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Klamath River King Salmon Fishing Report | August 31, 2026

Fishing Report

Klamath River King Salmon Fishing Report

August 31, 2026
Report by Jerry Lampkin
Report date: August 31, 2026
Jerry Lampkin runs TNG Guide Service and reports from the lower Klamath River and estuary.
What is working right now

The Klamath River fall king run is underway. Jerry Lampkin reports the estuary is the best bite right now, with chrome flashers, full-size cut plugs, packed bait, scent, and color changes producing fish.

What is biting on the Klamath River right now?

Fall-run king salmon are the focus. Jerry reported that the fall run started Aug. 15 and that larger Chinook are beginning to show in the lower river and estuary.

Where is the best Klamath River salmon bite?

The estuary has been the best bite. Jerry said the lower river is producing, while the upriver roe bite is still tougher because several familiar holes have changed and Blake's Riffle is running shallow.

What bait and flashers are working?

Jerry called out 11-inch chrome flashers and Brad's full-size cut plugs in Seahawk, Emerald, and Nettle Special colors during first-light and low-light conditions. Skinny Minis and Super Baits are also producing.

What scent program is Jerry using?

He is packing bait with tuna, Pro-Cure Garlic Bloody Tuna, and a little krill oil. That scent-heavy program is part of the rotating bait presentation in the estuary.

What is making the Klamath bite difficult?

Keeping fish pinned is the hard part. Jerry pointed to barbless hooks and aggressive sea lions, saying he lost six fish in two days to sea lions.

Watch the full report

From the report: Jerry Lampkin reported the best action in the estuary, with fall kings arriving, cut plugs producing, and sea lions making landed fish harder to finish.

Klamath River King Salmon Fishing Report | August 31, 2026 FAQ

Are king salmon in the Klamath River in August 2026?

Yes. Jerry Lampkin reported the fall run has started and larger kings are beginning to show.

What is the best Klamath River area right now?

The estuary is the best bite in Jerry's report.

What lures are working for Klamath River kings?

Chrome flashers with full-size cut plugs are the main program Jerry highlighted, with Skinny Minis, Super Baits, and spinners also producing.

Do anglers need to watch Klamath River regulations?

Yes. CDFW announced the Klamath mouth spit fishery closure for 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 2, 2026, and anglers need a North Coast Salmon Report Card.

Tags: Catch America Fishing Report Jerry Lampkin King Salmon Klamath River YouTube Source
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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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