Salmon Fishing in California

As salmon are an ocean fish and reside in the colder waters in the Pacific Northwest, Northern California waters are the most popular for salmon fishing in California. Some areas are stocked for additional salmon fishing.

Salmon Fishing Lakes In California

Lakes with a population of salmon in Northern California include Lake Almanor, Lake Berryessa, Bullards Bar Reservoir, Folsom Lake, Lake Oroville and Lake Shasta. In Central California, Lake Don Pedro is the only lake with a notable salmon population. No major lakes in Southern California contain salmon.

The California state record chinook salmon (king salmon) was caught out of the Sacramento River. Paper Mill Creek produced the California state record coho salmon. Lake Tahoe was home to the CA state record kokanee salmon.

Atlantic Salmon
Salmo salar

Called by many "King of the game fishes", the Atlantic salmon has limited range in the northeastern seaboard states. It spends the first 2 or 3 years in the freshwater stream where it was hatched then ventures out into the ocean bulking up on shrimp, herring, smelt, crabs and small fishes. During its first or second spring (or early summer) it migrates back up the freshwater stream where it was hatched. In the fall they spawn and return to the ocean and repeat the cycle. Most atlantic salmon spawn 2 to 4 times during their lifetime.

5 Members of The Pacific Salmon Family

Pacific Salmon are born in and remain in freshwater streams for the early years of life. The number varies by specie. Afterward they migrate to the Pacific Ocean waters where they bulk up and prepare for their once in a lifetime spawning run up the freshwater stream where they were born. They will instinctively return to their birthplace, spawn and die. They are found in the streams which into the ocean and adjoining ocean waters of Northern California, Oregon and Washington. They have also been stocked in the Great Lakes with some success however the programs require continual stocking.

Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

The largest of the Pacific Salmon, the chinook lives for 5 to 7 years and reaches a size well over 100 pounds.

Chum Salmon
Oncorhynchus keta

One of the smaller of the group the chum lives 3 to 5 years and seldom exceeds 10 pounds.

Pink Salmon
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

The smallest of the Pacific Salmon the pink seldom tops 5 pounds and lives only 2 years.

Sockeye Salmon
Oncorhynchus nerka

The sockeye lives 4 or 5 years and top weights seldom get to 8 pounds.

Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch

Growing to a size in the 15 pound range, the coho salmon lives for three years in their journey to continue the propagation of their species. Average catch is in the 8 to 12 pound range.

Salmon Fishing

Salmon fishing is at it's best during the salmon runs which can occur as early as May in the north to July as you move southward. Often a late run may happen as late as October.

Once the water temperature drops to about 50 degrees in the fall the atlantic salmon begin their spawning rituals. Young salmon stay in the fresh water until their second or third spring when they make their way to the ocean.

The preferred method for catchin salmon is fly fishing. Depending on the activity level, salmon may be caught on wet or dry flies. For more details check here for articles about fly fishing for salmon in California.

Salmon Organizations

Atlantic Salmon Federation
Atlantic Salmon Trust
Atlantic Salmon Museum
Atlantic Salmon Watch Program
Pacific Salmon Commission
Pacific Salmon Foundation

California Salmon Fishing

We will attempt to provide specific detailed information about fishing for salmon. Find information on basic trends and seasonal patterns of salmon. Look here for tips, recommended tackle, techniques and more. We want to help you make your salmon fishing trips more successful.

See an overview of fishing in California.

The purpose of the page is to provide specific information about fishing for Salmon in California. Find information on basic trends and seasonal patterns of salmon here in the state of California. Look here for tips, recommended tackle, techniques and more. We want to help you make your salmon fishing trips in CA more successful.

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CA Salmon Fishing - All About Fishing for Salmon in California.

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Spends part of its life in the ocean and the remainder in streams and rivers which drain into the ocean.