Lots of King Salmon around Sacramento right now

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

While on the way to work, coming in from Davis, CA to our fly shop in Sacramento, every morning we see tons of boats around the mouth of the American River fishing for salmon.

I hear there are lots of anglers and lots of salmon up in the Lower American River all the way to the Nimbus Hatchery and Nimbus Dam.

This is a great time to take the family to the Nimbus Hatchery at Hazel Avenue and the river to see the salmon jumping up the fish ladder to spawn.

When I was a kid in Sacramento in the 1960s we had huge runs of all anadromous fish, especially King Salmon. In the fall you could almost walk across the mouth of the american River on the boats that were trolling there.

Looks like we are having a really big run this fall too.

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Some years back (5-10 years ago ?) when we had some big runs of salmon in the river here many actually caught salmon while wading with single hand fly rods and fast sinking lines.

Joe Shirshac, Chuck Campana and Andy Guibord were catching lots of nice salmon back then below the Goethe Park Bridge (called River Bend Park now?) on the park side.

Now some might be after them this fall with Spey rods.

Andy will be working Friday, Saturday and Sunday most weeks so come in if you want to get ideas on how to land a big King Salmon on a fly.

.

[Jed Peters]

I am seeing tons of bankies across from the runs that I'm fishing early in the morning first thing, some with quite a bit of luck.

It's actually kind of humorous to watch and listen to them....the fights, the discussions (that are not in russian!) and watching someone get on a fish.

The ones on my side of the river all want to know why I'm fishing for such "small" fish with such a big rod. Always a question or two to answer!

[KJE]

I'd be interested in some thoughts from the board as to how to target salmon with a fly rod, single- or double-handed. I've been swinging big egg sucking leeches and streamers with a fast sinking tip, but I'm sure that some of you guys have more specific ideas.

Gear guys at the spot I frequent have been getting into them, so they are definitely there.

Thanks in advance.

[Tony Buzolich]

My first big rod was a SAGE 9 weight that I bought from Stan Hellickson when they had a shop over in Rancho Cordova. Previously using only steelhead size rods, I was undergunned. Later I went to a 10' 9 weight for the extra distance it gave me and this really helped.

For flies I used mostly #6 and #4 steelhead patterns like Polar Shrimp and Comets and Flashfies. Early salmon in the spring used to like blue flashy patterns. Popscicles were another good fly if you wanted to get a fish's attention. One large salmon I took at the bottom of Ancil Hoffman came a full 8'-10' from behind a rock where he was laying to grab a purple/orange Popscicle. Here's a pic of that fish.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/Tony-salmon2email.jpg

Frank Alessio and I started fishing salmon almost thirty years ago at Bed Rock Park in Oroville. One day we decided to book a guide to learn a bit more about what we were after. We booked Dave Simmons from Orland Outfitters. He had just gotten out of the hospital from heart surgery and we took ? 17/18 salmon with him before 10:00 in the morning. What a workout we gave him.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/Frank-salmon18-99upload.jpg


http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/06Sept2640lb-2.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/tmp3153.jpg


Later my wife got into salmon as well and learned to throw her own 9 weight quite well.

Here's a few more pictures, Tony

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/Kimwithfish.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/Sept2640lb-closeupemail.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/FeatherFlyHeademail.jpg

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b320/buzolich/tonyssalmon.jpg

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Great post and cool photos Tony...thanks.

[KJE]

Very cool photos, Tony. Can I ask for any tips you might have on what sort of water to fish and whatnot? Tailouts, drop-offs below riffles and similar places?

[Tony Buzolich]

Thinking back it seems that most of the fish we took were at the head of or right in the top of the riffles usually above a hole or some kind of deeper water.

In that first picture the fish was right behind a big rock midstream in some very fast water. He was laying there just like a trout only resting. As I'd cast and swing my fly past him you could see he was getting annoyed at it and wanted to chase it away. After several more swings he came at it full throttle and clobbered it hard and then went right back to his rock like he wasn't even hooked. I looked over at my wife on the shore and gave her a thumbs up showing I'd hooked him. A couple of really good tugs to set the hook and the fight was on. Several times he'd take off and head downstream for deeper water but always seemed to come back to his rock.

One thing with salmon is you can NEVER let off the pressure if you expect to land one. They rest when you rest and they've got a lot more stamina than I do.

I have though at times given a downstreamer total slack during a fight. Doing this sometimes allows the fish to return upstream allowing you re-gain your line and backing. Once back close again put the pressure to them and get it in.
Tony

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Was talking with a Delta regular who said more salmon than usual were being caught this fall by Delta Striper fly fishers.

He said these fish are all very fresh run....and eat well.