The first week of the 2021 salmon season on the Sacramento River wizzed right by. Boat ramps along the Sacramento River became seemingly vacant by mid week. The result of tough salmon fishing over the opening weekend. Typical of the first week of the season in years past. The opening day onslaught of heavy boat traffic and fishing pressure, scatted the handful of salmon that lay up in their favorite holes, prior to the season opening. After opening day they are wise to the game. King salmon become educated very quickly. Becoming increasingly difficult to catch as the early season progresses. The chinook salmon run and hide at the first sign of human fishing pressure. Sounds of the rumbling jet boats motors becomes a warning for the staging salmon. As the anglers set up in their fishing position the salmon start to become flighty. Finally running away from their overnight chill spots at the first sound and feel of the anglers plugs as they enter the water. Making the salmon extremely hard to pin down and get a plug in front of.

Making matters even more difficult for recreational anglers and salmon fishing guides. The Sacramento River, at current time is running exceptionally clear. I fished Woodson Bridge twice this past week with salmon fishing guide Robert Petty of NorthStateSalmon.com. We struggled to find cooperative salmon once the sun was high in the sky. Likely the result of the 10-12ft visibility of the Sacramento River water. Keeping the salmon in perpetual fear. Again bailing out on the anglers when the plugs hit the water. Targeting the salmon holes with less then twenty feet of water, is out of the question during the mid day sunshine. Historically speaking the Sacramento River runs with far less visibility early in the season, with similar flow rates. Three to four feet of clarity on normal years. Without rain run off the last two winters, Shasta Lake has become much more clear then it typically is this time of year. As you may expect, the river water conditions are not likely to change this season. Making water clarity a issue for the months to come.

Guest fishing with salmon fishing guide Robert Petty found great success this week drifting (boondoggling) cured salmon roe.

Switching techniques and boondoggling cured salmon roe has become the rule for most fishing guides who are operating during the first two weeks of the salmon season. The salmon holes this technique takes place in, will be easy to identify. Simply pick your boat launch of choice and head out. You will know when you get to a boondoggle friendly hole. You will see all the other salmon fishing boats drifting sideways down the run. Motoring back up to the top of the hole and repeating the process. Debatably a “legal snag”, salmon caught while doing this technique will be hooked in the corner of the mouth. Seldom coming free from the hook and line. A nearly 80% hook-up to landing ratio exists. As opposed to the 50% ratio when using plugs. Drifting roe (boondoggling) effectively is easily accomplished for any angler regardless of skill level. Simply hold your rod, DO NOT SET THE HOOK, let the line come tight, and he/she is on. The momentum of the boat drifting does all the hook setting for you. Much lighter tackle is used while drifting roe. Generally a medium eight or nine foot spinning rod and reel, with 12-15lb monofilament should do the trick. Cured salmon roe has been the preferred bait when boondoggling for quite some time now. However the “soft bead” (B&R Tackle Co.) has made its way into the spotlight. Becoming increasingly popular by recreational anglers and fishing charter captains alike. This oversized, artificial, egg pattern, can and will produce salmon if given the chance.

B&R Tackle Co soft beads in the cerise color.

The B&R soft bead made its way into the Sacramento River via, salmon fishing guide Ryan Tripp (ryantrippsguideservice). The young fishing guide had a thought one hot July, 2017 afternoon. While boondoggling on the Sac. The soft bead is well documented as a great success in the coastal steelhead, and inland rainbow trout fisheries here in NorCal. Tripp being no stranger to coastal steelhead fishing, wondered if salmon would be interested in this artificial offering. His intuition quickly found its way onto a spinning outfit. Assembling the first soft bead boondoggling set up in just a moments time. A twelve pound test mono leader (4ft), pink 20mm B&R Tackle Co. soft bead, pegged a couple inches above a #2 red, octopus hook. It was literally a instant success. Word quickly spread, and confidence was gained. Those who chose to give the soft bead a shot, were rewarded quickly. The soft bead was here to stay! Just a few short years later here we are and the majority of boondoggling guide boats have them dangling off their clients rod tips. Jacob Frye of jfryeguideservice found success this week dragging the B&R bouncy ball in the deep holes of the Sacramento River below the Red Bluff Diversion Dam. The young guide having his best day of the week Thursday July 22, 2021. Where Jacob landed two nice kings drifting soft beads, and one big hen chinook that slammed a plug. As well as another pair of kings that came unbuttoned. Salmon fishing guide Dakota Deines was also in on the dragging action early this week. Doing a solid for his clients from the great state of Texas. Putting them on their bucket list king salmon before they headed home.

Fishing guide Dakota Deines with some bling, bling he caught drifting salmon roe on the Sacramento River.

All though salmon fishing may seem tougher then usual at this time. It is actually indicative of this time in the season. Quickly, the early season struggles will turn into fast action. As the large schools of migrating Fall Run Chinook Salmon make their way into the fishing grounds of the Sacramento River. Remember versatility is your friend in the early part of salmon season. Be willing to learn new things and think outside the box. Salmon fishing guides like Robert Petty of NorthStateSalmon.com and Dakota Deines have been switching back and forth between plug fishing and dogging. Having success both ways. The biggest struggle become when, and where to utilize these techniques. That only comes with Time On Water (TOW). The biggest attribute in any anglers arsenal. He who is on the water most, wins! There is no replacement for first hand knowledge. Staying on the water longer then others is a sure way to get the advantage on your side. You will simply know more. You see more, experience more, and will end up catching more because of your more extensive knowledge of real time action.

Salmon fishing will steadily increase in popularity in the months ahead. As will the catching. Do not get discourage. Every day is a new day right now. Simply just go fishing with confidence. When the larger numbers of king salmon increase. So will your catching. Be safe 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.

Salmon fishing guide Johny Eller got into a good group of held up king salmon below the Red Bluff, Ca diversion dam early last week.