01-04-2018, 11:56 PM
[#0000FF]I spent several years in the Sacramento area. Fished along the American River for steelhead, shad, salmon and stripers. They all have their seasons and best areas to pursue them. Check in with some of the local bait shops. They usually know where the fish are and can help you get rigged and baited.
Shad are the first fish to target in the spring. May into June is the best time. Look for them wherever fast water flows into slower water. Great on small jigs, small spinners and especially flies.
Stripers are next. A good place to fish from shore or a small boat is where the American River dumps into the Sacramento...at Discovery Park. Soak a chunk of sardine right along the color line.
Summer run steelhead run up the American late in the summer. Not big but fun on light tackle. A plain old worm bounced along the bottom will get the job done. If you are good with a fly rod you can do well too on small dark patterns. Water will be low and clear so it is finesse fishing.
Bigger steelhead and early run salmon start showing up by October. Guys trolling big spinners catch them around the mouth of the American and upstream in the deeper holes of the Sacramento. Some years there will be a lot of "jacks"...early maturing male salmon less than 10 pounds. They are usually aggressive and easier to catch than the bigger ones. It used to be good for them below Nimbus Dam. Not sure what the current regulations are.
If you have access to a good sized boat, you can run up and down the Sacramento, following the runs of stripers and salmon. Some of the local bait shops provide updates to help you plan your trips.
Folsom Lake, upstream on the American from Sacramento is a great lake for multiple species. Depending on water levels, etc., there can be some great bassin' and troutin;.
If you like the backcountry, go up highway 50 to the Lake Tahoe area and hit one of the trails back into the Sierras. Lots of high mountain lakes with several species of trout...and fantastic scenery.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]
Shad are the first fish to target in the spring. May into June is the best time. Look for them wherever fast water flows into slower water. Great on small jigs, small spinners and especially flies.
Stripers are next. A good place to fish from shore or a small boat is where the American River dumps into the Sacramento...at Discovery Park. Soak a chunk of sardine right along the color line.
Summer run steelhead run up the American late in the summer. Not big but fun on light tackle. A plain old worm bounced along the bottom will get the job done. If you are good with a fly rod you can do well too on small dark patterns. Water will be low and clear so it is finesse fishing.
Bigger steelhead and early run salmon start showing up by October. Guys trolling big spinners catch them around the mouth of the American and upstream in the deeper holes of the Sacramento. Some years there will be a lot of "jacks"...early maturing male salmon less than 10 pounds. They are usually aggressive and easier to catch than the bigger ones. It used to be good for them below Nimbus Dam. Not sure what the current regulations are.
If you have access to a good sized boat, you can run up and down the Sacramento, following the runs of stripers and salmon. Some of the local bait shops provide updates to help you plan your trips.
Folsom Lake, upstream on the American from Sacramento is a great lake for multiple species. Depending on water levels, etc., there can be some great bassin' and troutin;.
If you like the backcountry, go up highway 50 to the Lake Tahoe area and hit one of the trails back into the Sierras. Lots of high mountain lakes with several species of trout...and fantastic scenery.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]