Sacramento River water levels have dropped over the past two weeks. Switching plug sizes will benefit anglers choosing to target salmon using sardine wrapped lures. Like this custom Kenny Turner “green, green”. A Yakima Bait Company T-60. The largest lure made on the market. Excellent for slow, lazy river currents.

Fishing guide Dakota Townley prepares to net a salmon for his clients. Dakota was dragging bait when he hooked up this king. Fishing out of Woodson Bridge prior to moving his operation up to the Barge Hole in Cottonwood, Ca last week.

The Sacramento River Fall Run Chinook Salmon have shown up in great numbers. Exceeding expectations by NOAA (Northern Oceanic Atmospheric Administration) and the PMFC (Pacific Marine Fishery Council). As well as CDFW (California Department Fish & Wildlife). Why? How? Great questions! At this point in time it is uncertain why “run counts”(the total annual amount of returning Chinook Salmon in river) are exceeding expectations. If I had to guess I would lean towards the fact that; three years ago the Sacramento River had a large, and successful “natural spawn” (chinook salmon spawning in the Sacramento River itself, as apposed to hatchery spawned chinook salmon in Battle Creek) of Fall Run Chinook Salmon. For the first time in over a decade. A salmon spawning improvement milestone. For those who truly recognize the importance of naturally spawning chinook salmon. As I believe strongly we are seeing the results of this 2021 salmon season. Exactly three years after the first “natural spawn” was induced by the Bureau of Reclamation. For the purpose of changing Fall Run Chinook Salmon spawning habits. Creating something called “pulse flows”. Bringing the discharged water from Keswick Dam, up and down frequently. For a period of roughly a month). This practice was used to keep the Fall Run Chinook Salmon from spawning at artificially high flows. Which are in place, and mandated to remain as so until the federally endangered Winter Run Chinook Salmon have finished spawning. These artificially high flows for the winter run spawning overlap the time frame that the Fall Run Chinook Salmon start spawning. Unknowingly the Fall Run Chinooks set up their spawning redds (big gravel beds made by salmon when spawning) at these artificially high flows. Now, when the last Winter Run Chinook Salmon is done spawning. The Sacramento River flows are cut back dramatically. Leaving the unknowing Fall Run Chinook Salmon high and dry as there redds become dry exposed gravel bars. Causing a devastating 100% mortality rate on a entire year class of naturally spawning salmon. The idea behind the pulse flow strategy is to prevent the Fall Run Chinooks from spawning when flows are artificially high. Thus allowing for a successful spawn once flows have dropped and are steady. This topic gets deep, and is more intricate then I care to try and explain in this fishing report. Bottom line is this. The pulse flows in 2018 and again in 2019 allowed for the successful spawn of a estimated 20,000 pairs of adult Fall Run Chinook Salmon. From 20,000 pairs of spawning chinook salmon, it is estimated that a slightly greater then 1% return could be expected to return as adults to the Sacramento River. In three years time (2021). This year! Theoretically putting somewhere around 200,000 more salmon into the Sacramento River system. Roughly double what the Sacramento River’s only hatchery produces annually. Again this is just a personal hypothesis. We will have to wait and see if this may be the reason for a excess of salmon returning this season. Other theory’s exist as well. Another educated guess by professionals working in the fishery, think it may be possible that some of the Feather River run of fall chinook salmon may have strayed up the Sacramento River. Due to the poor river water conditions the Feather River is facing this season. Either way salmon enthusiasts sac side are just tickled there is an abundance of salmon to fish for this season. Considering the struggling runs of the Fall Run Chinook Salmon of the last decade and a half.

