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French Meadows Reservoir Fishing Report | September 29, 2025

Report by Capt. Cal Kellogg
Cal Kellogg is a veteran Northern California trout and striper guide and a Catch America captain. Shop Cal Kellogg's tackle.
What is working right now

The fall trout bite is underway at French Meadows Reservoir in late September 2025. Capt. Cal Kellogg smoked full limits off the bank by 10 a.m., with trout cruising just beyond the drop-off. Fish PowerBait or worms and scent them with Power Powder or Trigger Scent. Work the structure and do not cast too far.

How is the fishing at French Meadows Reservoir?

On fire. Capt. Cal Kellogg went up two days before this late September 2025 report and smoked them from the bank, landing full limits of trout by 10 a.m. The fall trout bite is underway in the Sierras, with fish cruising right out beyond the drop-off.

How do you bank fish French Meadows right now?

Set up and work the structure. Cal drops baits just beyond the drop-off where the trout cruise, and stresses you should not cast out too far. Get comfortable and fish the near structure. He had full limits before mid-morning doing exactly that.

What bait and scent work at French Meadows?

Bring PowerBait and worms, and add scent. Cal recommends Power Powder and Trigger Scent to boost your bank presentation. That simple setup put full limits of French Meadows trout on the bank for him fast.

When is the best time to fish the fall trout bite?

Now. Cal says the fall trout bite is underway across the Sierras and calls it epic. Cooler nights push the fish to feed, so get to your favorite high-mountain lake, set up on the structure beyond the drop-off, and you should have a smile on your face.

Watch the full report

From the report (Capt. Cal Kellogg): I went up to French Meadows Reservoir two days ago and I absolutely smoked them while fishing off the bank. The fall trout bite is underway in the Sierras. They were cruising right out beyond the drop-off. I had full limits of trout by 10 a.m. If you're a bank fisherman, get some PowerBait, get some worms, get some Power Powder, get some trigger scent, work the structure, don't cast out too far.

French Meadows Reservoir September 29, 2025 FAQ

What is biting at French Meadows Reservoir in September 2025?

Rainbow trout on a strong fall bank bite, per Capt. Cal Kellogg.

Where are the trout holding at French Meadows?

Cruising just beyond the drop-off, within reach of bank anglers.

What bait works from the bank at French Meadows?

PowerBait and worms, scented with Power Powder or Trigger Scent.

How far should I cast at French Meadows?

Not too far. Cal says work the near structure rather than casting way out.

How fast can you limit at French Meadows right now?

Cal had full limits of trout by 10 a.m. fishing off the bank.

Is the Sierra fall trout bite on?

Yes. Cal says the fall trout bite is underway and epic across the high country.

Tags: cal-kellogg french-meadows-reservoir trout
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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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