fishing guide Adam Andrieni.

Day two of the NCGASA striped bass derby went much like the first day. There was a plethora of striped bass to catch. The only difference was the lack of boat traffic on the second day. The target length was drawn at 27 1/2 inch. Again it was nailed dead on by a angler fishing with striped bass fishing guide Aaron Zanoko out of Yuba City, Ca. All and all there was a tremendous amount of support from local anglers and sponsors alike. Making for a successful annual striper derby put on by the guide’s association.

By Monday morning (April 22, 2024) the dreaded boat traffic was gone and the Sacramento River seamed to be much more quiet then usual. Making for easy limits for fishing guides like Mike Rasmussen of SalmonSacRiver.com, and Ryan Tripp of ryantrippsguideservice.com. Pulling (trolling) plugs seams to continue to be as consistent as any other method used in catching striped bass. Live minnows of course always being the fasted method to catch your boats limit of striped bass. The biggest benefit in trolling plugs is the grade of stripers you catch. They are typically much larger on average then the stripers caught using live minnows. Making plug fishing the best bang for your buck if you aren’t in a hurry to get off the water.

Striped bass anglers can find the most action in the stretch of the Sacramento River spanning from Colusa, Ca north to the reservation hole. About 9 miles north of the town of Colusa, Ca. You will also find the majority of other striped bass anglers in this stretch of river. If you are crowd shy or would rather be fishing away from the masses of striper anglers. Consider taking a look down river from Colusa. The stretch of rip rap rock wall from Lovey’s Boat Landing south to the Meridian Bridge also has had a large group of striped bass that have taken up residency in this stretch of river. Also this area is a excellent spot for trolling. Following and trolling the eastward rock wall should produce some quality striper action for those willing try it. Farther to the south is a section of the Sacramento River that has remained wild for the most part. Holes and sandbars with names like Pearson’s Dock, the Burning Bush, the Glory Hole, and Lupi’s Bend. All of which have a great deal of 22-24 inch keeper sized striped bass holding in the area. You will recognize this stretch of river by its natural layout. After traveling a half dozen miles down the man made ditch, you would recognize this region as the area that the rock wall and man made banks are absent.

The Sacramento River water temperatures are lingering around 60-61 degrees. Just below the spawning requirements of the striped bass. It is still up in the air if the spawn will happen prior to the cooler daytime air temperatures that will bring the Sacramento River water temperature back down into the mid to high 50 degree range. Either way there is still ample time to get out and enjoy some of the amazing striper fishing we have been experiencing here on the Sacramento River out of Colusa, Ca. Don’t miss out on what is continuing to be a excellent striper season. Get out on the water and enjoy all that Northern California has to offer the outdoorsman. Tight Lines!

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.

Sacramento River Striped Bass Fishing Report - April 18, 2024

What a week of striper fishing it has been. The Sacramento River did not disappoint this past week. The “all you want” striper fishing action that everyone waits for, is being had. The right combination of a few key ingredients lead to a banner week of striped bass fishing in Colusa, Ca. A sprinkle of rain, a dash of a water rise, a squeeze of sunshine, a dusting of chinook salmon smolts. With last weeks wild weather river conditions became perfect for striped bass fishing. Not to mention the arrival of Fall Chinook Salmon smolt, released from Coleman National Fish Hatchery early in the week. 2.2 million juvenile chinook salmon started making their way into the Colusa area on Monday April 15th. Can I say a “wide open” striper immediately ensued.

The poorly timed release of juvenile chinook salmon by Coleman Fish Hatchery was bad for the baby salmon, but great for the striper fishing. There’s nothing that gets the striper bite going like the arrival of salmon smolts. The entire river came alive this past Monday when the smolt arrived. Fishing guides like Ryan Tripp (ryantrippsguideservice) reported seeing striped bass boiling on salmon smolt in several locations North of Colusa on Monday. The entire striped bass fishing guide fleet took part in the easy pickings. It didn’t matter what your style or technique for striper fishing was, because it all worked. The guides fishing live minnows creamed them. The guides trolling plugs smashed them. The guides casting swimbaits crushed them. I’m not certain how the cut bait guys did but we’ll go ahead and just say they killed it too. Action was wide spread, covering over thirty miles of the Sacramento River. Spanning from Butte City, Ca to Tisdale, Ca ( on a side note Tisdale Boat Launch is supposed to open to the public this coming Friday April 19th). Tens of thousands of striped bass went on a full feeding frenzy this week. Gobbling up tens or maybe even hundreds of thousands of critically important juvenile fall chinook salmon that were headed out to the Pacific Ocean to grow. All the striped bass in this thirty mile stretch of river have been blinded by the free meal thrown their way this week. Making the catching of these striped bass somewhat of a breeze.

Tanner Carrick of TC Guide Service jumped in on the action this week. He and his crew posted up and wrecked shop on the feeding stripers. Finding very solid action every evening this past week. Mike, his brother Matt, and Sam accompanied Carrick in his pursuit of catching big number of striped bass. They found their home grounds down river near the town of Grimes, Ca. Casting swimbaits before dark each evening as stripers worked the smolt over on the surface of the river on the long gravel flats on this section of river. The Sneaky Pete gliders from G-Ratt Baits were clipped on after dark. Carrick’s favorite way to target the linesides. Tanner reported 30-50 striped bass to the boat during each outing over the past week. With a thirty pound hen he released while trolling a P-Line Predator on a rock wall in the area. While Carrick chose to venture down river for this annual event. Most of the fast action stayed north of Colusa and most of the heavy boat traffic stayed with it.

• As of Thursday April 18, 2024 this salmon smolt driven fishing action is still taking place. Although quickly loosing momentum. It may possibly last into the weekend. Giving more opportunity to all the weekend anglers. For those of you anglers who are only able to fish the weekend. It is essential to have the proper tackle, and baits that are catching the striper any given time. Kittles Outdoor & Sports in Colusa, Ca has all of these things. With a knowledgeable staff that stays up on the real time happenings of the striped bass. A half of a block away from Kittles is the City Of Colusa boat launching facility. Where much of the striper action is taking place. The Colusa State Park is connected to the city boat launching facility and is where the majority of boaters park their trucks and trailers while out on the river. The annual guides association striper derby will also be held at the State Park this coming weekend.

Is this peak striper season on the Sacramento River? Absolutely yes, it has nearly reached its peak. So don’t put off going striper fishing any longer if you haven’t already gone. The time is now. If you have been out previously this season, come back. Now’s the time! The NCGASA is hosting a striper derby this weekend. April 20, 21. Make sure to stop by the Colusa State Park and show your support by joining the organization that helps fight countless battles on behalf of the local sportsman. Hire a guide, or fuel up your boat, or maybe go cut out a bank spot. Just don’t wait for the season to get any better. It’s time.

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.

Sacramento River Striped Bass Fishing Report - April 14, 2024

• We dodged a big bullet concerning the Sacramento River spring striped bass spawn this week. Warm daytime air temperatures in conjunction with dropping river levels. Almost caused a very early spawn for the striped bass. Whom are currently taking up a residency around the Colusa, Ca region of the Sacramento River. Two consecutive days of 85+ degree daytime air temperatures caused the river water temperatures to skyrocket. By Thursday April 11, 2024 river water temperatures in the evening hours before dark reached just over 60 degrees. For those who may not know 62 degrees is the magical temperature that striped bass need to induce their spawning. As river water temperatures on the Sacramento River in Colusa, Ca went from a chilly 51 degrees on Monday April 8, to nearly 60 degrees on Thursday April 11. The striped bass instinctively gathered, preparing for a spawn. On Thursday evening as river water temps reached their peak. The striped bass left all their bank side hiding spots. Moving out mid river, laying around the main current line of the rivers strongest currents. Indicative traits of spawning stripers. “Moch Spawing” was witness by a handful of anglers who had reported seeing this practice run type spawning ritual. Which the stripers do days prior to having a real time spawn. The striped bass at this point become focused on one thing, and one thing only. If you catch my drift. Making the evening fishing very difficult on Thursday April 8 and the following Friday morning of April 9.

