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Lake ReportsLake Berryessa
Kokanee, trout, dodgers, spoons, and guide updates.
Lake ReportsShasta LakeReservoir trout, landlocked kings, depth, and baitfish lanes.
Lake ReportsLake OrovilleOpen-water trolling updates for trout and salmon.
River ReportsSacramento RiverPlug tuning, wraps, scent, and river salmon conditions.
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Species ReportsTrout
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Species ReportsKokaneeDodgers, hoochies, spinners, corn, depth, speed, and scent.
Species ReportsSalmonRiver and ocean reports with flashers, plugs, bait, and scent.
Species ReportsStriped BassDelta trolling, baitfish color, current, and water movement.
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Guide ReportsBig Nate
Lake Berryessa kokanee, trout, scent, and trolling updates.
Guide ReportsJeff GoodwinNorthern California salmon, trout, and kokanee reports.
Guide ReportsAustin MoserNorthwest salmon updates, flashers, plugs, and bait programs.
Guide ReportsDavid JohnsonOregon salmon reports and changing river conditions.
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Report GearSpoons
Search baits for trout, landlocked salmon, and open water.
Report GearDodgersFlash and kick for kokanee, trout, and light trolling spreads.
Report GearFlashersRotating flash for salmon and larger trolling presentations.
Report GearHard BaitsPlugs and bait profiles for trout and salmon programs.
Report GearScentsGuide-used scent options for trolling setups.
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Salmon Gear Breakdown
Flash, bait, and hardware for big salmon water.
Kokanee Trolling Setup
Dodgers, scent, speed, and presentation notes.
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Feather River Fishing Report | October 2025
Report by Capt. Brett Brady Brett Brady runs Bare Bones Guide Service and guides trout, kokanee, and steelhead waters for Catch America. Shop Brett Brady's tackle. What is working right now Early fall steelhead are in the Feather River in October 2025. Capt. Brett Brady targets fast, shallow water 3 to 8 feet deep with a bait-based drift: a snap swivel, a number four hook on 8 pound fluorocarbon, a soft egg tied in an egg loop, and a homemade Slinky weight. Incidental salmon show up but the season is closed. Watch the flows, they drop fast. What is biting on the Feather River right now?Early fall steelhead. Capt. Brett Brady of Bare Bones Guide Service ran the Feather and landed several fresh, fast-fighting steelhead, including a double hookup, plus incidental salmon. The steelhead run pairs with the salmon spawn, usually starting late September into October as the water cools. Where do you find steelhead on the Feather River?In faster, shallower water, generally 3 to 6 or 8 feet deep. Brett looks for riffles with moving water rather than deep holes. The Feather has tremendous bank access through the Oroville wildlife area, so you can fish either side once you find a fast run. How does Brett rig for Feather River steelhead?Bait-based. Start with a snap swivel, then an 8 pound fluorocarbon leader about 3 to 4 feet long to a number four Gamakatsu or Owner hook tied with an egg loop. Warm, soft cured eggs go in the loop. A soft Slinky weight bounces over rocks without hanging up. What should anglers watch for on the Feather River?The flows. Brett warns the river can drop drastically and become dangerous, so check the information gauges before running a jet boat. Salmon are closed, so release them in the water without netting. As water drops, fish concentrate on the runs and the bite improves. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Brett Brady): So we're looking for steelhead, and we're going to be looking for water that's moving pretty fast and not too deep. Generally, three to six, eight feet is what we like to see. We got a number four Gamakatsu hook or Owner. We got eight-pound test fluorocarbon on about four-foot long leader. On our hook, we've tied a very special knot, it's called an egg loop. Feather River October 2025 FAQ When does the Feather River steelhead run start?About the same time salmon go on the spawn, usually late September into the first of October, per Capt. Brett Brady. What water do steelhead hold in on the Feather?Fast-moving, shallow water roughly 3 to 6 or 8 feet deep, on riffles rather than deep holes. What hook and leader does Brett use for steelhead?A number four Gamakatsu or Owner hook on about 3 to 4 feet of 8 pound fluorocarbon, tied