Sacramento River

SacramentO River Guided Fishing Trips

SALMON FISHING IS BACK ON THE SACRAMENTO RIVER FOR 2026!

After years of closures, California’s iconic salmon fishery has reopened, creating one of the most anticipated salmon seasons in recent memory. Improved Sacramento River fall-run Chinook returns and expanded fishing opportunities have anglers across Northern California eager to get back on the water.

Book Your 2026 Sacramento River Salmon Adventure

Experience the thrill of battling hard-fighting King Salmon with a professional guide who knows the river, the migration patterns, and where the fish are moving.

Whether you’re a seasoned angler chasing a trophy Chinook or a first-timer looking to land your first salmon, our guided trips provide everything you need for a successful day on the water.

What You’ll Get

🎣 Full-day guided salmon fishing trip

🎣 Premium rods, reels, tackle, and bait provided

🎣 Expert instruction for all skill levels

🎣 Comfortable, fully-equipped fishing boat

🎣 Prime Sacramento River salmon locations

🎣 Fish cleaning and filleting available

🎣 Family-friendly and beginner-friendly trips

Why 2026 Is Different

The return of salmon fishing follows encouraging forecasts for Sacramento River fall-run Chinook populations, with fishery managers reporting significant improvements compared to recent years. Recreational opportunities have expanded, making 2026 one of the best opportunities in years to target California King Salmon.

Prime Fishing Locations

• Sacramento River

• Feather River

• American River

• Lower Sacramento system migration corridors

These waterways host some of Northern California’s most exciting salmon action during the annual Chinook migration.

Perfect For

• Corporate outings

• Father-and-son trips

• Families

• Groups of friends

• Visiting anglers

• Bucket-list salmon fishermen

Limited Prime Dates Available

The best salmon fishing dates book quickly once fish begin entering the river system. Secure your preferred dates now before peak-season weekends are gone.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the return of Sacramento River salmon fishing.

Book your 2026 Sacramento River Salmon Charter today and experience the excitement of landing a California King Salmon on one of the West Coast’s most legendary fisheries. 🎣

we are booking 2026 king salmon trips now for gold beach Oregon, this is a world class salmon fishery. We are excited !!

Also now booking Sacramento River wild rainbow trout/steelhead fishing for 2026, This is a 20 to 50 fish action packed fishery, lots of fun for all ages. Best time is February through July! We also fly fish for these incredible hard fighting 3 to 6lb average fish. Come fish the world class Sacramento River with captain Justin Thompson!

PRICES

Conventional fishing or fly fishing!!

• $300 2 person minimum (3 to 6 $275 per-person) for Trout & Steelhead - Year Round spin fishing trips. we can accommodate up to (6) comfortably on our power boat trips. You will need a fishing license and a steelhead report card.

• private full day Sacramento River king salmon fishing trips- $600 2 person minimum

• 3 or more-$ 275 per person we can fish up to (6) on our salmon fishing trips with plenty of room. Sacramento River salmon fishing trips include a full day of fishing, all bait and tackle is provided. We can keep up to 2 king salmon per person/ 2 hatchery steelhead.

  . Striped bass fishing trips

  .$300 per person- ( minimum of 2 Anglers/6 max.

!!now booking Sacramento River king salmon fishing trips for July 16 through December 31st for 2025, salmon season. Don’t wait until the last minute to get your dates on the calendar.

The Sacramento River in Northern California is one of the worlds top producing fisheries for King Salmon, Wild Rainbow Trout, and Striped Bass. Also known as “The Sac” the river originates in the Klamath Mountains near Mount Shasta before flowing almost 400 miles into San Fransisco Bay. I primarily focus my efforts on the upper section of the Sacramento River near the towns of Redding, and Red Bluff, but will travel further down river when conditions or fishing is better in those areas.

While there are numerous outdoor activities to do on the Sacramento River, fishing is by far the most popular. Every year anglers from around the globe travel to California to take advantage of the large numbers of King Salmon and Striped Bass that return to the river starting in the Spring. We’re also lucky to have a year-round fishery for trophy sized, wild Rainbow Trout.

The best way to experience the amazing fishing on the Sacramento River is with a fishing guide. I am on the water every day which helps to know where the fish are, and what techniques are working best.

Wild Rainbow Trout on the Sacramento River

Now booking Sacramento River wild rainbow trout/steelhead fishing trips for 2026 !! This is an action packed day of fishing for all ages, Redding California has some of the best trout fishing in the state running right through the city. The cold, nutrient rich water of the Sacramento River produces huge numbers of large trout that make for an action packed day. A normal day on the river will produce 15-25 rainbow trout with an average size from 16 to 21 inches.

I offer both fly fishing and conventional gear guided fishing trips on the Sacramento River for trout. Which technique we use is up to you, and what you’re comfortable with.

The peak months are March through May, and November & December, but there’s never really a bad time to fish for trout on the Sacramento.

These fishing trips are great for any age or level of experience.

Sacramento River King Salmon Fishing guide,

Outside of the Kenai River in Alaska, the Sacramento River produces some of the largest King Salmon in the West. The current river record is an 88 pound king caught in 1979, but biologists found a spawned out king in 2008 that would have weighed over 90 pounds before it died. The Sacramento River is also one of the largest producers in numbers of King Salmon on the west coast with 4 distinct runs.

Our season in Northern California starts in Mid-July and closes at the end of the year. Typically the best fishing occurs Mid-August through October. However, November and December is when we usually see the largest salmon coming back.

I use a variety of techniques to catch our Sacramento River Salmon including drifting, back trolling, and back bouncing. Whether you’re a novice or expert, I’ll make sure you have the best chance at catching fish.

Striper Fishing the Sacramento River

The Striped Bass run on the Sacramento River is a sight to behold. Every spring 100’s of thousands of fish enter the delta on their spawning run and make their way up the Sacramento River. There are several great areas to intercept them along their way, but I typically spend most of my time fishing in April and May near the town of Colusa.

If you’re looking for an action packed day full of hard fighting, and great eating fish, stripers are where it’s at. You’ll catch plenty of 3 to 5 pound fish, and occasionally one will be caught that is 20 to 40 pounds.

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Sacramento River king salmon,