As it would turned out the cold low pressure system that rolled in on Friday April 12, 2024 couldn’t have come at a better time for striper anglers. The drop in daytime air temperatures caused river water temperatures to plummet back into the mid 50 degree range. Putting a kabash to any spawning activities that were about ready to take place. In turn saving anglers from a early end to the striped bass main event (the spawning season). By the weekend things as far as fishing was concerned we’re right back to normal. Buying at the least another week to ten days of “limit out” style fishing here in the Colusa, Ca area. Fishing charter services operating in the area made quick work of easy limits for their clients on Saturday April 13, 2024. With most fishing guides being all wrapped up and back at the fillet stations well before noon. Fishing guides working double trips, or working the late shift reported much of the same fast pace striper action on Saturday April 8.

With the striped bass reaching a near full blown spawning episode late last week. The troll bite immediately kicked into gear. Sacramento River striped bass fishing guides like Ryan Tripp, Raith Herryford, Robert Petty, and Mike Rasmussen all put the live bait away. Except Raith Herryford of course, who has refused for as long as I can remember, to pay the outrageous, and inflated cost of a live minnow. Figuring out many successful methods for catching stripers on artificial baits only. And has been very successful doing so….The other fishing guides turned their live minnow rods in for their plug trolling rods and got after it. Plug trolling did not disappoint. Putting easy limits in their fish boxes. For the clients who were lucky enough to feel the fury of a striper attack on a properly trolled plug. Trolling plugs may still be a widely used fishing technique for striped bass in the California Delta. However in the upper regions of the Sacramento River the once mainstay of striper fishing in the area. Is now a mostly forgotten technique. Very deadly forgotten technique. Troll speed, lure selection and application, line scope and distance, water clarity, and water depth are all factors that play into trolling successfully. I would recommend joining a forum of anglers fishing the California Delta, watch related YouTube videos, or hire a professional guide service like the ones mentioned previously. Learn from a professional before venturing out on your own dime. This will save you much frustration while working through the learning curves. As far as rod selection for trolling plugs. I would personally recommend checking out the Douglas Rod Company’s LRS series of casting rods. Preference differences tend to occur frequently between fishing guides. So finding the LRS series rod that suits you best is best left up to you. It is mutually agreed upon that a trolling rod of eight foot in length or greater is desired while trolling.

Except excellent striped bass fishing on the Sacramento River striper grounds surrounding Colusa, Ca in the weeks to come. Another large push of newly arriving striped bass has made it’s way into the Verona, Ca again for the second time this season. If river forecasters are correct and the Sacramento River rises by two foot early this week. All the striped bass from Colusa, Ca to Verona, Ca would instinctively migrate up the Sacramento River in search of the big females. Stayed tuned for our next report due out on Wednesday April 17, 2024.

Sacramento River Striped Bass Fishing Report- April 9, 2024

The pair of California Sea Lions along with the cold unstable weather have moved on over the past few days. Allowing the striped bass to settle down and gather up on the Sacramento River. Making the fishing action more consistent for fishing guides and recreational anglers alike. The pair of sea lions that had shown up over the weekend had moved North of Colusa, Ca. Taking up a two day residency near the “reservation”. About nine river miles North of Colusa. Or about half way between Colusa and Butte City, Ca. The pair was witnessed hanging out around the Verona, Ca area last week as they likely followed the big school of migrating stripers from the California Delta. When the school of stripers left Verona, Ca on Wednesday of last week, the two sea lions left with them. Following the large school of stripers up the Sacramento River. By Friday evening the large school of stripers had started to arrive around the Colusa area. With the two fur bags right on their heals. Here some of the striped bass started to break off the pack and hold in all their favorite spots. Where awaiting female striped bass had already established their spawning locations and were awaiting the arrival of the smaller (schoolies) males. After scattering the striped bass in the Sacramento River above Colusa, the two fir bags headed back down river for easier fishing. Presumably heading back to the California Delta. Allowing the striped bass to settle down and come out of hiding.

Fishing charters and fishing guides have had much better and consistent success in the early part of this week. Accompanied by great weather conditions the stripers became very active over the past 48 hours. The river water temperatures on this section of the Sacramento River warmed up several degrees. Ranging from a surface temperature of 51 degrees over the weekend, to 54/55 degrees by Tuesday April 9, 2024. Causing the striped bass to get much more active. The live minnow bite really came around following the weekend boat traffic and cooler water temps. Even more so did the trolling bite. The more active stripers didn’t hesitate to jump all over the trolled plugs presented to them by some fishing charter operators like Robert Petty of North State Salmon. Who boxed eight keepers in a short time on Monday April 8, 2024. While fishing guide Ryan Tripp managed to box twelve keeper stripers for his boat load of clients. Who casted swimbaits for the hour prior to sunrise, before switching to live minnows to finish up their daily bag limit of two stripers over 18 inches in length for each of his clients. Long time striped bass fishing guide Arron Zanoko, son of the legendary Jimmy Zanoko from the Yuba City area also fished the Sacramento River the over the weekend. Putting his clients on limits of keeper striped bass North of Colusa, Ca on Sunday as weather conditions improved in the North State. On the recreational angling side of things, reports were mixed. I talked to a group of anglers who reported catching their ten keepers without traveling a mile from the Colusa City Boat Launch located near Kittles Outdoor & Sports. While other recreational anglers reported struggling to find even a fish per rod. Private angler Jason Hofinkee had no trouble snatching up a limit for himself and his father Rodney Hofinkee. Getting it done soaking sardines just above the Colusa State Park on Sunday April 7, 2024.

Expect night time fishing to pick up tremendously over the coming days/weeks. As warmer daytime temps make for more suitable conditions while staying out and fishing after dark. This is a great way to dodge the extremely heavy daytime boat traffic that has overtaken the Colusa, Ca area this past week. On a separate note be sure to support the NCGASA by entering in the annual striper derby put on by this organization. The derby takes place on the weekend of April 20/21, 2024. You can register on line or at the derby which will be hosted at the Colusa State Park. This event is a great time and supports local fisheries in Northern California. It is set up so anyone can win this event, as a target length is drawn randomly each morning. There is also a cash prize for the big fish category. For more information stop in Kittles Outdoor & Sports when you get into town. Tight Lines!

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.

Northern California Striped Bass Fishing Report 4/4/24

And it has begun! Right on time, and without further ado… the striped bass have arrived. In some what of a grand fashion. As they moved into the upper Sacramento River. Reports from private anglers and fishing guides like Ryan Tripp who made the drive to Verona, Ca last weekend. Couldn’t have been more accurate. Reporting the striper action was “all you want” style fishing at the confluence of the Feather River in Verona. When I asked Tripp which river the massive school of stripers was headed up. He replied “the Sac”! Tedeso Chavez from Sacramento, Ca reported very similar information from the recreational angling community. Ted fished the Verona, Ca area on Monday April 1, 2024. Releasing a dozen keeper sized stripers and securing his limit, Chavez also implied the stripers were marching up the Sacramento River side of the confluence with the Feather River. Both of these reports seemed to be right on time as the Sacramento River surrounding Colusa, Ca loaded up with quality keeper size striped bass by Wednesday April 3, 2024. These stripers didn’t waist anytime while moving up the Sacramento River.

Widespread action was underway by the fleet of fishing charter services and fishing guides who fished both North and South of the Colusa area on Wednesday. Water conditions being less then ideal didn’t stop the schoolie linesides from gobbling up every live minnows they could find swimming on the river bottom. A short swimbait bite also took place in the early morning hours prior to sunrise, and again in the evening. Small “boils” (stripers feeding on the rivers surface) erupted North of Colusa in some of the stripers favorite spots. Quickly being shut down by jet boats racing back to the boat ramp before darkness fell on the river bottom. This reported by Ryan Tripp of ryantrippsguideservice.com. Who spends a tremendous amount of time on the water. Expect more of the same action to take place moving forward in the coming days. As more and more striped bass move up river into the spawning grounds preparing for the annual spring spawn.

