10/12/25
By the time you are reading this we will be in the middle of our second fall weather system with measurable rain. This a good thing for those tracking the river flows anticipating an increase in fall run salmon in the Feather and American Rivers. With the credit card ocean salmon season here and gone, the rivers are the only opportunity for salmon before they close at the end of the month. Of course there are the salmon sized trout being caught up at Pyramid Lake to keep rods bent. Ocean rockfish crab combos are coming up soon too. I'm hoping to make a few more trips to the American before it closes at the end of the month.
RIVER SALMON: The upper Feather is closed so the lower section , Live Oak to the Hwy 99 bridge is the best bet for Kings. There is still a lot water to fish on the Feather and the rain this week is likely to pull the late comers up the Feather. Like the upper river, back trolling sardine wrapped plugs and trolling Silvertron Spinners will give you the best shot a hooking a king on the lower Feather. The Lower American is producing Kings for both bank anglers and boaters. Bankies are scoring throwing spinners at choke points and in deeper sections where salmon are milling around before they make their move. Boaters are doing best back trolling sardine wrapped plugs. Remember the big plugs for the slower water that Kings tend to lay in during the daylight hours.
Pyramid Lake has not disappointed with lots of anglers counting their daily catch by 10s with a few getting over 100. The jig bite will get you the numbers and some of the bigger fish, over 15 lbs, too. Trolling will typically result in fewer fish but if the offering is right the average size will be bigger. Looking forward to a trip up there in November after the American River closes for Salmon and I scrounge a spot on a boat.
I made my first trip up to the Rogue to meet fellow Rooster Tailers, Mike Peckham and Steve Burgess. We put the time in on the Salmon and lost one at the boat, sorry Steve, and had a few drive-bys for our efforts. We made a few ventures into the salty stuff and were rewarded with crab, quality rockfish, and ling cod. Was nice to see some Will Fish Tackle friends up there as well. Shout out to Olin for lending his crab pots to Mike P. Was a great time and won't be my last. I also spent a day with Jerry Lampkin in his drift boat on the American River. Was great to catch up with Jerry and Craig, a once loyal Will Fish Tackle customer, as we back trolled plugs. Craig started the day landing a nice clean buck. I had a few drive-bys and a good take down that didn't stick. Was nice to spend a day on the river in the middle of a metro area and watch the wildlife go by and get a chance at a King. Will try to fit in a few more days out there before the river closes.
