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Northern California Weekly Fishing Report | April 23, 2025

Report by Catch America Pro Staff
This report comes straight from the Catch America pro staff out on the water.
What is working right now

Sacramento River stripers are still red hot near Colusa on minnows, and Collins Lake had a week of really big trout with fish over 8 and even 10 pounds on the pink Trix Worm. Don Pedro is giving up kings, rainbows, and a big brown on shad harnesses. Fast troll spoons like the Optimizer and cover everything in Chrome Killer scent.

How is Sacramento River striper fishing this week?

Red hot. Over Easter week the crews kept catching tons of nice stripe bass near Colusa. Minnows are still the best technique, fished on anchor, back-bounced, or drifted, though the plug bite has come on pretty good too. A double-up trip with Capt. Wes Hoskin and Capt. Brett Brady meant limits early and a lot of catch and release.

How is Collins Lake fishing?

Good to excellent, and this was the week of really big trout. Cal Kellogg had two trout over 8 pounds and one over 10. The number one bait was the pink Trix Worm, with the big fish also coming on a pink Trix Minnow paired with a Turbo Flasher. Honorable mention to pastel Trigger Bugger flies and orange Metal Head Flies. Fish are 10 to 15 feet deep at 1.8 to 2.5 mph.

What is happening at Don Pedro?

Capt. Monte Smith reports surface temps of 60 to 65 degrees and the lake 19 to 20 feet from full. Shad on a homemade harness is still the most productive, though the Junior Optimizer spoon also catches fish. Best depths are 35 to 75 feet, deeper on bright days. The week produced a 4 and a half to 5 pound brown plus rainbows to over 4 pounds and kings.

How are Berryessa and the foothill lakes?

Capt. Nate Kelsch reports trout fishing still fantastic at Lake Berryessa with kings and kokanee showing up, fish now 10 to 40 feet deep. He is fast trolling Trigger Spoons, Junior Trigger Spoons, and Optimizers as the fish want speed, all coated in Chrome Killer scent. Comanche and Pardee still produce around plants with long leaders, and Amador is kicking out nice fish from 10 to 30 feet.

How are Lake Almanor and New Melones fishing?

Capt. Bryan Roccucci reports Lake Almanor 4 feet from full with water in the low-to-mid 50s, giving up a mix of browns, rainbows, and strong smallmouth bass to 5 pounds on minnow plugs. On New Melones, the crew at Three Suns Guide Service put together full limits to 16 inches on Uncle Larry's spinners, hoochies, and Catch America dodgers.

Watch the full report

From the report (Catch America Pro Staff): This was the week of really big trout. Had two trout over 8 pounds this week and one trout over 10 pounds. The hands-down number one bait this week was the pink Trix worm. The big trout came on a Trix pink minnow paired with a Turbo Flasher. Honorable mention goes to the Trigger boogers in the lighter pastel colors and orange metal head trolling flies.

Northern California April 23, 2025 FAQ

What is the best fishing in Northern California this week?

Sacramento River stripers are red hot, and Collins Lake produced trout over 8 and 10 pounds.

What was the top bait at Collins Lake?

The pink Trix Worm, with big fish also on a pink Trix Minnow behind a Turbo Flasher.

How deep are Collins Lake trout?

10 to 15 feet has been the most consistent, trolled at 1.8 to 2.5 mph.

What depth are Don Pedro fish?

35 to 75 feet, and deeper on bright, high-traffic days.

What spoons are working at Berryessa?

Fast trolled Trigger Spoons, Junior Trigger Spoons, and Optimizers, all in Chrome Killer scent.

How full is Lake Almanor?

About 4 feet from full, with water in the low-to-mid 50s.

What worked on New Melones?

Uncle Larry's spinners, hoochies, and Catch America dodgers for full limits.

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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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