Striped bass fishing certainly hasn’t reached its peak by any means. There will be much more to come. For now at least there are some targets to fish for. Nice ones too! With about half of the catch being between six and ten pounds. Very respectable grade of striped bass.

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.

Northern California Striped Bass Fishing Report - March 29, 2024- “Graveyard Shift On The Striper Grounds”…

Many of you striper enthusiast have heard about it, you may know someone who has done it, but I guess until you’ve experienced it yourself you really dont know what you are missing. Fishing for striped bass at night that is. That’s right, the night bite! You may have heard it said before…”niight time is the right time.” And that cliche couldn’t be more accurate. In fact, any fishing you’ve done in the daytime here on the Sacramento River. Simply will not compare to the success you will find after the sun goes down. Striped bass fishing on the Sacramento River is plain, and simply better at night. And here is why.

There are several reasons that striped bass fishing is consistently better at night. Let me first say that, for those of you who know striped bass. Know that they have an insatiable appetite for almost anything that swims, crawls, slithers, slaps, or splashes in the water. These fish are extremely intelligent. Not to mention highly adaptive to new environments. They can feed and sustain in almost any river condition. They will feed in muddy water, clear water, night, day, salt water, freshwater, East Coast to the West Coast, and all rivers and lakes in between. Striped bass are always ready to eat. Let’s cover two of the primary reasons the night fishing for Striped Bass in the Sacramento River is so productive.

Once the striped bass move into the Sacramento river during the spring migration and spawn. Their favorite food source becomes baby Chinook Salmon. This is their food of choice. This is the most prevalent food source around at this time of year, and the stripers exploit it. The juvenile chinook salmon released by Coleman National Fish Hatchery have no idea what lays in wait for them. The timing of these hatchery releases couldn’t be worse for the juvenile chinook. In the same breath the timing couldn’t be better for the striped bass. The spring migration of stripers heading up the Sacramento River, coincides directly with the baby salmon which are out migrating or heading down river to the Pacific Ocean. It’s like a nature made head on collision. The naturally given instinct that mother nature gives the juvenile chinook salmon is key to the night bite. Their instinct is to migrate under the cover of darkness to aid in their safety from predation. So as the sun sets the juvenile salmon come out of their daytime hiding spots amongst the rocks, bushes, trees, gravel bars, and other structure they hide in during daylight hours. If taking notice around sunset or early evening on the edges of the river. You will see juvenile salmon start hopping around. This is a sign that they are ready to migrate with the darkness when it arrives. Just before complete darkness, the juvenile salmon swim out to the rivers primary current lines (called the “bubble line”), and uses its strong currents to help aid them in a long travel to the Pacific Ocean. The juvenile Salmon will stay out in the middle of the river in the main current and travel south with the river all night long. Before returning to the banks of the river, and all her hiding spots, come first daylight. The stripers key in on this migration pattern immediately. Quickly adapting to their food source, the stripers turn nocturnal. Laying down themselves all day. Then gathering in large schools and feeding at night. It’s during this night time migration when the striped bass feed heaviest on the juvie salmonoids. The striped bass know when they are around baby salmon, the entire river vibrates with their presence. At this point they will congregate together and find a near by chokepoint in the rivers main current. Typically where the river narrows dramatically creating a funnel. Here they will sit, gathered up, being fed by the continuous migration of baby salmon throughout the night. Scattering before daylight returning to their own hiding spots for the daylight hours. Please know when striper are gathered up and actively feeding. They are 100 times easier to catch them where they are off the bite (daytime). Not to say a striped bass won’t seize the opportunity to eat something during the daylight hours, because they do! However where you may catch one in the daytime, you may catch dozens at night.

The potential for catching a monster striped bass is more likely at night during the spring run. The seldomly used technique of “trolling” is by far the most likely way to get your hands on a giant female striper. Speed trolling (3 - 5mph) is almost a forgotten art in the Sacramento River these days. With all the boat traffic in a small area, trolling is mostly ineffective during the daylight hours. Due to the boat traffic putting the stripers down. Nighttime is a completely different story. The reaction bite caused from speed trolling is revitalized when the darkness falls. Usually this is best done in the stretch of river south of Colusa, ca extending to Knights Landing, Ca. It is almost always is best trolling on the rip rap river banks that create a levee on both sides of the river. The best tip I ever received for trolling up big stripers. Was given to me by a true Sacramento River striper legend by the name of Kenny Ball! He told me this…”Mike if you want to catch the big stripers you have to fish for them”. Meaning find these colossal female stripers on your fish finder at night and troll over, and over, and over her until she reacts you your plug and smashed it. This advise worked like magic and it put my first forty on the deck. I’ve caught them on the first pass running through them and I’ve had it take as long as the second consecutive night trying to target a particular big fish that I had been graphing.

The second reason the nighttime dominates, the daytime for striped bass fishing is this. The daytime boat traffic caused by the ever growing number of anglers who run up and down the Sacramento River, from sunrise to sunset, every day of the season. Tends to put the stripers down. Sending them in to hiding. Or as the fishing guides call it, “pouting”. When explaining to my clients the relationship between striped bass and boat traffic. My explanation is this. Imagine you are standing on the street and a 747 jetliner comes roaring twenty foot over you. Would would you just stand there as if nothing was happening? No, you would run as fast and far as you could. So as you can imagine the first big jet sleds that come rumbling down the river at daylight, the stripers typically run for cover. The nonstop boat traffic and fishing pressure that lasts the duration of the spring striper run. Quickly puts the large congregations of striped bass off the daytime bite. Whereas during the night the boat traffic dissipates dramatically, and the river becomes quiet. Even without baby salmon around the striped bass will gather up and lay in the shallow waters of the submerged gravel bars and sand bars that line the Sacramento River. It is here that you can anchor up, or hit spot lock on your trolling motor. Now you can cast swim baits and black rubber worms at the shoreline. In a area the stripers have moved into. A seriously productive night time technique for putting big numbers of striped bass on your boat. The stripers living in the “wild” (not Army Core Engineered rip, rap) sections of the upper Sacramento River typically will be laying in 3 to 6 feet of water. Gathered up far off the main current. Here they will rest and take the opportunity to feed when it exist. Striped Bass have the unique ability to hunt down the beat of a paddle tail from a swimbait, or the vibration caused by the long, slender tail of a black plastic worm. These stripers are able to key in on even the slightest vibration or movement under the waters surface. Even on the darkest night, stripers will find a black plastic worm and choke it down as if it were broad daylight. This is why we say nighttime is the right time.

• If you have ever entertained the idea of heading out at night and giving this night fishing thing a try, but still may be on the fence about it. I encourage you to give it a try. Don’t wait, just do it! Being out at night in the dark fishing and driving a boat is outside of most people’s comfort zone. Keep in mind this is the same exact river as during the daytime. Know your trouble areas and pay close attention to detail during the daytime. Then going out at night is more comfortable. Just use caution as you typically do, and fish the way you normally would. Just do it at night. As a aid to navigation adding a few thousand lumens to the boat will let you see from bank to bank making night like day in front of you. Another way to make yourself confident and comfortable fishing in the dark, is to hire a professional fishing guide. This would probably a smart decision for a few obvious reasons, and it will prove to be money well spent. There are only a small handful of local fishing guides and fishing charter services that offer these trips. We here at SalmonSacRiver do offer fully guided night time striper fishing trips from April 1, 2024 lasting through May 15, 2024. Also weather dependent. Big rain, or big wind and these night trips quickly become not so enjoyable. If you would like to book a reservation for one of these night trips feel free to contact us at 530-722-8876. Or through the email submission form process on this website SalmonSacRiver.com. A short list of separate individual fishing guide and fishing charter services would include: Ryan Tripp’s Guide Service, North State Salmon with Robert Petty, and RH Guide Service’s Raith Herryford. Don’t let this season pass you by without checking out the night bite. Tight Lines!

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.

