October can yield some of the fall runs biggest King salmon of the year!  These big salmon start to pile up in some of the deepest holes in the Sacramento River from Anderson to Corning and get very aggressive when when they are concentrated in certain areas of the river.  Some really big salmon are taken on plugs every year, but they will often times be caught on roe as well.  Whatever method you choose to use, big Kings are now available and we're catching a few each day.  These 30 plus pound Kings are 4 year old salmon and they are a bit more weary than their underclassmen so catching them is an accomplishment for any angler.  The Sacramento River is one of the last river systems in California to host abundant runs of large King salmon and October is prime time!  By the end of October, we will see many of these big Kings enter the spawning phase of their lifecycle and catching them won't be an every day option.  Many of these big King salmon will be making their way up Battle Creek to the Coleman National Fish Hatchery.  For individuals or families who can't make it out to fish for these amazing King salmon, Coleman Hatchery in Anderson, Ca. will be opening to the public beginning Octeber 3rd.  This is a great chance to view these majestic fish, and to watch and learn more about how the salmon are spawned in a hatchery environment.  October is the best time to visit Coleman Hatchery and I highly recommend it!  As much time as I get to spend on the Sacramento River fishing for salmon, I always make time to visit the hatchery this time of the year.

Capt. Jeff G.