07/07/25
Well the summer ocean salmon season came and went with the opener creating great opportunities for those who found the fish. As predicated, a good weekend of fishing would crush the 7,000 fish quota. CDFW data shows that 9,165 chinook were caught on the opening weekend. The next chance for ocean salmon will be Sept 4-7 when 7,500 salmon will be available. With good weather it will be a wash, rinse, repeat situation so you better get your plans in order if you want a chance at fresh ocean run salmon. River salmon opens on the Feather, Mokelumne, and American on July 15th. Check the CDFW updated freshwater fishing regulations online for details. Of course the mussels still require some navigating to access local lakes.
KOKANEE: There are lots of great opportunities for good numbers of Kokanee this year. The lake that is standing out is Bucks. With a 10 fish limit and easy fishing for 12-14" Kokes it is worth the trip. A friend made a quick trip and fished the evening of the first day for a quick 10. Fished the next morning and landed two limits with his wife doing much of the reeling. Limits are possible at Hell Hole to 14" and Union Valley to 16". Both these lakes will test your patience and the size of your tackle box, but when you find the fish and what they want, you can grind out a beautiful limit. Shasta has turned into a great Kokanee fishery with fish coming out of the upper stretches of the McCloud Arm in recent weeks. Fish there are topping out in the 15" class. And if you make the trip to Shasta, give yourself a little extra time to swing by Whiskeytown as it continues to produce Sockeye up to 18". Of course Bullard's Bar and Stampede are on the list of producers but the diminutive size of the Kokanee in these lakes leaves a little to be desired.
LANDLOCK KINGS: All the local King lakes are producing with Orroville starting to come into shape. An 8+ pounder was landed last week. 8" flasher with 2" hoochies or rolled bait is the ticket on big O. Folsom is also a good local option for Kings if you have a tag. Shasta has been a consistent King bite as well with a few fish a day rounded out with a decent trout bite. Berryessa provides another shot at Kings if your boat is tagged for there.
