UTERChinook (king) salmon fishing in California freshwater
In California freshwater, Chinook (king) salmon peak September–November and are around July–November, spawning in November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. September: Sacramento River fall run — closed in recent years; check CDFW before you go.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Chinook (king) salmon in California freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyAround
- AugustArriving
- SeptemberPeakSacramento River fall run — closed in recent years; check CDFW before you go.
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberSpawning
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Chinook (king) salmon near Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, Clear Lake, Lake Oroville
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.
What to use for Chinook (king) salmon
- HerringCut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run.
- Anchovies (Pacific)Nose- or collar-hooked on a #4 to 1/0 hook and fly-lined with no weight, or on a dropper loop; a dozen tossed over the side as chum keeps the bass and bonito up.
- Salmon eggs (roe)A dime-sized spawn sac tied in mesh, or single eggs on a #10 to #6 egg hook, drifted along the bottom for steelhead, trout and salmon. Check the state's rule — bait is banned on many trout and salmon waters.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 44–60°F water, best at 50–56°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Chinook (king) salmon in California freshwater?
Peak season is September–November, with fish spawning in November (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Chinook (king) salmon are in California freshwater July–November. September: Sacramento River fall run — closed in recent years; check CDFW before you go.
Where do Chinook (king) salmon hold in California freshwater?
Look on river, creek / stream, lake — around Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, Clear Lake, Lake Oroville, Bullards Bar, Lake Shasta, Eastern Sierra.
What is the best bait for Chinook (king) salmon in California freshwater?
Live bait: herring, anchovies (pacific), salmon eggs (roe). Herring: Cut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for Chinook (king) salmon in California freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Fishing.
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All about Chinook (king) salmon · California fresh water, the whole year