NorCal Striped Bass Fishing Report… 3/16/24

California’s spring striped bass run has begun! All the signs of a prosperous and productive, striper season are starting to show themselves. It would be hard to determine the amount of Striped Bass that are already showing up daily under the stained and elevated water conditions on the lower Sacramento River. However, on the Feather River side of the Sacramento Valley Striped Bass, have been arriving for the past week. Anglers targeting striped bass on the lower Feather River in Northern California have started picking up limits of keeper sized stripers . Fishing guides like Raith Herryford of Rh Guide Service, have been producing daily bag limit for his clients this past week. Private anglers in the lower Feather River near Beer Can Beach and the East Nicholas, Ca hwy 99 bridge, have also reported, catching their limits of striped bass as these migrating fish pour into the Feather River system. Although there have been very few, if any striped bass anglers targeting these line sides on the Sacramento River, doesn’t mean they don’t exist. If stripers are showing up on the Feather River. They’re also showing up on the Sacramento River. All it’s going to take is for someone to go out and find where they are hiding. It’s striper season folks, and it’s just getting underway.

Very limited angling opportunities existed south of Chico California this past week, on Sacramento River. Primarily due to the large volume of water coming down the Sacramento River from Lake Shasta, and all of its tributaries. Causing the river to run high and muddy for quite so time. Keeping would be anglers from venturing out and targeting the stripers. With the exception of a few private anglers targeting the Trophy Striped Bass fishery in the upper Sacramento River while in between storms. Siezing brief opportunities in the rivers water clarity before the next storm would arrive, discoloring river and send anglers back to the couch. Private striped bass angler Bret Wooley took a shot at a opportunity last week to target the colossal striped bass of the winter trophy striped bass fishery. Bret managed to bring in one trophy bass weighing around 30 pounds. The following day the river was blown back out. As we approach the unofficial start to the striper season on April 1, 2024 focus will switch down river, centering around the Colusa, California region of the Sacramento River. This is where the spring striped bass historically congregate, and much of the angling will take place.

• Kittles Outdoors Sports in Colusa California will be the center of attention for all striper anglers come April 1st. Make sure to stop in this sporting goods store and support local business. Get all your bait and tackle supplies at Kittles. They are fully stocked with a multitude of swim bait, including the new G rat, thin swim. Which showed great success last season. As well as live minnows, pile worms, nightcrawlers, anchovies, sardines, and all the popular artificial striped bass baits you may want before heading out on the river. Which coincidentally happens to run right through the town of Colusa, Ca, and a half of a block behind Kittle’s Outdoor and Sport. It’s literally a one stop tackle shop and only a rocks throw from the striper grounds. This sporting good store opens at 5:00am and is staffed with expiring local youth who are ready to serve you. The coffee pot is always on and the lies and story telling is often taking place by patrons lounging around it. The walls are filled with trophy fish and game taken locally and from around the world. All things considered, this is just the epitome of a sporting good store. With great vibes, and a positive atmosphere.

If you want to get a early start to the 2024 spring striped bass run, and you don’t want to drive to the California Delta to do it. With its maze of water diversion through the designed sloughs, ditches, and bypasses. Which if you are unfamiliar with can be daunting and intimidating to navigate. If you are looking for a early season river fishing guide, I would recommend contacting RH Guide Service out of Yuba City, Ca. Owned and operated by striper legend Raith Herryford. The only active striped bass fishing guide currently operating north of the California Delta. In the weeks to come the vast majority of NorCal fishing guides will arrive and eventually be on site by the unofficial April 1, 2024 start of the spring striped bass run here in Northern California. Along with countless recreational angler from around the globe. The anticipation of this annual fishing event, for those who have looked forward to it since last year came to a close. In the matter of a short two weeks the anticipation will be well worth the wait. Hope to see you all out there. Tight Lines and Striped Sides…..

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.

Sacramento River Winter Striped Bass Fishing Report - 1/15/24

The Sacramento River winter striped bass fishing has improved a great deal over the past two weeks. This after getting off to a rough start during the end of November 2023. In a fishery known to produce giant trophy sized striped bass, success was minimal through December for the most part. There were plenty of keeper size stripers to go around early in the winter striped bass season. What lacked were the 20-40 pound class stripers that are typically targeted during the winter fishing. Where were they? I honestly haven’t a clue. I do know the success was limited for both fishing charters and for recreational striper anglers alike. Fishing for the oversized linesides has definitely been easier in years past. Some possible hypothesis for the lack of success could range from…being “splash shy” from too much fishing pressure. Too many of the “bigs” being caught and kept over the past decade, or dying after a delayed release. The consequences of lengthy photo opportunities. It could be as simple as the hot, poor, unsuitable river conditions the fish faced during the summer months, and early fall on the Sacramento River. Whatever the case may be, prior to the New Year fishing for the “bigs” was flat out tough.

With the New Year came a new fishery. Following several hatchery releases of Fall Run Chinook Salmon juveniles. Along with hatchery steelhead juveniles, caused the bite to pick up tremendously. The beginning of this month has been solid, with plenty of stripers to go around. However river conditions have kept angler targeting the colossal stripers off the water for a couple days following each storm. The Sacramento River has turned muddy several times since Christmas. Causing for two or three day breaks in the fishing before the river falls back in shape. With the passing of every storm fishing has improved.

At current time anglers who are braving the frozen morning and occasional rain storms are finding respectable success. Not everyday are trophy striped bass finding their way to the net’s of those targeting them, but the opportunity certainly exist on every cast. Fishing guides Mike Rasmussen and Robert Petty have had some quality stripers make it to the boat since the start of the new year. Having to fish around private angler with the same objective has made the fishing more difficult on any given day. With weekends of course having more boat traffic. Keeping the intelligent stripers from really getting going on the hatchery released food source. Nevertheless the pair of trophy striped guides have landed cumulatively two trophy bass over thirty pounds, two over twenty pounds and a dozen stripers ranging from 14-17 pounds. Keeping customers happy and willing to take a shot at their PB (personal best) striper.

With a little over two months left in the winter striped bass fishery on the Sacramento River. There is still plenty of opportunity to tangle with a trophy striped bass. The closer we get to the spring spawn the big female striped bass will be reaching peak weight. Right now is chow time for the “bigs” as they gorge themselves on the tax bought, hatchery raised juvenile salmon and steelhead. Despite the efforts of Coleman National Fish Hatchery to time their releases of chinook salmon, and steelhead juveniles in conjunction with elevated and muddy river conditions. The stripers have still keyed in on the plentiful food source. These release practices are beneficial to the safe outward migration of these juveniles. However a certain percentage of these young hatchery raised fish will stay in the Sacramento River for some time. Trickling southbound at their own pace. Keeping the striped bass fishery alive for those who care to target it. Ensuring steady action for the remaining two months of the trophy season. Tight lines!

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River

Sacramento River Salmon Disaster Explained 12/20/2023 SalmonSacRiver Strongly Apposes The “Bay-Delta Plan”! -Some things you probably didn’t know…

This fishing blog takes direct aim at the responsible parties for the disastrous depletion of Sacramento River Fall Run Chinook Salmon stocks. With 2023 being quite possibly the lowest return of Sacramento River Fall Run Chinook Salmon in history (under 10,000 salmon). When just twenty years ago the Sacramento River saw nearly a half a million salmon return to spawn. What happen? Take a few extra minutes out of your day, or save this blog for when you have time to read it. I’ll explain some things you probably didn’t know about the recent rapid decline of Sacramento River salmon. From the trenches so to speak. As witnesses and documented by a couple local NorCal fishing guides. First hand, in real time, as it unfolded. I won’t be shy about placing blame, or pointing out where the fault lies. So read on and decide for yourself if you feel like the “Bay-Delta Plan” that has previously been in place, using “Voluntary Agreements” is even worth the time and consideration of reimplementing. The true colors of the “voluntary agreement” arrangements for water contractors is why we are in the situation we are currently in. A state of emergency. You can decide if voluntary agreements sound like a intelligent thing to repeat. If we are to move forward in salmon sustainability and the rehabilitation of salmon stocks in the Sacramento River. While folks who don’t rely on water deliveries desperately try to fix the current salmon crisis. Those that do rely on water deliveries are not so willing to switch water management practices that clearly don’t work. We are left in turmoil and confusion as social media propaganda and distraction tries to deflect the truth on the matter. Let’s start with Coleman National Fish Hatchery for example, and their part in truth deflection. Using the local news networks along with Facebook, and Instagram posts. They spread misleading propaganda for the public to gobble up. Read along and find out what you didn’t know about the depletion of California’s King Salmon.

