Here we are enjoying the scorching Northern California dog days of summer. Triple digit heat waves peaking out in the mid one hundred and teens. Yay! Right? The summer solstice has now passed and our days are cut a minute or so shorter everyday. It will still be the better part of two months before we start to see relief from summers sweaty grasp on the Northern Sacramento Valley. With very little going on for sportsmen, and women during the early summer months. The 2021 King Salmon Season on both the Feather River, and the Sacramento River is certainly something we look forward to opening. The countdown has already begun for enthusiasts, and die hards, who just can’t wait to hook into a dime bright king salmon. The 2021 Fall Run Chinook (King) Salmon season is set to open here in Northern California on July 16, 2021 at approximately one hour before sunrise. And I personally can’t wait to get after it! I’m sure others who enjoy the sport will agree. The thrill of the first king salmon of the season that starts yanking the (excuse my French) shit out of your fishing rod; is indescribable. Also heavily addicting I might add. For the folks who haven’t yet indulged in this outdoor adventure that takes place on a fresh water river system that you would swear is miles from civilization. In reality it’s 10-15 minutes away from the states largest interstate. It is quiet the experience river fishing for king salmon. Quite frankly, I think you’re missing out. There becomes this instant addiction that takes place the very second a aggressive king salmon strikes your lure out of anger. Whaaaam! He pulls hard on your fishing rod as he bends his body in half, reaching beside him with his toothy mouth, chomping onto your plug like a chew toy. Ripping it all the way accross his body to the other side. “Got Him” or “Fish On” is sounded out by the angler who just felt his rod get yanked like someone was trying to take it from them. And it’s on! A violent strike on your rod and suddenly you are battling a king salmon that has just arrived from the salt water of the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes I feel like they are trying to take that lure and run back the two hundred miles they already swam to arrive here.

A beautiful sunset saturates the rivers surface at the Barge Hole near Cottonwood, Ca. Ending the day of guided fishing with a stunning backdrop.

Where is “here”, anyway? “Here” is the stretch of the Sacramento River we fishing guides call “Woodson”. Short named for Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area. Located six miles east of the town of Corning, Ca. A very popular fishing guide hang out during the first two and a half months of our six month salmon season. Finding here the river water conditions suitable to sustain their existence while they wait to spawn. The king salmon entering the Sacramento River system now will have to wait until mid to late October before their spawning will take place. Water temperatures exceeding 75 degrees in the lower Sacramento River, near places like Colusa, Ca. From Colusa, Ca all the way down river to the confluence with the Feather River in Verona, Ca. Areas of the Sacramento River that water temperatures are much to warm for the salmon to stop migrating and start holding. These kinds of conditions, when we see river water temperatures reach or exceed the mid to upper 70’s it’s becomes slightly alarming to us. These kind of water temperatures can be lethal to the king salmon once “in river”. Without the cold salty Pacific Ocean water running through their gills. Problems like gill rot, and flesh eating warm water bacteria infections can set in. Typically infecting the areas where the skin that have a open wound. Often occurring where a pacific lamprey had attached itself to the migrating salmon. Once unlatched the salmon is left with a perfect circular open wound! The flesh eating bacteria establishes a host area and the sores will become huge. The bacteria eating away at the edges of the hosts wound were the skin remains. The wound also will never heal on the salmons skin, remaining open and growing by the day. As was the case in 2016 when Sacramento River water temperatures ran higher then usual. Consequently 85% of the salmon were infected with this flesh eating bacteria.

A prime example of a early season king salmon caught on the Sacramento River in the first few days of August near Red Bluff, Ca.

The migrating salmon typically blast through the lower Sacramento River until finding the river water temperatures suitable for their two month stay. Ideally in the low 60 degree range. Which the salmon find in the vicinity of Woodson Bridge most years. This being the reason for the heavy boat traffic and overall popularity of this boat launch facility. Concerning salmon fishermen who are fishing the Sacramento River north of the city of Sacramento anyhow. These conditions salmon find appealing only during the early portion of the six month long salmon season here in NorCal. Before fall air temperatures cool a greater portion of the river system down. By this time during the salmon season “Woodson” is generally played out, and the party moves up river closer to the hatchery.

