Salmon Trip to Cottonwood (sac river) this weekend 10/8

Read alot about doing this,  Cottonwood is located about 8 miles south of redding.  There is a launch at Balls Ferry and we can drift down to barge hole.  Right now the salmon fishing is really good.  Some big boys are coming through.  I've never done this but will look into it more this week.  This will be a chance to beat Joels 27 lb salmon.  If anyone knows about this area, let me know


http://www.co.shasta.ca.us/Departments/PublicWorks/new-ballsferry.shtml


http://www.flyfisherman.com/northwest/mmsacramento/index3.html

This stretch of river is stacked with fish right now, but the boat traffic can be intense, especially on the weekends.  I've floated/fished it before for trout, but never for salmon, but i'm sure it'll be a kick! Let me know if your still interested in this and I can get you some more details...

-beenfishin
www.ShastaOutdoors.com

Good info on your ShastaOutdoors.com site.  Thanks!
I've been wanting to do more exploring and fishing of Shasta on my kayak.

My PC's been down for a month, so I haven't been able to add anything too fresh to the site, but i've got loads of pics to post (salmon fishing, X-1 deer hunting, dove hunting, etc...).  I met with a guide buddy of mine last night, and they've been nailing the salmon, he's already picked up a few over 40 lbs.  Now that would be a sleigh-ride!  He echoed my sentiment as to the crowded conditions and irresponsible newbies in their $40k jet boats, and that a kayak trip could definitely be done, but very carefully.

Tight lines,
Ben

how did you do in x-1, I didn't get one, just saw alot of forky's and spikes.

Got a small 3x3 on saturday morning.  Saw a much bigger one with him, but he was hiding behind a doe.  We're headed back up this weekend, still have 4 guys in my party who are empty handed.  I'll let you know how we do.  After that, I still have my B tag, which I was hoping to fill from my kayak up on Trinity Lake...we'll see how that goes!
-Ben
www.ShastaOutdoors.com

we did most of our hunting around sheephaven springs, we also saw a average buck which I missed in low light. But the zone has changed so much in the last 20 years, I was amazed.....Joe

Hi Ben...

What would be a good put in for the kayaks and the take out.  Would we drift down or anchor near Barge hole.  Any info would be appreciated!

Any Rapids we need to know about?


Thanks

John

We were about 10 miles east of you around Hambone.  I've talked to alot of others who say the same thing, about how you used to be able to pick and choose what buck you wanted.  Now, your lucky to see anything at all...we saw/took more and nicer bucks last year in C zone out of Whitmore.

As far as the river goes, your best bet is to put in at Balls Ferry, and take out at Jellys Ferry.  It's pretty mellow, but you definitely don't want to anchor.  When those river boats blast upstream at 40 mph, you wouldn't stand a chance.  Best bet would probably be to boon-doggle roe and head for the bank when you hook up.  I'll be hunting through Sunday, but will head down to the river next week and scope things out.  It changes every year with the rainy season, and I haven't floated it yet this year.  If you've got a timeframe in mind, let me know.  The fish are starting to darken, but Nov/early Dec we'll get the late-fall run of the big guys.

Tight Lines,
Ben
www.ShastaOutdoors.com

I'm open the week of the 24 to 30th.  If it's on a weekend, I'm sure alot of the guys would give it a try.  If you want to guide a group of us down, that would be great.

How many miles down is the barge hole from Balls Ferry and how far is Jelly Ferry from Barge Hole.

Thanks for all the info.  

Jdyak/John

From Balls Ferry to Jelly's Ferry is a total of about 8 miles, with the Barge Hole right about in the middle.  The Barge Hole actually sits right at the mouth of Battle Creek, which has the Coleman National Fish Hatchery about 3 miles upstream.  That's what stacks the fish up.  There are other holes that can produce as well, but, with the winter flows come the change in the river bottom.  One of my favorite spots from last fall is now a gravel bar!

October is booked with hunting for me, but mid-Nov should work.  That will also give me a chance to get out and do some recon.  I have a trip coming up with a guide I work with, so I'll try to find some other holes, because the Barge Hole can literally be Nascar style fishing, and I don't really care to swap paint/plastic with a 22' North River.

Tight Lines,
Ben
www.ShastaOutdoors.com

We just bought some property (land only) in Cottonwood (@ Lake California).  The development has their own launch onto the Sac (also have a pretty good little bass lake).  Someone told me it's only about a 1/4-mile from there to the Barge Hole.  I can't wait to get something built up there so I have a base of operations!

Ben, I'll have to look you up on one of my trips up there.  Thanks for the good info!

Gordon

Ben..

Thanks again for all the info,  Keep us posted.

John

Quick update:

The salmon festival was held over the weekend, a buddy who went said the creek is absolutely stacked with fish.  He saw many caught off the gravel bar just below the Barge Hole.  I'll run down this evening to see for myself, and maybe cast a line...

Gordon- Lake California is pretty nice, a little too much like the Truman Show for me, but it is safe and quiet...and the lake also has some monster catfish.  Let me know the next time your in the area and we'll grab a brew.

Tight Lines,
Ben
www.ShastaOutdoors.com

I've made it down to the Barge Hole area about 5 times in the past two weeks, and finally landed a nice 18 lber last week.  We also got a 17, 20, & 25 lber, all from the bank (pics at www.ShastaOutdoors.com).  After experiencing the pull of these fish, the swiftness of the current, number of snags, and number of asshole jet-boaters, the kayak/salmon thing is just sounding dangerous.   Now don't get me wrong, I'm up for excitement, but you must be able to paddle/steer with the current, while still fighting the fish.  If your still interested, let me know, in the meantime, it's about time to knock down some birds.  Kayak-waterfowl season is upon us...

Tight lines,
Ben
www.ShastaOutdoors.com