Coleman Fish Hatchery deserves a Academy Award for their performance in the game of California’s privileged water rights. So I say two thumbs down for Coleman National Fish Hatchery. Thanks for not keeping it real, leading the public on with your bogus theatrics. Broadcasting your doom and gloom propaganda around the county, state, country, and probably a small portion of the world. Contaminating countless minds who believe the tails you tell of these false truths and make believe stories. Turning a blind eye to the real problems at hand. Hatchery management should be ashamed of their deceitful excuses surrounding the absence of our states coveted Fall Chinook Salmon. Their press releases spread misleading “feel good” information as they make there way through the World Wide Web and it’s social media platforms. These social media post push a delusional positive vibe. Considering the hatchery hailed the worst return of Sacramento River fall chinook salmon in recorded history this past season. Something like 8,000 fall king salmon returned to the hatchery if I’m not mistaken. Certainly something to be ashamed of. Honestly if you or I had failed this miserably in our field of work, we would have been forced to shut our doors, or be terminated. Likely ending our careers. Not being able to perform your job detail is typically a recipe for termination. Yet the Coleman fish hatchery staff carries on with little to zero accountability from the department heads of USFW. What gives? This is not a personal vendetta, or an attack on the hatchery without merit. This is about accountability. Or lack there of. We’ve all herd the definition of “insanity” right? Doing the same thing over and over expecting different results defines INSANITY. Coleman Fish Hatchery has repeatedly failed to reach even the lowest mitigation thresholds for the fall chinook escapement (returning adult salmon) on the Sacramento River. This isn’t the first time either, it has happened more often then not over the past decade. Sooooo…keep repeating the same old failing process? Just letting it happen again and again? We as Californians could see all of our states iconic salmon runs become EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) listed as “endangered” species in the next decade. Possibly even less if salmon run counts stay at, or fall from the record low levels they are currently residing at.

All the while Coleman Hatchery tries to keep their social media profile followers, and page visitors convinced significant fishery conservation, and accomplishments have been taking place. Or are currently underway. Destine for success as always. The federal hatcheries social media posts during fall spawning time exhibit a big, red, digital tally. Displaying the up to date, total harvested fall run chinook salmon  eggs. The digitalized numerical display appears to the public as if big things are being done. Egg counts are shown in the millions. Leading people to believe that such big numbers must correlate to big salmon returns. Sadly this is no where near the case. Only a single percent or less of these harvested Chinook salmon eggs make it back to the hatchery as adults to spawn. In reality the triple digital display should have a much larger numerical value if run counts were at historic levels. This hatchery “score board” if you will, reads in big numbers. Yet the fall chinook run counts are as low as have ever been recorded.  So let’s just call a salmon a salmon and say for the record. “Colman National Fish Hatchery, you flat out failed to deliver the mitigation goal required by law, yet again this year. You failed!” What are we blaming it on this year? Was it drought? Let me answer this for you in your absence. No, it wasn’t drought. Chinook salmon have managed to show up to the spawning grounds and reproduce in countless droughts. Long before Euro Whites came West in search of gold. The real cause of this salmon disaster was predetermined. Illegal water management practices that literally cooked the incoming Sacramento River fall run to death in 2022. As well as causing a massive stray of the Sacramento River fall run chinook salmon in 2023 (this year). Where did they go? The majority of arriving salmon simply headed up the Feather River just to stay alive. Finding thermal refugia on the Feather River instead of cooking to death in 75 degree river water coming from the Sacramento River. So again Coleman National Fish Hatchery, how dare you lead the general public to believe  that the low salmon returns to your hatchery this year are due to low salmon run counts coming from the Pacific Ocean. This simply isn’t true and you know it. Churching up the ugly truth about the absence of salmon returning to your hatchery this year was no fault of your own. I know this to be true. However leading the public to believe this is a “natural cause”is misleading at best. Not to mention it fixes nothing moving forward and allows for the real culprits to continue the killing off of the Sacramento River fall chinook salmon. The fact that there may or may not have been enough salmon in the ocean abundance to allow for a successful spawn had nothing to do with how many king salmon showed up to your hatchery. Again the hatchery knows this. Portraying to the public a “doom and gloom” scenario and outlook for this years hatchery production. Instead of “drought” as the excuse. “At the hands of water mismanagement” would be much more accurate, and truthful. Misleading the public just sets the table for a future closure of the 2024 salmon season. Also allowing this continued water mismanagement to go unnoticed yet again. Aiding in the further depletion of the Sacramento River fall chinook salmon stocks. Giving the green light to your friends at the USBR another year to kill off yet another year class of our states salmon. Coleman National Fish Hatchery you are misleading the public. Period! I won’t call it lying to the public because you were not directly asked why the salmon counts were to low to meet your hatcheries minimum requirements for spawning. Hatchery management gave a statement (not a interview) to News Channel 7 two months ago. At which time the cause of this historically low 2023 salmon return was blamed on California’s three year drought crisis. Which is true, partially! Very partially in this particular situation however. In fact this is where things get “juicy” so to speak. Stay with me.

Coleman National Fish Hatchery’s management gave a press release type statement to the Channel 7 news reporter that was nothing but false and missing information. Doing so knowingly, in hopes to continue masking the facts surrounding the historically low salmon returns. Deflecting attention from where cause, and blame should lie. To be fair Coleman Fish Hatchery isn’t completely to blame as far as “cause” is concerned. They just played their roll. Coming up with a excuse for the salmon’s absence and running with it. Playing a pawns roll in a political game of chess over Lake Shasta’s pricy water. The greasy, money hungry, water mongers, and salmon killers of the Sacramento River and California Delta are the very people put in place to make sure California’s water is appropriately managed. For environmental protection needed during water deliveries on dry seasons, and as demand for the ever so thirsty California grows. Unfortunately these state and federal agencies conveniently left the health of the Sacramento River and California Delta in severe demise when state water contractors whipped out the greenbacks.

                                 FACTS…

  Let me explain why I say Coleman Fish Hatchery isn’t to blame for the absence of fall chinook salmon. For those of you who don’t know, here are some fun facts that we already know to exist. Concerning the cause and effects of deadly water management practices on returning chinook salmon, and the abundance of chinook salmon prior to this years migration (June, July, August). Which is widely known by the listed federal and state agencies, and organizations. The Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission (PMFC), California Department Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), NorCal Guides and Sportsman Association (NCGASA), and the Northern Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). All of which concurred on a combined agreement on the 2022 commercial salmon harvest reports provided by the NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service). Information that was gathered off the California coast season before last. Which I can only assume was determined by landing records from commercial fishing vessels who took part in the 2022 ocean commercial salmon season. Estimations by the fisheries research, studies, and data collection personnel estimated the commercial take to be roughly 230,000 Central Valley Fall Chinook Salmon (CVCS). Again this is the number of salmon “taken” by the commercial fleet last open season (the 2022 season). Why is this relevant for the 2023 salmon return to CNFH (Coleman National Fish Hatchery), or lack there of. For the simple fact that with the California and Southern Oregon commercial salmon fleet shut down and tied to the docks this season. Theoretically from the state and federal fish and wildlife departments own research modules. It would only make sense that a surplus of (CVFC) would be coming under the Golden Gate Bridge, and into “inland waters” (Northern California’s freshwater river systems). Carrying out their annual spawn in the same river systems they were born to. Statistically speaking, three years prior. So without the commercial salmon fishing fleet taking a single king salmon out of the Pacific Ocean this 2023 season. A safe assumption in my opinion would be to see at least close to the same 230,000 salmon the commercial fleet did not take out of the ocean this year. A much larger then usual influx of fall chinook salmon should have been in the Central Valley river systems during the 2023 season. With the largest percentage of returning fall chinook salmon to head up the Sacramento River. This is where confusion sets in. So where did all these salmon go? Although some Northern California tributaries showed signs of improvement with fall chinook returns this season, the Sacramento River did not. Confronted with this scenario department skeptics be like “we started with less fall chinook salmon in the ocean in 2023, than we did in 2022”. This may, or may not, be entirely true. How would anyone know without the “take” number from the commercial salmon fishery. This being a primary consideration in the formula used to find the ocean abundance every year. Remember either way the 230,000 salmon that became the commercial take number in 2022, and then became the numerical value used to approximate what would be taken by commercial fishermen again in 2023, if the season had remained open. Then how could it possibly be that Coleman Hatchery had a significant decline in returning fall chinook salmon this year? Going back on the projected “commercial take” estimation of 230,000 salmon would only indicate these agencies have no idea of the actual ocean abundance of CVCS in the Pacific Ocean. Opening a much larger can of worms for the federal fisheries staff. This putting into question the accuracy of the agencies formulas and methods of gathering research. Which honestly at this point are starting to look about as worthless as tits on a boar. In fact NOAA fisheries recently found, and openly admitted they had been underestimating stock assessments in other commercial fisheries in the U.S. by as much as 33%. Potentially a very serious problem when using this information to create catch limits and commercial fishing quotas. That millions of people’s livelihoods count on nationwide.

