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Lake ReportsShasta LakeReservoir trout, landlocked kings, depth, and baitfish lanes.
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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 GearDodgersFlash and kick for kokanee, trout, and light trolling spreads.
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Salmon Gear Breakdown
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Kokanee Trolling Setup
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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
Learn moreSacramento River Fishing Report | April 2026
Report by Capt. Jeff Goodwin Jeff Goodwin of Jeff Goodwin Fishing guides striped bass on the Sacramento River and trout on Shasta Lake as a Catch America captain. Shop Jeff Goodwin's tackle. What is working right now The April 2026 striped bass season on the Sacramento River near Colusa has been good and steady. Fish that dropped down last week pushed back up into the Colusa area on a stable water cycle. Drifting minnows is the ticket, and with higher water, pocket fishing softer edges stationary is also effective. Water temps are in the high 50s and climbing toward the 60s. How is Sacramento River striper fishing in April?Good and steady, status quo for a solid season. Capt. Jeff Goodwin reports fish that dropped down last week have moved back up into the Colusa area he is fishing, helped by a steady water cycle after earlier fluctuations that had the fish moving around quite a bit. What technique works for Colusa stripers now?Most anglers are drifting minnows, and that has been the ticket. With some of the higher water, pocket fishing or working softer edges stationary has also been really effective. Adjust to the flow: drift the steady water and hold on the soft pockets when it comes up. What are the Sacramento River water conditions?Water is on a steady cycle now after fluctuations moved fish around earlier in the season. Temperatures are pushing up into the high 50s and should climb into the 60s soon. A little spawning has already happened, and fresh fish are in the system. What is the spawn outlook for Sacramento stripers?A bit of spawning activity has already occurred, and Jeff expects a lot of fish to spawn over the next week or two, then start making their way back down into the Delta. So the Colusa window is prime right now before those fish drop out of the system. What is next for Jeff Goodwin?After the April striper wrap-up on the Sacramento River, Jeff heads back to Shasta Lake for May, pursuing kokanee salmon, rainbows, browns, and likely some king salmon. No Catch America products were named in this striper report. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Jeff Goodwin): I'm reporting on our striped bass fishing on the Sacramento River. We're on a really steady cycle of water, and we're also seeing lots of those fish that went back down last week back up in the area that we're fishing, which is the Colusa area. Most of us have just been drifting minnows, and that seems to be the ticket. Sacramento River April 2026 FAQ Where are the Sacramento River stripers biting?In the Colusa area, where fish have moved back up on a steady water cycle. What is the best technique for Colusa stripers?Drifting minnows, with pocket fishing softer edges effective in higher water. What is the Sacramento River water temperature?Pushing into the high 50s and expected to climb into the 60s soon. Have the Sacramento stripers spawned yet?A little spawning has happened, with more expected over the next week or two. Where do the stripers go after spawning?They make their way back down into the Delta. Where is Jeff Goodwin fishing next?Back on Shasta Lake for May, targeting kokanee, rainbows, browns, and king salmon. Shop the Tackle Shop Jeff Goodwin's Tackle Shop Striped Bass Gear
Learn moreSacramento River Fishing Report | February 2026
Report by Capt. Jeff Goodwin Jeff Goodwin of Jeff Goodwin Fishing is a Catch America pro-staff captain who guides the Sacramento River and Shasta Lake. Shop Jeff Goodwin's tackle. What is working right now The Sacramento River is fishing well for rainbow trout in February 2026. Capt. Jeff Goodwin is catching big rainbows, some in the 6 pound range with many at 16 to 18 inches, by bobber dogging beads behind spawning king salmon that are dropping eggs. On Shasta Lake he will fish Brad's Kokanee Cut Plugs and Mini Cut Plugs stuffed with tuna, plus Junior Optimizer Slimline spoons for browns. What is biting on the Sacramento River right now?Rainbow trout, and the fishing is productive. Capt. Jeff Goodwin is catching big, beautiful rainbows, a few in the 6 pound range this year and many running 16 to 18 inches. King salmon are in the river spawning, and hungry trout stack behind them to feed on dislodged eggs. How is Jeff catching the Sacramento River rainbows?Bobber dogging with beads. He fishes beads that imitate the single eggs salmon drop into their redds. The trout sit back and wait for eggs to wash down the bottom, so beads are king for Jeff right now. Water-tested trout and steelhead beads are coming soon to Catch America. How long will the Sacramento River bite last?The Sacramento River should run strong through March, and Jeff has a couple more weeks on this fishery before he shifts to Shasta Lake. Guides are available to run trips while the egg bite stays hot behind the spawning salmon. What will Jeff fish on Shasta Lake next?He plans to fish Brad's Kokanee Cut Plugs and Mini Cut Plugs stuffed with tuna, run off divers and side planers. He will also push Junior Optimizer Slimline spoons, which have been very productive in spring for browns. What are the Shasta Lake conditions?Good. The lake is in great condition with minimal debris and nice, cool water temperatures, which is exactly what is needed. Jeff will report an update on the Shasta fishery next month as he transitions off the Sacramento River. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. Jeff Goodwin): We have some pretty good rainbow trout fishing going on in the Sacramento River. I have had a few in the six pound range this year, but a lot of them are running 16 to 18 inches. We have been bobber dogging for the most part, and we are fishing beads. We are going to fish heavy on the Brad's KCs and MCPs, stuffing them with tuna. Optimizer junior slimlines have been very productive. Sacramento River February 2026 FAQ What is biting on the Sacramento River in February 2026?Big rainbow trout, some in the 6 pound range and many at 16 to 18 inches. How are the Sacramento River trout being caught?Bobber dogging with beads that imitate salmon eggs behind spawning kings. Why are the trout sitting behind the salmon?Spawning king salmon drop eggs into their redds, and trout wait to feed on them. How long will the Sacramento River bite last?It should run strong through March. What lures will Jeff fish on Shasta Lake?Brad's Kokanee Cut Plugs and Mini Cut Plugs stuffed with tuna, plus Junior Optimizer Slimline spoons. What spoon works for Shasta Lake browns in spring?The Junior Optimizer Slimline has been very productive. What are the Shasta Lake conditions?Great condition with minimal debris and cool water temperatures. Shop the Tackle Brad's Kokanee Cut Plug Brad's Mini Cut Plug 2-Pack Junior Optimizer Slimline Shop Jeff Goodwin's Tackle Shop Trout Gear
Learn moreSacramento River Fishing Report | May 29, 2025
Sacramento River wild rainbow trout amazing in Redding on small orange soft beads, plus limits of stripers on minnows.
Learn moreSacramento River Fishing Report | May 15, 2025
Sacramento River stripers slow in Colusa as fish drop toward Nights Landing and Verona on minnows and trolled plugs.
Learn moreSacramento River Fishing Report | April 24, 2025
Sacramento River striped bass fishing near Colusa is still very good on minnows, with Shasta and Whiskeytown coming on.
Learn moreSacramento River Fishing Report | April 17, 2025
Sacramento River striped bass fishing near Colusa is still catching tons of fish on minnows worked along the soft edges.
Learn moreSacramento River Fishing Report | April 15, 2025
The Sacramento River near Colusa is red hot for striped bass, with every boat catching on minnows, trolling, and swimbaits.
Learn moreSacramento River Fishing Report | April 12, 2025
Capt. Jeff Goodwin on a very good Sacramento River striper start, drifting minnows for limits every boat.
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