{RPT} 8/1 Barge Hole Sac River Salmon Opening

Headed down to Barge Hole about 1130 yesterday to see what opening day of salmon season was like. Video is 13 minutes long kind of boring but many people have asked me what it is like on the river. You can get a good indication of boat traffic, river current and bank fisherman. Flow is about 7200 cfs now and an easy paddle around the hole, even pedaling/paddling upstream.

From the bank I caught two sucker fish using a red francis fly bouncing on bottom, missed one salmon. There were a a lot more boat/fisherman Saturday morning who did very well but fished the hole out by noon. I saw the fish bodies at the cleaning station and talked to a few people. Two sheriffs boats and DFW were there. Around the corner at gravel bar they were shoulder to shoulder people camped Friday night.

Do you need to have a second vehicle down stream from drop off for pick up or are you able to pedal back to your drop off vehicle?

Nice job getting out Bryan, how's that Revo 16 working out?

Do you need to have a second vehicle down stream from drop off for pick up or are you able to pedal back to your drop off vehicle?

I am fortunate to live in community with private access to river and can launch/pedal back upstream if I want to when flow is low enough. But if I am going any distance generally my wife picks me up. There are a few launch areas in the Redding/Red Bluff area, most people leave a vehicle at a downstream launch or there are a couple services that will pick you up and get you back to your vehicle.

Nice job getting out Bryan, how's that Revo 16 working out?

Love the Revo 16 Ben, although I took the Revo 13 on the river because I wasn't sure how shallow some of the places were going to be and thought I would tear up my old beat up mirage drive. Going from the 16 to the 13 was like going from a sports car to a tank. River has changed some down since flooding last winter, more downed trees and shallow spots.

Have you guided anyone for salmon fishing yet? Hoping to hit the Barge Hole later this week in the kayak. Saw a couple fish caught yesterday from shore.

Bryan

Nice to hear its working out, I bet that things a rocket ship!
We just returned from Kauai so I haven't been out in a few weeks, just before I left I guided a trout trip through that stretch and we did good.  I did a few laps through the Barge Hole w/ the Lowrance and didn't mark anything, but did mark a few down at Old Mouth...sounds like they must be moving up pretty good.  I'm going to take the drift boat out this weekend for a play day, you're more than welcome to bring your yak and buddy-up with us if you like.

Nice to hear its working out, I bet that things a rocket ship!
We just returned from Kauai so I haven't been out in a few weeks, just before I left I guided a trout trip through that stretch and we did good.  I did a few laps through the Barge Hole w/ the Lowrance and didn't mark anything, but did mark a few down at Old Mouth...sounds like they must be moving up pretty good.  I'm going to take the drift boat out this weekend for a play day, you're more than welcome to bring your yak and buddy-up with us if you like.

I am headed down there in about 30 minutes. Let you know how it goes. Fish are few and far between right now although some have been caught last two days. I have been tying flies to try out.