The 2020 white sturgeon fishing on the Sacramento River started off with some fast action. Sacramento River fishing guides Robert Petty and Mike Rasmussen combined efforts for a afternoon scouting trip on the Sacramento River, near Grimes, Ca. After some local first hand information from friend and sturgeon fishing fanatic Greg Comer. The pair of sturgeon fishing guides headed south from the Colusa, Ca boat ramp. After a twenty minute ride down the Sacramento River with Captain Robert Petty. The two quickly located the large group of sturgeon Comer had tipped them off to. Amanda Gradney who along with close friend Oscar Nerey had joined in on the scouting adventure. Found her first ever white sturgeon tugging on her Phenix rod. In the first hour of their scouting trip. Gradney was battling what turned out to be a seven and a half foot female white sturgeon. Weighing roughly 230 pounds, and matching Gradney in age. Somewhere around forty years of age. Give or take a few years. The oversized white sturgeon was quickly released by Gradney and Rasmussen. Not before a couple bank side photographs of her first ever sturgeon were taken. After gathering up rods and reorganizing tackle. The crew was back on the pick (anchor). The group of sturgeon were witnessed jumping up river by Robbert Petty, and after a hour with no take downs the crew pulled anchor and relocated at the top of the hole near the group of fish. Petty’s Lowance side imaging reflected the shadows of our targets about twenty foot to our immediate left. With a another quick anchor set Gradney again went to work on what turned out to be a oversized male white sturgeon. Just a half inch to big to keep. Measuring in at 60.5 inches to the fork of the tail. Weighing roughy 75 pounds and somewhere in the late teen years in age. Gradney released her second oversized sturgeon of the trip. With remaining daylight dwindling quickly, the crew chose to wrap it up and head in.

The Sacramento River’s lower then usual water flows make navigating this section of the Sacramento River somewhat dangerous for out of town sturgeon anglers. As well as for folks that are not familiar with particular stretch of the Sacramento River. It is suggested to wear your life jacket at all times. Especially if this is your first adventure out on the upper river. Use caution, carry a paddle, an anchor, a sound device, and be sure to use your navigation lights when fishing after dark. A vessel operating, or on anchor, without the use of navigation lights, is nearly impossible to see by other boaters, not to mention illegal! Creating a possibly fatal situation if struck by a unaware boat captain, operating in the darkness. Who can not see a “blacked out” (no anchor or navigation lights on) vessel in enough time to correct their navigation. Sand bars, and submerged tree snags should be a constant concern when fishing this and other Northern California boat launch facilities up the Sacramento River from the confluence of the Feather River. Near Verona, Ca. The entire upper Sacramento River system has its challenges currently. Under these record low water flows, and drought conditions. It is suggested not to assume the river is safe to navigate because you may witness local anglers doing so. Anglers like Greg Comer local to the Colusa, Ca region of the Sacramento River. Who has been navigating the river and catching sturgeon on a regular basis. Appearing as if it is easily or safely done, to anglers visiting from distant locations. Greg spends three hundred days a year on this stretch of water. Even I myself after twenty years of experience on this stretch of the Sacramento River. Take the time to contact a local angler like Comer. Checking for any new “trouble spots” that have suddenly appeared in these currently extremely low river conditions. The Sacramento River in its current condition looks nothing like the Sacramento River looked in the same places last year at this same time. Don’t be blind to obvious changes and follow your intuition. Be sure to pay close attention to detail as you navigate your vessel on the upper river and it will help prevent accidents arising from any changes you may not be aware of. Hiring a fishing guide is also a suggested method of learning how to safely navigate the river for the first time this season. Paying for knowledge and information is something most fishing guides are accustom to. Understanding they will see you again in your own boat on your next outing. Leaving the common courtesy and river etiquette decisions up to you as a private angler. Preferably not locating your boat in the exact spot you were taken by the professionals. Anchoring closely near by is considered ok. However sitting on a guides numbers will likely get you scowled at. Then corked!

Think outside the box, put in your time, and make sure you are surely sturgeon fishing around decent numbers of sturgeon. As opposed to a sturgeon hole that is empty of the “spawn then gone” white sturgeon. Sit back and enjoy the outdoors and all the wildlife and scenery the Sacramento River has to offer in Northern California. The rest will happen. Spending time on the water will always tip you off to something that will increase your odds and cut down on time sturgeon fishing without sturgeon catching. Good luck and tight lines out there! Remember there are no vessel assist operations on the Sacramento River. Don’t leave another boater stranded. And use caution when venturing out on your own for the first time this season.

For those interested in hiring a sturgeon fishing guide for increased odds of success. Or for the aid in learning safe navigation. Along with real time locations of spawning white sturgeon. Robbert Petty of northstatesalmon.com and Mike Rasmussen of salmonsacriver.com can both be contacted through their websites or by cell phone. Rasmussen can be contacted by phone at 530 646-9110 and Robert Petty at 530-917-8901. Both Sacramento River fishing charters will be doing sturgeon fishing trips through the middle of April, 2020. The DIY sturgeon anglers can find everything they need concerning bait, tackle and gear at Kittles Outdoors and Sport. Located only a rocks throw from the Colusa City Boat Launch in Colusa, Ca.

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.