The Fish Sniffer

After a long absence, good numbers of chinook salmon have begun to move into the Sacramento Area, as evidenced by increasing catches of bright fall kings by both shore anglers and boaters.

“Anglers are hooking the salmon at Freeport, the Minnow Hole, Miller Park and Discovery Park,” said Yee Vang at Broadway Bait Rod & Gun. “Shore anglers are tossing out Mepps Flying C and Blue Fox spinners, while boaters are trolling spinners, Flatfish and Kwikfish.”

Big fish honors go to Leland Swengt, who bagged two salmon weighing 18 and 12 pounds while tossing out a Flying C spinner at the Minnow hole. Jerry Bashor demonstrated his process by nailing a 22 lb. chinook on a Gibbs Minnow.

Striper and catfish action is starting to perk up in the Deep Water Channel. Ben Watson topped the catches with a 12 lb. channel cat that he enticed with mackerel. Hunter Moa tricked a 6 lb. striper with a minnow in the channel also.

“The salmon fishing is picking up in the Walnut Grove, Clarksburg and Freeport areas,” confirmed Reggie Birring of Freeport Market Bait and Deli. “Shore fishermen are hooking them on Blue Fox and Mepps Flying C spinners, while boaters are using plugs and spinners.”

For catfish, Birring recommended fishing mackerel, clams, anchovies and other baits in Elk, Sutter and Steamboat sloughs.