Sacramento River around Red Bluff...kayak-fishable?

So I've been mulling over this idea for the last couple years of trying to do a kayak trip on the big ole Sac River in the Red Bluff area for salmon.  Several years ago I caught a nice Chinook from shore in this area (right next to the Hwy 99/36 bridge), and from the little I've seen of the river from I-5 it looks like there'd be a couple decent holes to fish in the vicinity.

Has anyone in NCKA kayak fished in this area?  Know of any launch sites?  Will I get run over by powerboats?  If I make this trip it'd most likely be in early September, while the Trinity is running high.  Thanks for any input guys.  And, if anyone wants to hook up to give it a shot, feel free to join  .

Never done it but I know it's doable. I'd love to go. What about an over night? As far as power boaters go, just stay out of the barge hole.

I'm in. 
I've floated the Sac from Redding down to Red Bluff a few times, once you get below the Deschutes Bridge in Anderson salmon are fair game and there are a number of slots (mouth of Cow Creek, mouth of Cottonwood Creek, Barge Hole, Inks, the canyon...).  My plan would be to drop in at Balls Ferry, and focus on the stretch down to the Jelly's Ferry bridge.  LOTS of boat traffic in this stretch, but with the mouth of Battle Creek being here it really kegs up the fish.  I wouldn't fish the Barge Hole itself, just too damn crowded.  Going paint-to-plastic with 100 North Rivers just isn't my idea of a good idea, nor a good time.

But, I have been wanting to work the stretch above and below, side-drifting roe.  I think this would be the ticket, but am open to ideas.  Fisheducator have been talking about making a run, I might jam down this Saturday to scope things out.

Never done it but I know it's doable. I'd love to go. What about an over night? As far as power boaters go, just stay out of the barge hole.

Right on Jeff  .  In that case I'll start doing some research on potential launch sites.  An overnighter would be fun, I haven't done an overnight river kayak trip since 2011.  How do Hobies handle on rivers?  Or should I just go with a paddle 'yak?  I've heard mixed opinions on Mirage Drives in current.

Im in if you want company...over. ight or two works for me

I'm in. 
I've floated the Sac from Redding down to Red Bluff a few times, once you get below the Deschutes Bridge in Anderson salmon are fair game and there are a number of slots (mouth of Cow Creek, mouth of Cottonwood Creek, Barge Hole, Inks, the canyon...).  My plan would be to drop in at Balls Ferry, and focus on the stretch down to the Jelly's Ferry bridge.  LOTS of boat traffic in this stretch, but with the mouth of Battle Creek being here it really kegs up the fish.  I wouldn't fish the Barge Hole itself, just too damn crowded.  Going paint-to-plastic with 100 North Rivers just isn't my idea of a good idea, nor a good time.

But, I have been wanting to work the stretch above and below, side-drifting roe.  I think this would be the ticket, but am open to ideas.  Fisheducator have been talking about making a run, I might jam down this Saturday to scope things out.

Awesome Ben, it'd be great to have you with us to share your knowledge of the river!  I've only fished the Sac a few times, either via drift boat or powerboat.  I remember Barge Hole being a shit-show, so I agree on passing that up.  I hope my roe from last year is still okay!  Otherwise I might have to turn it into tuna balls or something  .

Yeah, the Barge Hole is something everyone should experience once....and only once.  Here's a pretty good summary on the Barge Hole and the gravel bar below it, which used to be one of my favorite slots before it got blown-up online http://www.myoutdoorbuddy.com/fishing_report.php?fishing=6400

There's quite a few good spots to overnight, some nice big sand bars below Inks Creek, just below where this shot was taken.  Below that section, it gets narrower and deeper with lots of swirly stuff, then opens up into nice water again above the Bend Bridge.

I'd leave the mirage drive at home for the river. Not sure about that stretch but up here there's too many shallow spots and bumps. I took a coosa down through town for a tourism video last week, the river is up flowing pretty good right now.

With plenty of notice, I would be down for an over night kayak trip.  I've never been on the Sac and would love to go along.

I'd leave the mirage drive at home for the river. Not sure about that stretch but up here there's too many shallow spots and bumps. I took a coosa down through town for a tourism video last week, the river is up flowing pretty good right now.

+1 on leaving the mirage drive at home, Ben & I hit it last year and instantly I had problems on the Outback. The current grabbed my rudder/mirage and man handled me. Kicking as hard as I could I still could not make headway upriver. I pulled the rudder/mirage for the rest of the trip. I believe the CFS was @ 9,000. Hell yes , count me in.... I think this next trip I'll take the wife's OK instead of the Outback though.

P.S. - FYI, we only did from Redding to Anderson park

Yeah things did get a bit squirrly on that one!  I think the flows were peak summer and more like 13k cfs or so.
I wouldn't recommend running the mirage drive, a nice clean deck with minimal yard sale potential is pretty key.

Cool, thanks for the tips on the Mirage Drive guys.  Now I'll have to ask myself: should I bring the heavy Revo 13 with paddle and extra gear space, or go with the faster and lighter Scrambler with less gear space?  Decisions, decisions.  I've been able to utilize dry bags and bungees on the Scrambler for overnighter Trinity floats.  But I'm guessing there aren't any portages necessary on this section of the Sac, right?  So a heavier boat wouldn't be as much of an issue?

Depending on day... I would be game! Always wanted to float the Sac but not alone.

No portaging, it's all good.
I've run my Quest (13'), my old Pro-Ex (12'), and my Mini-X (9'), and I have to say that I prefer the smaller boat.  It's just quicker to respond/turn.  But, the bigger yaks handled it fine too.  I'd probably run the Revo if I were you, that inside storage is nice to have.

Anyone want to throw some dates on the calendar?  Ideally we should wait until the irrigation flows stop, then the river will be down in the 4,500 cfs range which would help us out...but, that's not going to happen until October.

I wanna do this!!!

-Allen