with an egg loop. What bait works for Feather River steelhead?Warm, soft cured eggs set in the egg loop. Brett also notes nightcrawlers, spinners, and roe all produce. Can you keep salmon while steelhead fishing the Feather?No. Brett says the salmon season is closed, so release them in the water without netting, which counts as a take. How was the overall steelhead count that day?Brett landed about five steelhead plus a lot of squawfish, calling the Feather bite slow but with fish present. Shop the Tackle Shop Brady's Tackle Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreFeather 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. Shop the Tackle Shop Jeff Goodwin's Tackle Shop Salmon Gear
Learn moreFeather River Fishing Report | August 25, 2025
Report by Capt. Jeff Goodwin Jeff Goodwin runs Jeff Goodwin Guide Service and guides Shasta Lake and Sacramento-area salmon and steelhead for Catch America. Shop Jeff Goodwin's tackle. What is working right now The Feather River salmon fishery is producing nice king salmon in late August 2025, with most anglers sitting on anchor. Capt. Jeff Goodwin says Silvertron spinners are a mainstay, and Brad's KillerFish in the KF15 size is his pick on anchor. The Rogue River is also full of salmon, best fished in the estuary or just inside the jaws. How is the Feather River salmon fishing right now?Producing nice fish. Capt. Jeff Goodwin is not guiding the Feather this year but has boats sampling it, and they are coming in with some pretty nice king salmon. He sees the Feather as a good future option for clients while waiting on a Sacramento River season. What lures work for Feather River salmon on anchor?Most anglers sit on anchor, where Silvertron spinners are a mainstay. Jeff also likes running Brad's KillerFish, preferring the KF15 size himself for anchor fishing. He says it is hard to go wrong with that setup on the Feather this time of year. How is the Rogue River salmon fishing?The Rogue is full of salmon with new fish entering daily in late August 2025. Fish stack in the estuary and at Indian Creek, though the Indian Creek bite is hit or miss. Anglers get more consistent bites inside the jaws near the ocean, where there is lots of bait but lots of boats. Where should you target salmon right now?On the Feather, sit on anchor and run spinners or Brad's KillerFish. On the Rogue, target the estuary or just inside the jaws for the most reliable action. Jeff's Rogue trips are booked for 2025, and clients getting off the boat now are booking for next year. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Jeff Goodwin): Everybody's pretty much sitting on anchor up there and that's kind of a staple. Silver Tron spinners are a mainstay as far as that goes. But you can always run out some Brad's Killer Fish. Hard to go wrong there. I like the KF15s myself for sitting on anchor. For the Rogue, it's full of salmon. We got new fish coming in every day. Feather River August 25, 2025 FAQ What is biting on the Feather River in August 2025?King salmon, with anglers producing some nice fish while sitting on anchor. What lures work for Feather River salmon?Silvertron spinners and Brad's KillerFish, with Jeff preferring the KF15 size on anchor. How are anglers fishing the Feather for salmon?Mostly sitting on anchor, which Jeff calls the staple approach there right now. How is the Rogue River salmon bite?The Rogue is full of salmon with fresh fish daily, best in the estuary or just inside the jaws. Where is the Indian Creek bite on the Rogue?Fish are stacked at Indian Creek but the bite there is hit or miss, per Capt. Jeff Goodwin. Is Jeff Goodwin guiding the Feather this year?No. Jeff has boats sampling the Feather but is not guiding it, and his Rogue trips are booked for 2025. Shop the Tackle Brad's KillerFish KF15 Shop Goodwin's Tackle Shop River Salmon Gear
Learn moreFeather River Fishing Report | April 18, 2025
Stripers are busting on the Feather and Sacramento Rivers, with a strong evening bite on swimbaits and topwater.
Learn moreFeather River Fishing Report | April 17, 2025
The Feather River is slow while the Sacramento is the better striper bet, with minnows on anchor producing.
Learn moreFeather River Fishing Report | April 13, 2025
Feather River stripers are slow while the Sacramento is medium, with minnows on anchor in 10 to 12 feet the best bet.
Learn moreFeather River Fishing Report | April 3, 2025
Capt. Wes Hoskin on the early Feather River striper season, drifting minnows in 10 to 12 feet.
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