Here are the top 10, with May's comments:
- Hat Creek, Shasta County.
- Fall River, Shasta County.
- McCloud River, Siskiyou and Shasta counties.
- Upper Sacramento River, Shasta County.
- Truckee River, Nevada County.
- Manzanita Lake, Lassen Volcanic National Park.
- Heenan Lake, Alpine County.
- Yellow Creek, Plumas County.
Best Times to Fish
- Early Morning. 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
- Late Morning to Afternoon. 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Afternoon to Dusk. 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Early fall mimics the summer where stripers feed most heavily in the cooler periods of the day. Early morning and late afternoon is key. As fall moves along and the weather gets colder, striped bass feed more in the warmer parts of the day. The early afternoon period always seems to be best for me.
Battle Creek is one of the Sacramento River's most important tributaries for spawning salmon, though some fish also spawn in the American River and Feather River, which meet the Sacramento closer to the ocean. But for anglers, the best shot at catching a trophy Chinook is at the Barge Hole.
Late spring and early summer are the best times to catch Striped Bass, especially down towards the California Delta. Summer also calls for great Catfish, as well as Shad action. Salmon season starts in July and lasts well throughout the summer and fall. This is also an excellent time to go after Rainbow and Lake Trout.
BEST TIME TO CATCH TROUT
- Conventional wisdom suggests that late spring is the best time to catch trout, especially if you're looking for larger fish.
- The warmer it gets, the more fishing pressure from other anglers, the thicker the grass and brush surrounding their habitats and the lower the water levels.
Adult rainbow trout and steelhead range in size. They can reach 45 inches in length, but are usually much smaller. They can weigh more than 50 pounds (22 kilograms), but a more typical weight is 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms).
Discovery Park: Arguably the best fishing spot within the Sacramento city limits, Discovery Park is located at the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers. It provides extensive shore fishing access to both rivers, along with excellent boat launch facilities.
Trout are species of freshwater fish belonging to the genera Oncorhynchus, Salmo and Salvelinus, all of the subfamily Salmoninae of the family Salmonidae. The word trout is also used as part of the name of some non-salmonid fish such as Cynoscion nebulosus, the spotted seatrout or speckled trout.
Trout often fall for lures as well. Small minnow-type plugs make great enticements, as do small spinners, crankbaits, spoons and jigs. To start, just cast the lure near cover and reel it in very slowly. That's often all you must do to catch a limit, but you'll learn more tricks as you gain experience.
The Native Trout In The Feather River Are Some Of The Strongest & Beautiful Trout For Their Size. We Suggest Using – 3, 4 or 5 weight rod when fly fishing the Feather River.
Riffles are among those sections of water where the stream is more shallow. The streambed is comprised of rocks large enough to disturb the flow of water. This leads to an easily recognized, choppy surface, as seen in the picture below. Therefore, fish will often congregate in riffles at this time of the year.
The upper Sacramento River is now open and plenty of dime bright king salmon are being caught daily. Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout.
The best time to fish these rivers is from January through March, after awinter freshet, when the rivers are dropping and clearing. But before you make a long drive to the area, call the California Department of Fish and Game's Low-flow Information Line, (707) 442-4502, for river closures due to low flows.
The Trinity is legendary for its salmon and steelhead fishing by drift boat or walk-in riverside spots, as well as for trophy brown trout. Chinook salmon are the most sought-after gamefish in the Trinity River system. Spring-run salmon begin to enter the river in May and provide trophy fishing through November.
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Salmon are intensively produced in aquaculture in many parts of the world. Typically, salmon are anadromous: they are born in fresh water, migrate to the ocean, then return to fresh water to reproduce.
The American River originates in the high Sierra Nevada just west of Lake Tahoe, in the Tahoe and El Dorado National Forests. Its three main forks—the South, Middle and North—flow through the Sierra foothills and converge east of Sacramento.
The average flow between 1949 and 2013 was 23,330 cubic feet per second (661 m3/s).
The best fishing on the South Fork is between the Chili Bar Dam and Coloma, as well as below Greenwood Creek down to Salmon Falls. Weekdays are best, when the raft traffic on the river is at its lowest. Good bank fishing access is available along the river in Coloma.
When consuming fish from Sacramento River and northern Delta, women ages 18-49 and children ages 1-17 should not eat black bass species, catfish, Sacramento Pikeminnow, Striped Bass, or White Sturgeon. Children should be given smaller servings.
Why Fly Fishing in the Upper Sacramento River is the Best
- With over 40 miles of opportunistic waters, the Upper Sacramento River is a blue ribbon trout stream ideal for incredible fly fishing.
- The Upper Sacramento River is open for public fly fishing all year round!