NOT GOOD!

  It has been made clear by state and federal agencies that If the total escapement (number) of returning fall chinook salmon, that are to spawn in the Sacramento River this season. Does not reach 120,000 adult chinook salmon. The ocean commercial, ocean recreational, and inland sport fishing fleets will again face a salmon season closure in 2024. At this point concerning the events that have continued to take place (which I will be explaining as we move forward in this blog), we as salmon fishermen will almost certainly face another season tied to the docks in 2024. There was not 120,000 fall run king salmon in the Sacrament River this year.  Not even close! More like 5,000-8,000 fall chinook salmon made it back to Coleman Fish Hatchery. The lowest return in recorded history. The amount of salmon that do not use the hatchery, called “natural spawners”. Is so low it’s hardly relevant. Sad too, these salmon have the highest percentage of offspring survival. Two or three times the return rate of their hatchery born relatives. They also fall victim to Sacramento River water mismanagement. Again at the hands of USBR. Not in the form of lethal water temperatures, but rather something called “redd dewatering”. Google that sometime! In my opinion these natural spawning fall chinook are the fastest way to rebound from the crisis we are currently facing. We’ll be covering that topic in a completely separate blog post. My intentions here in this blog are to educate the readers and the public in general through a thorough account of how and why our states Chinook Salmon runs have declined to the point of season closures.

So we are all clear on the fact that the escapement objective of 120,000 fall chinook salmon in the Sacramento River is not just a target number. It is the MINIMUM required escapement for fall chinook salmon mitigation (law). Where is the accountability? Is the hatchery completely to blame? We’ll get there… As pointed out by CNFH hatchery managers who are facing their own catastrophic decline of returning adult fall chinook salmon, yet again this season. Continuing a annual trend of failing to meet mitigations bottom line. Using the naturally occurring phenomenon “severe drought” brought on by “climate change”, as their theoretical hypothesis for their failures. In all actuality the drought has nothing to do with this severe drop in salmon number on the Sacramento River. Water management does! Instead of selling out other state agencies, their agendas, and the results of selfish, money driven, water management practices. Leaving the Sacramento River Fall Chinook Salmon for dead. Coleman Hatchery management is left to answer the tough questions and take all the blame. Bare with me! As confused as this blog may have you right now, rest assure it will enlighten you as to who the real dirtbags are. The folks that are at the very cause of this salmon catastrophe. Hang in there as I further explain where these missing salmon that were destined for Coleman Hatchery have been hiding. Like I said earlier in this blog, there were 100% enough SRFC (Sacramento River Fall Chinook) to meet or possibly even exceed the state and federal departments and agencies minimum escapement threshold for 2023. Which would have most likely allowed for the reopening of the salmon season in 2024. Problem is….. even though these salmon were instinctually driven to return to the Sacramento River. More specifically, back to the exact location in which they were born in the river. This year as well as last, the SRFC never made it up the Sacramento River past the town of Verona, Ca. Roughly one hundred and fifty miles short of Coleman Hatchery in Cottonwood, Ca. Why did they stop migration up the Sacramento River at Verona. Because they “strayed” (traveled up a non natal tributary to complete spawning)! Why did they stray? Migrating up other river systems with more suitable river conditions guarantees their existence. During times of severe prolonged drought for example. In A A y v by ft large part this 2023 season the run strayed up the Feather River. Which meets the Sacramento River in the town of Verona, Ca. Our focal point of interest and discussion moving forward. The Feather River is the valleys second largest tributary, and second largest contributor to the CVFC stocks. Now for the second consecutive season the Feather River has ended up with an unknown amount of Sacramento River bound king salmon. Leaving Coleman National Fish Hatchery for bust in consecutive seasons. Forcing the hatchery management at Coleman to find excuses for the continued unacceptable low returns to its hatchery. Instead of pulling the covers on the damage being caused by the corrupt antics of the SWCB and USBR. Caused by their filthy water contract agreements with senior water right holders.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…. VIEWS, VALUES, EXPERIENCE,  PERSONAL MOTIVATIONS, AND  PUBLIC AWARENESS

          I'd like to quickly note that the state and federal agencies involved in the salmon decline and season closures rely very heavily on the premise that the general public is mostly ignorant to the extensive political influences that hinder the success of any given salmon season here in California. The public’s “ignorance” is rightfully blinding in their perception of what it actually entails to bring home even the very minimum mitigation requirements for SRFC to return to spawn. Understandably making the social media propaganda posts very believable to the public. Especially when it’s the only side painting a picture. Making it even more difficult is the fact that getting these SRFC home to spawn is governed by federal and state environmental laws. Which unfortunately get enforced by neither state or federal interest. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM…To make matters worse there are zero non-governmental organizations invited to the decision making processes which benefit salmon run health and longevity in the future. Including private environmental organizations, native indigenous tribes, fishermen and so on…

My fairly extensive knowledge of this salmon fishery, the waterways it takes place in, and that waters political importance to water contractors. Is gained by the over three hundred and twenty days a year I have spent fishing on the Sacramento River system over the past twenty years. Not as a hobby or personal interest, but as a career. My knowledge gained for the most part isn’t even shared by the majority in my trade. A full time fishing charter owner and operator. Operating in all of Northern California’s waterways. Specifically the Sacramento and Feather Rivers. In my twenty years spent guiding for salmon, steelhead, stripers, and sturgeon. Fishing day and even night when the time calls for it. I have learned a tremendous amount about the “inland” salmon fishery. Made up of our state’s vast waterways. Paying attention to every little detail along the way. Something my personality disorders demands. I am a person who needs to know things. “Knowledge is power” I was once told. Since I heard those words I have stopped at nothing to gain as much knowledge as I could possibly gain in my field of expertise (salmon fishing). Continuing to do so until I part ways with this once world famous salmon fishery. Something I actual love and hold dear to my heart. Long story short, I make it my business to know the every ongoings of the salmon in the Sacramento River. I have heavily researched anything and everything that has to do with salmon and the Sacramento River. Mainly provided by the World Wide Web witch hosts all government studies, policies, laws ect. On any topic imaginable. All as the publics right to information. The key here is investigation and education on the topic at hand. Now one can decipher the facts from the bull s__t!