Salmon fishing guide Ryan Tripp (Ryan Tripp’s Guide Service) processes his guests king salmon caught on their daily fishing charter on the Sacramento River.

Fishing on the Sacramento River may bring you some relief to the day time air temperatures that keep most people inside this time of year. Air temperatures generally run about ten degrees cooler while on the river fishing. Making it at least bearable, during the mid day sunshine. The early morning hours are much cooler. We always recommend bringing a hoodie or light jacket along on our daily salmon fishing charters. That start as early as 5:00 am PST. The fresh cool river air can seem a bit chilly to some folks. Followed by ideal temperatures for the majority of your fishing trip. A T-shirt and shorts will likely be all our guest are wearing when we arrive back at the boat launch ending the fishing trip. Before we send you home, pictures will be taken, and your wild Pacific caught king salmon will be processed for you by your captain. Filleted and bagged up, this orange or red seafood will be ready for your enjoyed consumption. However you may decided to prepare it. Heck you wouldn’t be the first person to bring a little soy sauce and wasabi. Ask your captain to cut you off thin slices of this firm, flavorful, and delectable early season Chinook Salmon. A salmon you caught earlier that same day (personally my favorite way to enjoy the omega rich flesh of these wild king salmon). The daily bag (kept fish) limit for King Salmon is two salmon per person, per day, on board the fishing charter. However your overall possession limit is four king salmon total. We urge our customers to consider the possibility of booking two consecutive days with our Sacramento River fishing charter service (SalmonSacRiver.com). This way you are able to take home as much wild Pacific Salmon as you can legally possess. Wild caught Pacific King Salmon retail for somewhere between $30-$60 dollars a pound depending on the year. Far outweighing the cost of the fully guided fishing trip. Minus the experience, photographs, and memories of the days event’s. If you have never experienced the guide for hire business, you should check it out. We have a lot to offer any angler, regardless their skill level. First time anglers to life long anglers. Our salmon fishing guides are top notch and very versatile. Willing to help anyone anytime. As well as willing to acknowledge a skilled anglers talent and ability to quickly learn the tricks of the trade. Anglers who have purchased their own private boat. Wanting to join the fleet of salmon fishing vessels that occupy the Sacramento River daily during the salmon season. Should first consider hiring a professional fishing guide to take them out and show them the “playing field” if you will. This is a good way to prevent something catastrophic from happening on your first trip out. One bad boating experience on the Sacramento River and statistically speaking you will never put that boat back on the river. Northern California rivers systems are full of snags and submerged gravel bars. The river levels change frequently. Sometimes daily during certain times of the year. Learn from a professional before heading out on your own. Especially in a new shiny boat.

A fish box full of limits of wild king salmon caught last week in the Pacific Ocean near San Francisco, Ca. Captain John McGee of Legal Limit Sport Fishing sent this photo with a very promising fishing report coming from the salt.

The 2021 Northern California “in river” salmon season starts this Friday. July 16, 2021. We are expecting a strong run of mature king salmon this season. Reports from the party boats fishing for chinook (king) salmon as they enter the fresh water, are having great success. Social media platforms showed solid action this week for anglers fishing with the salmon fishing charters working out of the Berkeley, Ca marina. As well as fishing charter services and private boaters fishing up North of the Golden Gate Bridge Up the California coast at Bodega Bay, Ca. Some hefty four and five year old salmon were caught, and pictures posted to Facebook and Instagram this week of salmon exceeding 30 and even 40 pounds. These salmon will move south very soon. Staging in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. Waiting to start their “in river” migration. In the several days prior to the next full moon. All very good indications that a solid season lays ahead for the “in river” salmon fishery of Northern California. Tight Lines! Be Safe! Respect others and the great outdoors!

Happy guests from the Tyee Club pose with their daily catch of king salmon. They wrangled these chinook salmon to the boat where captain Ryan Tripp swooped them up with his net. A great haul of king salmon to take home and enjoy eating.