If you are like me we are counting down the days until the 2026 salmon season open on the Sacramento River, and its major tributaries. I find it hard not to get excited about the opportunity to again be targeting king salmon locally here in Northern California. After a few years of chasing king salmon where ever we could legally fish for them. I try to refrain from overthinking the possibilities of a season filled with non stop action from start to finish. Having successful fishing trips on a daily basis throughout the season. Starting each predawn first pass with a “fish on”, followed by another, and another….As was the case when I started this fishing guide adventure over two decades ago. My memories of these days aren’t so far removed that thinking the possibilities of seeing one of these types of seasons again this year isn’t out of the question. In fact I’m fairly certain that anglers will see this upcoming season to be as good or better than any in recent memory. What makes me feel this way you may ask yourself? There are several reason I will point out in this fishing report that have lead me to this positive determination.

For the most part I live my life as a positive thinker. I refuse to first think of the negative possibilities or shity outcomes of any situation that may or may not have a negative effect on this upcoming salmon season. The good far outweigh the bad here. However I do not remain ignorant to the existence that concerns of possible hardships to this years returning adult chinook salmon do in fact exist. More on that in a future post. Staying positive and focusing on all the data that leads to a positive outcome for the 2026 salmon season keeps my spirits high. Allowing me to head into this season focused on success, rather than asepticism. There are always going to be “what ifs” in anything in life really. Again I choose to deal with those issues when and if they occur, as apposed to being stressed and worrying about something before it ever show ls up.

I feel like it would be hard to find anyone to tell you with one hundred percent certainty that this upcoming salmon season will be one of tremendous success. Not many people are willing to possibly put their foot in their mouth if they by chance they were wrong. In all fairness with the past decade of chinook salmon management failures in our state, it is hard to look past all the pit falls and disasters California’s king salmon have somehow endured. Let me also mention the Sacramento River has had two of the three worst salmon returns in history in the last five years. Considering these statistics makes a positive season outcome hard to predict, and even harder to stand by for people in the salmon industry. I’ll admit at some point right after the announcement of the salmon fishing closure in all of California following a disgusting 2022 salmon season. Where I witnessed dozens and dozens of dead fall chinook salmon float past me everyday while guiding. Dying a miserable death due to excessive Sacramento River water temperatures. Basically cooking to death, while trapped and unable to migrate. A result of selfish and money driven water management at Lake Shasta by Department of Water Resources. So heck yeah I’ve had my doubts about the future of salmon fishing in Northern California. The sad reality is salmon will always fall last in the line of importance for water demands. Not to worry though, that was 2022 and this 2026, and things have changed for the time being. Since the season closed in 2023 I have closely watched and studied the efforts made by state and federal wildlife agencies to rebuild the Sacramento River’s iconic fall chinook salmon run. Here are some of my observations that ultimately have me heading into this season with high expectations…..

In no particular order of importance....

1)- salmon are very simple in their “needs” to successfully reproduce naturally, and very easy to propagate artificially. So when river conditions are suitable naturally spawning chinook salmon can have a very high success rate. By success rate I’m talking about a two or even three times higher rate of return as adults then the same chinook salmon which are hatched and raised in state and federal hatcheries. With the last historic drought we suffered through ending in 2022, Sacramento River conditions have been ideal for the chinook salmon who returned to spawn naturally over the past three closed salmon seasons. The number of naturally spawning adult fall chinook salmon on the Sacramento River is widely unknown and changes from year to year. What we do know is the fall chinook salmon that did spawn naturally, did so very successfully. Supporting the efforts of fall chinook salmon to successfully spawn is the fasted way to restore a healthy salmon population. Period!

2)- For the first time to my knowledge the state and federal fish hatcheries actually worked together on rebuilding the states depleted fall chinook salmon runs. The state owned Feather River Fish Hatchery, The Mokulume River Fish Hatchery, and the Nimbus Dam Fish Hatchery on the American River, all harvested a surplus of fall chinook salmon eggs from their hatcheries the past couple years. Utilizing the over abundance of eggs and hatched juvenile fall chinook salmon to put back into the Sacramento River. In efforts to give the struggling federally owned Coleman National Fish Hatchery on the Sacramento River a boost in juvenile fall chinook salmon being released back into the Sacramento River. Basically compensating for the federal hatchery falling short in meeting their mitigation requirement for fall chinook salmon in consecutive years. In so many words let’s just say political barriers where brought down and put aside and as the state and feds worked together to release ample amounts juvenile salmon during the season closures. Another very positive affirmation concerning this years salmon run.

3)- Commercial ocean harvest of all chinook salmon off the California coast has been stopped for three years. Although it is currently open to commercial salmon fishing, the commercial salmon fleet has a quota. This is huge! It is by far the largest determining factor in my assumption we are facing an outstanding fall chinook salmon season ahead. Regardless of all other factors leading to the three year salmon fishing closure, commercial fishermen took the largest toll on the “ocean abundance”(the predicted amount of adult salmon in the ocean off the California coast) on any given year. Let me put this in perspective . River anglers (inshore fishermen) take roughly 14,000 adult fall chinook salmon annually during a “normal” season. Commercial fishermen take upwards of 200,000+ fall chinook salmon annually out of the salt. This is nearly half of the ocean abundance of adult fall chinook salmon in the ocean that are prepared to enter fresh water and spawn. Just the closing of the commercial salmon fishing alone puts a tremendous amount more salmon in the ocean. In turn making for a much larger salmon return from the ocean to the rivers. Giving river anglers, fishing guides, and fishing charter services more opportunities to catch king salmon.

4)- History tends to repeat its self. I have been around long enough to have been a fishing guide during the first ever California salmon fishing closure (2008, 2009, 2010). It was very similar to this salmon fishing closure with a few small exceptions. The first salmon fishing closure taught me many things. Too many things to mention here. However what I did learn then that is relevant here and now is this… You have to trust the process. Which for me has often proven extremely difficult. Especially when trying to make sense of how the United Sates Fish and Wildlife and California Department Of Fish And Wildlife calculate accurately the abundance of chinook salmon in the ocean, and adult fall chinook salmon returning to the rivers of Northern California to spawn. The answer? They don’t! Haha. But they get close enough that even if their numbers were off by 100K (which has happened) returning adult salmon. We would still have what would be considered a good run by today’s standards (150,000-200,000). In the event they happen to be right, oh boy are we in for a great season ahead. These powers to be have done this successfully before in the past (2008-2010). When the California fall chinook salmon season reopened in 2011 following three years of closure…It was lights out salmon fishing. I would have to expect the same results this upcoming season. There is no reason it should not be the same outcome as we previously experienced in 2011.

These positive indicators I have mentioned have me leaning heavily toward an epic salmon season ahead. On the Sacramento River and all its fishable tributaries. The projected escapement(salmon returning to spawn) numbers are as high as we have seen in over a decade. Possibly upwards of 300,000 fall chinook salmon are forecasted to charge up the Sacramento River system this year. If we get anywhere near that number folks, we are all in for one heck of a fall chinook salmon season. A season full with action from start to finish. Long Live The King……

If you are interested in booking a private salmon fishing charter on the Sacramento River, or any of its tributaries for this upcoming season (July 16-Dec 31). Look no further! We are currently pre booking reservations for this season. It is a good idea to book your reservations in advance of the season to assure your spot. By the time the season starts in mid July our daily salmon fishing charters are typically booked up for the season. We welcome you first timers to come experience the thrill of catching king salmon. Call, text, or reach out on social media. We will be glad to assist you. 530-722-8876