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Feather River Fishing Report | September 2025

Report by Capt. Jeff Goodwin
Jeff Goodwin runs Jeff Goodwin's Guide Service and fishes Feather River king salmon out of Gridley. Capt. Brady guided this drift-boat trip. Shop Jeff Goodwin's tackle.
What is working right now

King salmon are running the Feather River in September 2025 and the guides got their limits. Capt. Brady drifted roe on a number 2 hook with a fish pill to float the bait and number 8 slinkies to tap bottom, following the main channel runways out of Gridley. Side-drifting gave a better presentation than dragging. Lots of jacks are in the system, a good sign for next year.

Are king salmon biting on the Feather River?

Yes. After a two-year lull the run is back and Capt. Brady and Jeff Goodwin got their limits of Feather River kings. They are seeing fish roll in nearly all the holes and hooking quality adults plus a strong wave of jacks. Kings are the main target.

How do you rig for Feather River salmon?

Drift roe. Run a number 2 hook through the egg cluster with a bait loop, add a small fish pill to float the bait up into the strike zone, and use a number 8 slinky to feel bottom. You want a light tap every 25 to 40 feet.

Where do you find the fish?

Follow the main channel runways. Capt. Brady compares them to Interstate 5, the migration lanes salmon use every year. Stay on those main runways and the fish bite as they move through. Side roads produce a few, but the main lanes hold the moving pods.

Should I drag or side-drift for Feather River kings?

Both work, but when a hole gets pressured, move up to quieter water and switch to a side-drift. Capt. Brady found a side-drift gave a better presentation than dragging and drew the bite. Reading the water and changing tactics on pressured fish put fish in the boat.

What else catches Feather River salmon?

Beyond drifted roe, guides run flat fish, dead-stick bait on the bottom and work it back and forth, back-bounce roe, and down toward Yuba City anglers throw spinners. There are numerous ways to hook these fish once you locate a runway holding moving salmon.

What is the outlook for Feather River salmon?

Encouraging. The run rebounded after two years, and lots of jacks in the 2025 system point to a stronger three-year-old class and a longer season in 2026. Jeff Goodwin plans more boats and trips next year. Exact water temperature was not specified in this report.

Watch the full report

From the report (Capt. Jeff Goodwin): We're drifting roe today, got a number two hook on here. We got a little fish pill that helps float the bait up off the bottom. We're running number eight slinkies this morning, so you just want to feel that bottom hit. That little tap, and that's what I'm looking for every 25, 30, 40 feet.

Feather River September 2025 FAQ

What bait for Feather River king salmon?

Drifted roe on a number 2 hook with a bait loop, floated with a small fish pill and fished behind a number 8 slinky.

Where are the salmon holding?

In the main channel runways, the migration lanes fish use every year. Stay on those lanes and the fish bite as they move through.

Should I drag or side-drift?

Both produce. On pressured fish, move to quieter water and switch to a side-drift for a better presentation.

Are there a lot of jacks in the Feather River?

Yes, the last week and a half was a jack attack. Lots of jacks in 2025 is a good sign for 2026 returns.

What is the 2026 outlook?

Hopeful. Jeff Goodwin expects a stronger three-year-old class, a longer season, and more boats and trips next year.

Who guided this trip?

Capt. Brady guided the drift boat, with Jeff Goodwin of Jeff Goodwin's Guide Service hosting.

What other techniques work?

Flat fish, dead-sticking bait on the bottom, back-bouncing roe, and spinners down toward Yuba City.

Tags: feather-river jeff-goodwin king-salmon
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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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