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Don Pedro Lake Fishing Report | May 2026

Report by Capt. Monte Smith
Monte Smith runs Gold Country Sport Fishing on Don Pedro Reservoir and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop Monte Smith's tackle.
What is working right now

Kokanee are on the bite at Don Pedro in May, with kings, rainbows, and the odd brown coming on the same trip. Fish are running 40 to 65 feet, with the sweet spot around 50 to 55, under a 70-degree surface. Capt. Monte Smith is scoring on T-Pex lures and Simon Hot Tails, plus Uncle Larry's spinners and micro hoochies. Some days limits, plus bookend 4-pound kings.

What is biting at Don Pedro Reservoir right now?

Kokanee are really on the bite, with king salmon, rainbow trout, and the occasional brown trout all coming on the same trip. Capt. Monte Smith reports some days of kokanee limits, kings helping fill the salmon limit, and plenty of rainbows in the mix through a strong May.

What depth are the Don Pedro fish holding?

Fish are generally caught from 40 to 65 feet, with the sweet spot around 50 to 55 feet. Surface water is up to 70 degrees. Some fish sit on structure. Monte ran downrigger weights right on the bottom in a shallow area and pulled a triple.

What lures work at Don Pedro in May?

Monte runs T-Pex lures and Simon Hot Tails, along with Uncle Larry's spinners and smaller-profile micro hoochies. One Saturday he scored on big Pro-Troll Kokanee Killers. A mix of profiles is producing right now.

How is Monte presenting at Don Pedro?

Slow-troll for kokanee off the downriggers, covering 40 to 65 feet. He runs weights near the bottom over structure in shallower areas, which produced a triple. The bite sometimes does not turn on until noon, so fish through the day.

What is the outlook for Don Pedro Reservoir?

Excellent. The water is still rising with about 10 feet to go before full, the weather is warming, and Monte calls it a great time to be out. Watch for heavy grass and large submerged logs. Boat with caution and give others room at the ramp.

Watch the full report

From the report (Capt. Monte Smith): The kokanee are really on the bite. We're catching kokanee, king salmon, rainbow trout, and the occasional brown trout, all on the same trip. The fish are generally being caught around 40 to 65 feet. The sweet spot is about the 50-55 range. We're still using the Simon Hot Tails, we're using T-Pex lures, Uncle Larry's Spinners. We had a triple the other day. One was a 2-pound kokanee. We had two king salmon, exactly 4 pounds each.

Don Pedro Reservoir May 2026 FAQ

What depth are kokanee holding at Don Pedro in May?

From 40 to 65 feet, with the sweet spot around 50 to 55 feet.

What species are biting at Don Pedro Reservoir?

Kokanee, king salmon, rainbow trout, and the occasional brown trout, often on the same trip.

What lures work for Don Pedro kokanee?

T-Pex lures, Simon Hot Tails, Uncle Larry's spinners, and micro hoochies.

What is the water temperature at Don Pedro in May 2026?

Surface water is up to about 70 degrees.

How big are the Don Pedro kings and kokanee?

Monte landed two king salmon at exactly 4 pounds each and a 2-pound kokanee on one trip, plus a 3-pound rainbow.

Who guides Don Pedro for Catch America?

Capt. Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing.

Tags: don-pedro-lake kokanee monte-smith
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Sacramento River Fishing Report | August 1, 2026