Spending the majority of my life living on the Sacramento River, accompanied with a twenty year career chasing salmon as hard as any one person can chase them. I can say with certainty I know a little bit about this fishery. It’s mismanagement, its political strangleholds, its struggles, and its resilience and successes when allowed. Both in todays modern times, and historically. After the tens of thousands of hours or more dissecting every aspect of this fishery. I have learned and mentally logged in more data and information than anyone should do in their respected field. I believe they call it “obsessing”, or “obsessive/compulsive”. On an unhealthy level to be completely honest. Loosing touch of real world happenings, but at the same time holding a plethora of knowledge concerning the intricacies of this special west coast salmon fishery. So basically what you are reading is the basis behind my factual accusations. The knowledge bequeathed upon you readers in my attempt to open the public’s eye and awareness, to the real reason the salmon did not arrive back at Coleman Hatchery this year. Or during the 2022 spawn year. This knowledge gained from my first hand accounts of real time happenings. In conjunction with a tremendous amount of research. To be quite frank my personal beliefs and values are the reasoning behind my choice in writing this blog. Not turning a blind eye, walking away, or just sitting by letting laws be broken by agencies that are in place to enforce them. I watch as the lives of talented new fishing guides who’s businesses and dreams were devastated by the effects of something that was one hundred percent avoidable. Crushing all their hard work, dedication, and the sacrifices they have made to become successful in this line of work. My reasons for writing this blog are to at the very least “tell it how it really is”. Possibly even hold accountable the persons, and organizations that need to be held responsible for their illegal and corrupt actions. Creating a sense of public awareness over the struggles of maintaining a healthy salmon population.

WHAT THEY DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW..

  At this point I would now like to introduce the two biggest killers of Chinook Salmon in the state of California… The State Water Control Board (SWCB) and the Bureau Of Reclamation (USBR). These two agencies are responsible for the countless thousands of dead SRFC that floated down the Sacramento River at Verona, Ca. The evidence was overwhelming as SRFCS floated dead one after the other, twenty four hours a day, through the city of Sacramento, Ca. Every single day for weeks during the 2022 salmon season. Killed by lethal water temperatures on the Sacramento River, and the Feather River. I’ll explain more on the relationship Chinook salmon have with water temperatures further along in this blog. Under another subtitle. This subtitle is aimed at the truth about these two agencies who together play water games for money grabs with state water contractors. Having zero consideration to the irreplaceable damages that were and are currently being incurred by the SRFC. During the past two salmon seasons, and again this year in what would have been the 2023 salmon season. The exact amount and extent of damage these Rockefeller priced water deliveries have done to the SRFC. Is left vastly unknown, and certainly not studied or documented. It’s conveniently never really spoken about, and has gone unknown by most people. Who also have little knowledge of the ongoing detrimental effects the timing of these big money water deliveries have on the SRFC. Which we won’t see play out for a additional three years. This after these practices are actually stopped from happening. Which has not happened yet. The amount of money laid on the table, in trade for Lake Shasta’s water supply and its delivery practices. Has done nothing, and will continue to do nothing but kill off our states iconic chinook salmon runs until they are EPA listed as endangered of extinction. Or reach extinction.

Privately funded advocates for salmon reliance, native indigenous tribes, or environmental type advocate groups, may be the only people who are able to flex their powers, stopping these current practices of the two biggest killers of Sacramento River fall run chinook salmon. This fishery, and actually every salmon fishery in general, anywhere worldwide. Are dependent on stable cool water temperatures. Which provide much more sustainable river conditions for salmon survival. Far from what they are receiving under current water management practices of the SWCB, and USBR. And this is where our troubles start to specifically unfold on the Sacramento River. Lethal Sacramento River water temperatures in the Knights Landing, Ca region of the lower Sacramento River. Extending approximately fifteen miles down river to Verona, Ca. Where it meets the Feather River. This stretch of the Sacramento River has proven to be by far the biggest hurdle for returning fall run king salmon migrating through the California Delta and up the Sacramento River system during the summer months. Over the last three years tens of thousands of SRFC have basically been either cooked to death by extremely high and lethal river temperatures. Or forced to turn around and stray up the Feather River to seek “thermal refugia” (livable river water temperatures). Let me be very clear, making note that the Sacramento River water temperatures in the summer months, during peak SRFC migration, linger from 74-79 F in this stretch of river. THESE WATER TEMPERATURES KILL SALMON INSTANTLY. This is well documented on a government websites. Recorded by electric temperature monitoring devises staged throughout the Sacramento River system and California Delta. The severity of the lethal river water temperatures are dependent on how hot the daytime air temperatures get on any given day in the Sacramento Valley. Accompanied by river water flow rates regulated by the two mentioned water managers of Lake Shasta’s water supply. Nevertheless these river water temperatures are killing countless tens of thousands of king salmon annually. Which would otherwise be arriving at CNFH. Or spawning naturally in downtown Redding, Ca. The salmon who don’t get killed while engaging the Sacramento River at Verona, Ca. Hold up instinctively refusing to migrate up the Sacramento River at the lethal river water temperatures. A instinct provided to these chinook salmon from years of evolution in drought prone areas like Northern California. Intuitively halting up river migration in conditions they know will kill them. Instead of migrating the SRFC hunker down and seek thermal refuge (cooler river water) at the bottom of the rivers deepest holes. Here they will either decided to stray, wait, or die waiting for cooler river water temperatures brought on by the arrival of fall. In large part these salmon stray or die waiting. This is where the greatest problem exists for SRFC. By now a clear understanding of the magnitude of our catastrophic decline in California’s salmon should start to be apparent. Make no mistake about it, these water management practices are the primary cause keeping Coleman National Fish Hatchery from achieving the numbers of the fall chinook salmon they need to spawn annually. Causing the failure of the hatchery to meet the 120,000 SRFC target number the hatchery is required by law to produce. In turn meeting the mitigation requirements put in place since the completion of Shasta Dam in the 1940’s. It’s fairly simple everybody. If the salmon either die, or are unwilling to migrate up the Sacramento River to spawn. Due to the lethal river water temperatures brought on by the greedy negligence from those who control the lifeblood of the salmon’s existence. What do you think will happen? Well it’s happening people. They aren’t spawning. Not in numbers that will sustain a fishery of any kind. They simply can’t spawn if they are not there to spawn. Sure a handful are making it to the hatchery. These are the fish that either A) survived the lethal water temps by hiding in cooler water they found at the bottom of the few deep hole’s below Verona, Ca. B) they arrived as part of the later run of SRFC. Showing up in the Verona area in early September when river conditions have cooled enough to satisfy their instinctive migration requirements. Or showed up to the Verona area prior to the arrival of lethal river water temps brought on by Northern California’s extreme summer heat. However the vast majority either stray, migrating up a non natal tributary that has colder water, or die waiting for water temps to drop. Either way they don’t come home.

WATER MANAGEMENT/DELIVERIES AND THE SACRAMENTO RIVER TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT PLAN (SRTMP)

