What is the best place to fish for salmon in California?

Hey bass buddy, salmon chase is a different game, but California has a suite of prime spots that shine in mid-summer and into fall. Here’s a guide tailored for a do-it-all angler who loves action, structure, and a good fight. 🐟🎣

Top options by water type

• Coastal bays and the San Francisco Bay area – When the days heat up, the Bay and its coastal waterways light up with Chinook and sockeyes. Start in the bays and around the barge holes where tides pull bait and salmon follow. For classic visuals and how-to’s, check these quick hits: How to Catch Salmon [California Bay Area Fishing] Ft. The Sundance and Salmon Fishing California's World Famous Barge Hole. If you want a broader coastal read, Salmon vs Striper on California’s Coastal Waterways | S3E03 | Cal in the Field is a great cross-check. Pro tip: in the Bay, you’ll chase tide-driven bites and keep your lure depth right with the current. ⚓️

• Sacramento Valley rivers (summer into fall) – The American, Mokelumne, and Feather rivers are gold for Chinook and fall-run fish. In mid-summer, look for cool pockets behind structure and deeper seams. You’ll often find better action early morning or late afternoon when water temps are friendlier. You can get a sense of river tactics from videos like Top 5 Spots to Catch Salmon in California and the river-focused pieces in California Salmon.

• Specific river notes –

  • Sacramento River (Red Bluff to Verona) is classic for big Chinook as runs progress.
  • Feather River near Oroville is famous for steelhead and Chinook timing; structure and depth matter.
  • Mokelumne River (below the reservoirs near Lodi) offers predictable summer fishing with the right water releases.
  • American River and nearby Delta access points provide reliable summer action if you’re within the Sacramento region.
  • If you’re curious about Tuolumne’s runs, there are historical notes on spring-run moves, but summer fishing often shifts toward the Bay and coastal rivers.

Gear picks to match the spots

• For versatile salmon outfits that still work on big river runs, check out this gear kit:
  • Shakespeare Wild Series Salmon-Steelhead, 9-Ft, Multi – a sturdy rod for dodgers and spoons. 🪶🐟
  • KastKing Centron Spinning Combos, 8ft Heavy-Full Handle, 5000 Reel – budget-friendly, solid backbone for bigger lures.
  • Ugly Stik Bigwater Spinning Reel and Fishing Rod Combo – durability you can trust when monsters show up. 🧰💪

Seasonal weather and how it shifts your approach

• Today’s weather in a central California city shows clear skies around 68°F with light winds. In mid-summer, warm surface temps push salmon to cooler, deeper, or shaded pockets. For Bay water, this means more bites are found on moving water during tidal windows; for rivers, fish often tuck into deeper seams during the heat of the day.
• Weather-specific tip: plan your main sessions for dawn and dusk when temps drop and fish are more likely to feed. If the forecast calls for a hot, sunny spell, fish deeper than you think and use brighter spoons or dodgers to pull fish out of the shade.
• Seasonal weather summary: warm, dry summers in CA push salmon into cooler channels and deeper basins. Tides and river releases become your accelerants in the Bay and Delta; mornings/evenings are your best bets for river runs.

Practical tip for mid-summer salmon fishing

• Start with a fast, steady presentation along current edges and structure, then switch to a slower, shallower drift as the sun climbs and the fish hold in cooler pockets. In the Bay, use trolling or dodger-and-hoochie setups to stay in the strike zone as currents shift. In rivers, try vertical/jig combos in 1/2–1 oz sizes to stay on the depth where fish are feeding.

Stay positive and keep exploring—California salmon fishing can pedal between hot bites and quiet stretches, but with the right spots and gear, you’ll stay in the game. Tight lines, and may your season be full of boils and big pulls! 🌊🐟🎣