…..the full moon. With the August full moon almost upon us, anglers can expect salmon fishing to improve immensely by the middle of August. Literally, thousands and thousands of Fall Chinook Salmon will make their way up the Feather River, if river conditions continue as they are. Expect salmon fishing to become popular again, when social media platforms light up with happy and proud anglers’, showing off their catch. The excitement and hype of the reopening of salmon season, had everyone heading out with high hopes. Only to find the same common denominator. It’s early in the season and this ‘grind it out’ style fishing, is indicative of this time of year during a normal season. Don’t give up just yet. The fun is sure to come.

A focus on salmon fishing this week:

On the Feather River: between the Hwy 99 bridge, near East Nicholas, Ca; and the famous “Outlet Hole” in Oroville, Ca. There has been some improvement, in the lower part of this section. The improvement is mainly, in the Yuba City area, down river to the closing point, at the Hwy 99 bridge. Private boaters and fishing guides alike, have taken advantage of a steady movement of bright King Salmon making their way up river. The migration was likely triggered by a 1000cfs water drop, coming from up river. The instinct of the King Salmon holding down river, is to kick their migration back into gear, when they sense the water level drop. This sent them swimming up river. The awaiting anglers’ welcomed this migration. Better fishing was had for most of the week, as dime bright Kings pushed their way up river.

Trolling with a ‘Silvertron’, or a #6 Blue Fox, it seems using spinners down stream, has been the ‘go to’ method for most anglers in this stretch of river. Sitting on the spike (anchor) has also proved productive for anglers in this area. Mostly, they are putting double bladed, Silvertron spinners out behind the boat. All in all, an average of one to two opportunities, per day to get at a King Salmon, seemed to be the standard this past week; for the majority of anglers.

The upper section of the Feather River remains relatively tough fishing, despite the amount of King Salmon around this stretch of river. Salmon fishermen continue to struggle, to put even a single salmon in their boats, on most outings. The tough fishing is not from lack of salmon, it is the lack of cooperating salmon. The famous ‘Outlet Hole’ is currently stuffed with stale salmon, that are reluctant to bite, at this stage of the game.
I want to once again, quickly remind everyone, these fishing conditions are very normal, for this time of the season. The conditions will change gradually, and all of the salmon holding at the Outlet Hole, will start to bite. My ‘educated guess’ is, this change will happen, sometime later this month, or during the first part of September. Until the salmon decide to turn on, I would focus down river.