     Fall chinook salmon have been studied by state and federal agencies, multiple departments and organizations, native tribes, private entities, universities, other countries, and just about anyone else who has had interest in their existence. So what I’m telling you is well documented, factual, and for the most part understood and agreed upon by all mentioned interests. Here are some facts about fall chinook salmon and their needs prior to spawning (during their migration period). In this particular case it’s primarily concerning river water temperatures. King (Chinook) Salmon require cold water. Period! This is not a new thing, it is not something that has just been discovered. In fact it’s been well documented since the first salmon hatchery in the world (Baird Fish Hatchery) was operational in the 1860’s. Over one hundred fifty years ago. Acknowledged and well documented by every salmon group, and organization since that time. There are environmental laws in place, in California, on the Sacramento River, its tributaries, and the California Delta, protecting against deadly water temperatures. Such as we have seen over the past three years. These laws require that temperature models along the entire length of the Sacramento River and through the California Delta, are met. Keeping river water from exceeding the temperature threshold for each particular model. For instance the water temperature at a designated location in the California Delta is not to exceed 68 degrees F.  This is the temperature threshold for migrating chinook salmon. As we have learned, any elevated water temperatures above 68 F chinook salmon migration is negatively affected. The farther up the Sacramento River you travel, the colder each threshold gets. This allows for the river temperatures to stay at non-lethal levels as Sacramento River water warms up while flowing down the scorching Sacramento Valley during summer months. With the coolest river temperatures coming from Keswick Dam in Redding, Ca. Just below the Lake Shasta Dam. Shasta Dam was built with the ability to mix warmer water from the top of the lake and water that is much cooler from the bottom of the lake. Allowing the discharge of water into the Sacramento River to be as low as 48 F degrees. This discharge temperature at a certain flow rate (X) will allow the temperature thresholds at each designated temperature recording devises along the Sacramento River, and the California Delta to meet temperature requirements. Ensuring proper river water temperatures necessary for a healthy California Delta and the continued existence of chinook salmon. Problem is there have been no repercussions, penalties, fines, or correctional actions taken for these environmental violations. These laws are continually being exploited by the USBR and the SWCB. In turn killing off our states salmon runs. Fact of the matter is these agencies could care less about our SRFC. Knowingly and continuously making big money water deliveries to extremely wealthy Central and Southern California water contractors, and senior water right holders. Despite the long lasting impact their careless actions are having on our salmon runs. Yet this whole facade I’m laying out for you, the unknowing reader. Is one hundred percent known by the agencies involved in destroying it. Coleman National Fish Hatchery management knows this, the Sate Water Control board knows this, The Bureau Of Reclamation knows this, DWR (Department of Water Resources) knows this, California Department Fish and Wildlife knows this, Us Fish and Wildlife knows this, the Northern California Guides and Sportsmans Association knows this, and the list goes on. As sportsmen and women here in Northern California we get the shaft. There is no accountability for these violations.  Not on a state level, nor on a federal level. Sadly I can promise you this… if you or I had killed as many salmon as these folks. We would loose everything we have as a consequence. Including our freedom. Yet not a word is mentioned for the atrocities incurred at the hands of bureaucrats. Heads are turned as our salmon are knowingly killed or led astray by illegal water management practices. Which are still currently occurring at this time. This has never been addressed, mentioned, or stopped from happening. We as sportsmen who along with indigenous tribes have no legal representation or course of action against these atrocities. There is no unity or organization on our side. Sacramento River water temperatures thirty miles up river of the California Delta are reaching the mid to high seventy degree range for most of the summer months. No were near the legal requirement to assure sustainable cold water flows for the migrating of salmon and a healthy California Delta. Still nothing is being done to stop it from happening year after year. Blame is place elsewhere, distracting the attention away from the real problem of water temperature management, and it’s deadly effects on chinook salmon. Every year before the month of May the Sacramento River Temperature Management Plan (SRTMP) is proposed and then adopted by the State Water Control Board and the USBR. The SRTMP sets the flow rate (cubic feet per second [cfs] ) schedule that will be released into the Sacramento River through the water delivery season of May-September. The SRTMP 2022 was so bold as to openly admit that their annual proposal out and out acknowledges what would happen to Sacramento River water temperatures in 2022, and the negative deadly effects it would have on the federally listed as “endangered” Winter Run Chinook Salmon, The federally listed as “protected” Spring Run Chinook Salmon, and the dwindling Fall Run Chinook Salmon. If left at the proposed flow rate of a measly 4,500cfs (normal year 12,000cfs). So they did it anyway. The SRTMP 2022 was adopted at the cost of a 100% loss of EPA listed Winter Run Chinook Salmon offspring for the 2022 brood year. A 100% loss of EPA protected and listed as “threatened” offspring of the Spring Run Chinook Salmon. Who are not represented by a hatchery program, but were expected to have suffered the same fate in 2022. STOP right there for a minute….Devils Advocate! If you or I spilled a gallon of pesticides in the Sacramento River (not killing a single EPA protected winter or spring run salmon) our fines would start in the tens of thousands of dollars for the environmental damages. Guess what? That’s right! The total fines incurred for killing one hundred percent of a entire year class of a EPA listed species. Not just for one, but for two entire years worth of offspring, for two separate EPA listed chinook species. You guessed it. $0 in fines for bureaucracy. It was the adult Fall Run Chinook Salmon that were killed off by lethal river water temperature while trying to migrate up the Sacramento River in 2022. Killing an estimated five to ten thousand adult fall chinook salmon near Verona, Ca. Dozens floated by metro Sacramento, Ca every day. Dead and dying from the lethal 75-78 F degree water temperatures spewing from the Sacramento River at Verona. Many of the salmon that didn’t perish, strayed (migrating up a non natal river system). Countless SRFCS strayed up the much colder American River (the first cold water tributary the salmon run into on their migration up river) entering the Sacramento River at Discovery Bay in Sacramento, Ca. A more substantial amount strayed up the Feather River at Verona. Where Feather River water temperatures ran 68-74 F degrees at the confluence of the Sacramento River in 2022.  At this same time at Verona, Ca the Sacramento had 75-78 F degree river water temperatures flowing down it (as illustrated by photographs above). Killing countless thousands of adult fall chinook salmon. Only a very small portion of the SRFC that left the Pacific Ocean destine for the upper Sacramento River spawning grounds. Actually arrived at the upper Sacramento River spawning grounds. Completely destroying a whole year class of all three separate species of Sacramento River chinook salmon. Doing so knowingly.

UNDERSTANDING CHINOOK SALMON

To understand chinook salmon, their life cycle, migratory habits, water temperature thresholds, and other key factors needed for their continued existence are very simple. Understanding these things about chinook salmon only takes minimal time doing research. Any information gained by government entities and their billions spent on research is all public information. It’s all been downloaded on the World Wide Web. All the information pertaining to chinook salmon that I’ve covered in this blog is available with a simple Google search. You can fact check the content of this blog for a better understanding of its content. Most of the research compiled over the past few decades has come from the very agencies who are currently doing nothing more than exploiting their own findings. So yes, the decision makers such as the State Water Control Board (SWCB), the Bureau Of Reclamation (USBR), California Department Of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Department of Water Resources (DWR), and of course the management at Coleman National Fish Hatchery (CNFH). Are all fully aware of the degradation they have caused, and who continue to cause to our states chinook salmon runs. More specifically the states largest run of chinook salmon, the SRFRC. This is matter of politics people. Plain and simple. A straight up, greed driven, money grab for California’s water. Please don’t be fooled by the rhetoric and propaganda thrown at you via press releases and social media posts by any of these agencies or departments. Don’t buy into opinions of others who are misinformed on this topic. Or whose agenda’s may be aided by poor judgments concerning the lack of environmental knowledge by the general public. I encourage you to use your own thinking on this matter. Learn for yourself, and fact check what doesn’t make sense. I’ve spent the better part of my life on the Sacramento River system. Accumulating more time on this upper river system than anyone I know to exist. Through the process of elimination, research, and my own personality disorders. I have discovered the truths about our states dwindling salmon runs. What I’m telling you here are FACTS. I gain nothing personally from exposing where accountability lies, and where blame falls. In fact if anything it tarnishes my perception in the eyes of the state’s fish and wildlife officers. Keeping me off sub panels, and comities that want no opposition when voting in more toxic problematic decisions concerning our states salmon runs. Outcasted if you will for clearly choosing sides on this matter. However truth and accountability are far more important to me then agreeing to manipulative deception and environmental depletion. Currently we as California sportsmen and sportswomen face loosing the opportunity to experience fishing for the iconic salmon runs that have been a part of our state for ten thousand years. Part of cultural life for the indigenous tribes of Northern California. Who if ownership is in consideration, should be the rightful owners to the decision making process concerning the chinook salmon of this state. See we were lied to in school taught history. We were taught that we (Euro White) discovered the Americas. Giving us the rights to ownership and decision making over our lands. In all actuality we didn’t discover shit! These lands had long been discovered and inhabited so far back in history that our “discovery” should hardly be considered historically relevant. Not to mention how we treated these lands since our occupation occurred. Regardless of ownership I personally feel like sharing and preserving the environmental opportunities provided to us by Mother Nature should be without question, a primary concern moving forward into the future. At this time we are very, very, close to loosing this fishery for eternity.

I strongly urge anyone who has read through this blog, until reaching this point. To please feel free to state your opinions, oppositions, or any concerns on this matter in the comments below. Weather you agree or disagree with my blogs content. I value all input as the importance of our freedom of speech! Tight Lines….

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.