American River Salmon Oct 30 & 31st weekend

How do you rig/fish for river salmon? I've never done it from a yak, any info would be helpful.

Thanks

There are many methods like the K12 sardine wrap as already mentioned and spoons the gaudier the better. Like the ones below the first one already has imitation row already on it. Anything flashy that will catch their attention.

If im not giving a go at the last rock fish day I'd really like to join. I have fished salmon from shore for years on the Trinity and Klamath. Never before from a kayak. I really want to try that kwikfish method.

My style up north morphed into almost exclusively using mepps #4 and #5 slow retrieved bouncing the bottom. The great thing about that is steelhead hit those as well. On the AR do you have to go barbless as well? And can you use trebles or singles?

On the AR do you have to go barbless as well? And can you use trebles or singles?

From the SMUD powerlines at the southwest boundary of Ancil Hoffman park to the mouth there is no special fishing regulations regarding barbless hooks. From the powerlines to the mouth is where the salmon season is open. The barbless restristiction is only from the Hazel Ave. bridge piers (down stream from Nimbus Dam) to the SMUD powerlines.

Here are the hook restrictions

2.10. Hook and Weight Restrictions.
(a) Definition of Gap: For the purposes of this section, “gap” means the distance measured from the point of a hook to the shank.
(b) Maximum Gaps and Gear Rigging for Rivers and Streams unless otherwise provided (does not apply to lakes and reservoirs, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (see Section 1.71 for definition of the Delta), and the Colorado River).
1. No person shall use any single hook with a gap greater than 1 inch or any multiple hook with a gap greater than 3/4 inch.
2. It is unlawful to use any hook which is directly or indirectly attached closer than 18 inches to any weight exceeding 1/2 ounce.
3. It is unlawful to use any multiple hook or more than one single hook on non-buoyant lures exceeding one ounce.
4. It is unlawful to use any weight directly attached below a hook.
(c) Maximum Gaps for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (see Section 1.71 for definition of the Delta).
1. No person shall use any single hook with a gap greater than 1 inch or any multiple hook with a gap greater than 3/4 inch.

can the salmon be any size?

If im not giving a go at the last rock fish day I'd really like to join.

RF is open til Nov 15 down here (from Santa cruz south). So you've got time to do both!

I went to the AR salmon fest a couple times and it was pretty disappointing, so I'm not surprised they canceled it. If I go to Nimbus, it's more exciting to watch my son throw pellets into the trout raceways there...he really likes that!

Abdiver and striper slayer....thanks guys for sharing your knowledge on AR setups..
I am still smarting from our multiple skunks in the Benecia area when they came thru...its nice to know we can get a 2nd go at them.

I appreciate your help...looks like road trips in Nov..plus we got to cover RF before that closes so mucho driving......work work work

dave

Not sure if I can make it next weekend or not yet... But will totally be down for Nov. trips too!   

Hey erik, i might make it down for saturday or sunday, which ever day is best for you since the ocean looks kinda snotty.  gotta double check with wifey first but so far i'm thinking i'm a go.

where you planning to launch? are you planning to paddle back to the launch or do a shuttle drift?  i would think there's more fish towards discovery but it would be interesting to look around a bit more.  i really only know the american up towards sailor so this is going to be pretty much all new water to me.

i've been hearing people say there are lots of salmon in the river up towards the powerlines, but that place is likely to be a zoo..

Yeah guys, the skinny AR waters will be packed with every guided jet sled within driving range!

Add to that a bunch of drift boats, bankers and probably some pleasure craft and you have a typical central valley salmon opener!

Should be interesting with a bunch of kayaks thrown into the mix...

I don't know what the best approach is, but maybe we should do a little flight plan/coordination before Sat.

Who's up for launching at the mouth and paddling upriver? Other ideas?

novofish

i'm guessing the river will be busy for bankies near ancil hoffman and the islands.  downstream towards the mouth will be all of the PBs launching from discovery...spread out in between will be the drift boats and jet boats. i was thinking that the river bend area might be a little bit cleaner in terms of boat traffic.  but I don't know all of the launch spots at all - places with decent portage.  I just picked up a new kayak that is a little more portable than my current one, but its still a lot of work to carry with all the fishing gear. i do have a set of wheeleez though, and i'm more than willing to do a shuttle drift if anyone is up for it.  i think saturday is a go for me.

I'd anticipate more bank than boat action (with the exception of drift boats). F&G is probably going to deter boaters looking to break the 5 mph rule plus with the flows so low, boats access will be limited...with that said im looking to launch at gristmill and move up river to a nice hole right below the goethe rapids...if I find drift boats that high, im breaking out the steelhead gear and heading to sunrise for some half pounder action. Ill probably hit the river harder in mid nov, once the crowds recede.

s_s, gristmill sounds like exactly what i'm looking for. you gonna be out there sat?  what time you launching? I should be ready to go by first light.

Ill be ready by 5 am, probably grab some breakfast on the way to be at the gate right when the park opens. I'm up for having a meetup somewhere nearby. There's a mcdonalds down the street on folsom blvd right by the freeway.

when does the gate open?

Ill be heading out of Howe park access! Its rite their for me and i kno every lil hole in this section of the river pretty well! I agree w/ Striper S. that their will be a lot of bankies more up river and more pb boats from  howe down to the mouth! I pretty much figure any spot right now is as good any other! Plus, stingers(a bar w/ great food), mcdonalds, taco bell, and a liqour store are right there next to howe Park for a possible Chill after everybody is done fishin for the day! The weather forecast is showing rain all Sat. so How long can U fish for out there is a good question! I plan on being out there very early as well and get into my spot before a boater does and probably get off around Noon or so! If anybody wants to go out of Howe and/or wants to Chill and have somthing to eat afterwards let me know! Fw