UTERWhite sturgeon fishing in California freshwater
In California freshwater, white sturgeon peak October–March and are around year-round, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. January: Delta and Suisun sturgeon on ghost shrimp and eggs.
No note for October — see the months around it.
White sturgeon in California freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryPeakDelta and Suisun sturgeon on ghost shrimp and eggs.
- FebruaryPeak
- MarchPeak
- AprilAround
- MayAround
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberPeak
- NovemberPeak
- DecemberPeak
Where to fish white sturgeon 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 white sturgeon
- Ghost shrimpThreaded on a #4 to 1/0 baitholder hook on a Carolina rig in the surf or the bay — the surfperch, corbina and sturgeon bait.
- 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.
- 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.
- Leader15–30 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook#2–2/0
- Braid10–20 lb
Feeds in 46–66°F water, best at 50–60°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch white sturgeon in California freshwater?
Peak season is October–March. White sturgeon are here year-round. January: Delta and Suisun sturgeon on ghost shrimp and eggs.
Where do white sturgeon hold in California freshwater?
Look on bridge, river — around Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, Clear Lake, Lake Oroville, Bullards Bar, Lake Shasta, Eastern Sierra.
What is the best bait for white sturgeon in California freshwater?
Live bait: ghost shrimp, herring, salmon eggs (roe). Ghost shrimp: Threaded on a #4 to 1/0 baitholder hook on a Carolina rig in the surf or the bay — the surfperch, corbina and sturgeon bait. Tackle: leader 15–30 lb fluorocarbon, hook #2–2/0, braid 10–20 lb.
What are the rules for white sturgeon 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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