UTERJanuary
Winter spots and steelhead
Drop shots on Oroville and Bullards; North Coast steelhead.
The Delta to the Sierra
California freshwater fishing
What's biting in California freshwater in October: striped bass, Chinook (king) salmon and steelhead at their peak, with bluegill, redear sunfish and flathead catfish around too. Fish Scouter's season calendar follows 23 fish here month by month, from Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta to Castaic Lake.
Delta fall stripers and frogs
The Delta's tule-lined sloughs, Clear Lake's trophy bass, the foothill spotted-bass reservoirs, the Sacramento's salmon and striper runs, the Sierra's trout streams and high lakes, and the southern reservoirs' Florida-strain giants.
Sacramento–San Joaquin DeltaClear LakeLake OrovilleBullards BarLake ShastaEastern SierraCastaic Lake
Updated
Now · October
Delta fall stripers and frogs
Topwater on the Delta flats.
Largemouth bassSpotted bass (Kentucky bass)Striped bassRainbow troutChinook (king) salmonSteelhead
This month here
From the season calendar, best firstPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakPeakSpawningSpawningPeakSpawningSpawningAroundAroundAroundAroundAround
Striped bass
Delta fall stripers on the flats
Chinook (king) salmon
Steelhead
White sturgeon
Largemouth bass
Delta fall frog bite in the mats
Smallmouth bass
Spotted bass (Kentucky bass)
Black crappie (speck)
Channel catfish
Blue catfish
White catfish
Rainbow trout
Brown trout
Brook trout
Cutthroat trout
Lake trout (mackinaw, togue)
Kokanee salmon
Bluegill
Redear sunfish (shellcracker)
Flathead catfish
Brown bullhead
Common carp
The water
Structure that matters
LakeReservoirRiverCreek / streamPond / pitDock / pilingsBridgeBoat ramp
Month by month
What's happening, and what to throwFebruary
Clear Lake pre-spawn giants
Spotted bass (Kentucky bass)SteelheadSmallmouth bassBlack crappie (speck)Blue catfishLake trout (mackinaw, togue)
Swimbaits and jigs on the Clear Lake points.
March
Bass on the beds; stripers start up the Sacramento
Delta tules and Clear Lake spawners.
April
Peak striper run; Sierra opener
Largemouth bassSpotted bass (Kentucky bass)Striped bassRainbow troutSmallmouth bassBlack crappie (speck)
Colusa to Knights Landing for stripers; Eastern Sierra trout.
May
Shad run; Delta bass spawn
Shad on the American and the Feather.
June
Kokanee trolling; high Sierra opens
Bullards Bar and Whiskeytown kokanee.
July
High lakes and night bass
Sierra golden-trout country; Delta frogs at night.
August
Summer kokanee and trout
Trout in the cold tailwaters.
September
Salmon run on the Sacramento (when open)
Check CDFW — closed in recent years.
October · now
Delta fall stripers and frogs
Topwater on the Delta flats.
November
Fall bass and the first steelhead
Largemouth bassSpotted bass (Kentucky bass)Striped bassChinook (king) salmonSteelheadSmallmouth bass
Klamath and Trinity steelhead.
December
Winter steelhead and sturgeon
Delta sturgeon on ghost shrimp.
Fish guides for California freshwater
When, where and what to use, fish by fishAmerican shadBlack crappie (speck)Blue catfishChinook (king) salmonKokanee salmonLargemouth bassRainbow troutRedear sunfish (shellcracker)Smallmouth bassSpotted bass (Kentucky bass)SteelheadStriped bassWhite catfishWhite sturgeon
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