Salmon fishing on the Sac stayed solid this past week. A fish to a fish and a half per rod average has remained the status quo for salmon fishing guides working salmon fishing charters on the upper Sacramento River. “Some days limits are achievable”. Reports fishing guide Ryan Tripp. All depending on…other anglers fishing around you, jet boat traffic, and weather or not the salmon want to stay on long enough to get them to the boat. Ryan explains, in a laughing manner. Using sardine wrapped Kwikfish is this young salmon fishing guides game. And his game is seriously strong! Tripp’s clients reaping the rewards of a solid plug game. Putting several 30+ pound kings in the boat weekly. With one stud five year old king tipping the scale at just over 40 pounds. A large buck king salmon would much rather destroy the threatening cadence of a plug, then to run away from it. Reluctant to move up river, Tripp is still finding solid action fishing out of Woodson Bridge in Corning, Ca. While about half the fleet moved back up North to the famous Barge Hole region of the Sacramento River. Where they will spend the remainder of the 2021 salmon season. Dragging eggs on staging king salmon. Salmon which are held up waiting for the instinctual call to spawn. Typically taking place in late October through November. Large groups of these gathered up king salmon make easy targets for boondoggling salmon anglers. Roosters Landing in Anderson, Ca is the most popular boat launch for this particular stretch of Sacramento River. Creating a crowded and hectic boat launching experience. There is another option for anglers fishing from a boat. Launching your jet boat off the gravel bar down river from the barge hole, is far les chaotic. The boat ride to the barge hole takes under a minute. Rather then the 15 mins boat ride coming from Roosters Landing. Note that random smash and grabs happen every season at both of these boat launch areas. Diesel trucks have also recently been targeted for catalytic converters. Which are being cut off with a cordless saw in a matter of seconds. Choose parking that is very visible to passerby’s and the public eye. If launching on the gravel bar park along with other anglers who are bank fishing. It will be safe there.

Bank anglers also have reason to be spending their spare time on the Sacramento River. Fishing for chinook salmon. Plenty of king (chinook) salmon have now moved beyond the canyon region of the Sacramento River. Making themselves at home on every flat, riffle, run, and salmon hole in the several mile stretch of Sacramento River surrounding the barge hole. Both up and down river from the famous salmon fishing hole. Probably the most successful bank angling spot on the Sacramento River to target kings, would have to be the “gravel bar”. Public property with a ton of bank space for as many “Bankies” that decide to show up. This spot is a 8-10ft deep long flat that holds hundreds of staging king salmon. Located directly below the barge hole. Accessed off Jelly’s Ferry Road in Tehama County. Anglers will follow a somewhat schetchy looking dirt road. After turning off Jelly’s Ferry Road (see link for access to the marked location). The dirt road will lead anglers to the long gravel bar below the barge hole. There are always anglers lining the banks here. Finding it should be fairly simple. Flossing (bead and a hook on a six foot leader) is the chosen method of take here. Working exceptionally well for anglers who understand the concept of this questionable but legal style of salmon fishing. For you sturgeon anglers out there trying to get your hands on raw salmon roe. This is your spot. Big ripe females contain the skeins desired by sturgeon fishermen. Who prize the salmon roe as their go to bait when targeting the white sturgeon in the California deltas and bays.

Regardless of skill level, boating capacity, or personal reasons for targeting the Sacramento River king salmon. Now is a opportune time to do so. This is a heathy salmon run. Salmon can be found in every stretch of the Sacramento River from Tisdale, Ca all the way up river to downtown Redding, Ca. Private recreational salmon angler Zack Berg, fishing out of Tisdale, Ca knows how to get down in the lower Sacramento River. Which I can attest to being probably the most difficult region to consistently catch in. Berg and his family are steady putting up pics of clean king salmon. Targeting new fish that continue to push into the Sacramento River system. Salmon fishing guides Ryan Tripp, and Robert Petty continue to put it down for their clients at Woodson Bridge in Corning, Ca. While the upper Sacramento River surrounding the famous Barge Hole in Cottonwood, Ca is owned by the guide for hire legacy of the Kenyon’s. Nephew John Kenyon along with Mike Kenyon are steady putting limits of kings in the fish box for a full boat load of clients, is their norm. Scott Kenyon, the patriarch if you will, is back in business this season. Reaping havoc with the most sought after egg recipes in the business. The Kenyon’s game is eggs! Cured salmon roe! And their game is strong! Caught, harvested, cured, dyed, drained, dried, and wrapped each season by the Kenyon boys. Stockpiling their bait for next seasons egg wars! It’s their time to shine as the barge hole has loaded up with scores of kings. Many more are on their way. The barge hole is shaping up to be nothing short of a slugfest come October!

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.

Limits of a great grade of king salmon caught by guests of Ryan Tripp’s Guide Service on September 19, 2021. Ryan primarily using plugs to fill his fish box full of kings. His clients enjoying the rewards of a healthy Sacramento River salmon run.

Happy guests of fishing guide John Kenyon hold up their days catch after fishing the famous “barge hole”. Expect salmon fishing to remain excellent through the month of October.

John Kenyon working the canyon region of the Sacramento River below the Barge Hole. Finding great success for his guest dragging cured salmon roe in the deep lava holes of the canyon.

Fishing guide Jacob Frye with limits for two guest on September 21, 2021. Hiring a fishing guide increases your fish count at the end of the day.