Report by Capt. Jeff Goodwin Jeff Goodwin runs Jeff Goodwin Guide Service on the upper Sacramento River and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Reach him at (530) 510-2925 to book a trip. Shop Jeff Goodwin's tackle. What is working right now The upper Sacramento River king salmon season opened August 1, 2026 at the world-famous Barge Hole near Anderson and Cottonwood. It was a slow opener with under a dozen fish caught, but Capt. Jeff Goodwin says prime fishing is only 2 to 3 weeks out. His go-to is back-bouncing Brad's KillerFish KF15 and KF16 plugs on 10 ounce weights, double-wrapped with fresh sardine and wild prawn. What is biting on the upper Sacramento River right now?King salmon are the target at the Barge Hole near Anderson and Cottonwood. August 1, 2026 was the official opener, and Capt. Jeff Goodwin called it a light, slow opener with fewer than a dozen fish caught. His daughter Gracie boxed the first fish. More salmon are arriving as the run builds. What technique is working for Sacramento River king salmon?Back-bouncing Brad's KillerFish KF15 and KF16 plugs on the bottom. Jeff runs 10 ounces of weight to reach bottom in the deep water, with 12 to 18 inch droppers and about a 48 inch leader. The lead gets the plugs down where the fish hold since they will not dive that deep alone. How do you wrap plugs for Sacramento River salmon?Double-wrap the plug with fresh sardine and a piece of wild-caught prawn. Jeff also wraps tuna and squid. Start with a loose wrap that keeps the hooks free so you do not tie them to the plug body, then add a couple of wraps on top. More bait draws more bites as long as it does not kill the action. How do you tune a Brad's KillerFish plug?Wrapping bait shifts the center of gravity, so a plug that ran straight can start leaning one way. The fix is the eye: if the plug swims to the right, turn the eye to the left. Test it beside the boat until it dives straight and dances side to side. Out of tune plugs will not get bit. What does massaging the plug mean?It means keeping continuous action on the plug so it never sits dead on the bottom. Pull up on the rod to make the plug dart to one side, then drop the tip so it flutters back. Salmon often hit on that flutter, so be ready for a hard, full-on strike that takes line right away. What is the guide's outlook for the Barge Hole?Jeff says the area is about 2 to 3 weeks out from really good fishing. August, September, and October are the prime months, and a late fall run from November through the end of December produces some of the biggest fish of the season. Eggs, boondogging, and hover fishing come later in the run. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Jeff Goodwin): One of the favorite techniques for fishing out here in the Barge Hole is to back-bounce Brad's Killerfish. Today, we're using 15s and 16s as far as the size goes. We're running 12 to 18-inch droppers, and then about a 48-inch leader. We're using 10 ounces of weight today because we've got quite a bit of water, and we let out enough line to get down to the bottom. Sacramento River August 1, 2026 FAQ When did the upper Sacramento River salmon season open in 2026?The Barge Hole area opened August 1, 2026. Jeff notes his openers have always been July 16th and August 1st, though an open river does not mean the fishing is great yet. Where is the Barge Hole?On the upper Sacramento River near Anderson and Cottonwood, California, just below where Battle Creek dumps in. Salmon stack here and hold until the first October rains, then turn up Battle Creek to Coleman National Fish Hatchery. What weight do you use to back-bounce at the Barge Hole?Jeff ran 10 ounces of weight on opening day because there was quite a bit of water, letting out enough line to stay on the bottom. What leader and dropper lengths does Jeff Goodwin use?About 12 to 18 inch droppers and roughly a 48 inch leader, sometimes into the 50s. What baits do you wrap on Brad's KillerFish plugs?Fresh sardine and wild-caught prawn are the go-to, and Jeff also wraps tuna and squid. How do you know a plug is tuned correctly?Pull it up toward the bow of the boat. If it stays alongside the boat and dances side to side while diving straight, it is tuned. If it swims to the right, turn the eye to the left. When is the best salmon fishing on the upper Sacramento River?August, September, and October are prime, and a late fall run from November through the end of December brings some of the biggest fish. The opener itself was slow, about 2 to 3 weeks from really good fishing. Who guides the upper Sacramento River Barge Hole?Capt. Jeff Goodwin of Jeff Goodwin Guide Service. Call or text (530) 510-2925 to book. Shop the Tackle Brad's KillerFish KF15 Brad's KillerFish KF16 Shop Capt. Jeff Goodwin's Tackle Shop River Salmon Gear

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San Luis Reservoir Fishing Report | July 27, 2026

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Northwest Oregon Fishing Report | July 2026

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