Fishing Report

JD Richey JD Richey

Big Sturgeon Happening Now!

We had been seeing some really nice sturgeon action lately on really big fish. Most of them are oversize but if you like to pull on a giant, now the time to go! 

The fish have been running mostly 80+ pounds lately and we had an 8 footer last night that was well in excess of 200 pounds. Pretty dang fun!

 

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JD Richey JD Richey

Steelhead Seminars this week!

No fishing the rest of the week for me...I’ll be over at the Interntional Sportsmen’s Exposition and will be doing seminars on steelhead fishing. Hope to see you there!  

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JD Richey JD Richey

Sturgeon on Tap

Switched it up this week and started chasing dinosaurs. Between bouts of wind, we have been catching some nice fish — and seeing lots and lots on the meeter. With more rain coming in, the water will get muddier and warmer and the action is just going to get better and better.  Here’s a 58 incher Chelsea released today...

 

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JD Richey JD Richey

Steelheading Picking UP After the Rain

The change in the weather brought some steelhead into the region and fishing was pretty decent last time out. We caught plenty of half pounders and 3 smallish adults in the 3-pound class. The interesting thing was the adult fish were colored up, like maybe they were hung up downriver waiting for the rain...

Speaking of steelhead, don't forget to come by the Sacramento International Sportsmen's Expo next week (Thurs-Sun). I'll be giving winter steelhead seminars on Thursday and again on Saturday in the California Sportsmen's Theater in the main fishing hall. Stop by and say hi!

 

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JD Richey JD Richey

American Opener Slow

The much anticipated American River steelhead opener was very tough… There were lots and lots of boats and lots and lots of people. And — several sea lions all the way up to Sailor Bar as well!

I only heard of one Steelhead caught — luckily it was on my boat: this little hatchery hen that we released...

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Prior to the opener, I had been seeing quite a bit of action from small adults and halfpiunders so the upper opener was a bit of a shocker. So, I’ll go back down into the stretch below Ancil Hoffman and work that until the top starts to fish better.  

 

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JD Richey JD Richey

We’re back...and fishing!

After our South American adventure, I snuck in a trip to Berryessa on Christmas Eve and the fishing was very very good. We caught a mess of rainbows in the 2-3 pound range then spooned for bass and crappie as well. Nice mixed bag.  

With Striper fishing slow due to the cold, I’ll be fishing the lake more in the upcoming couple weeks — and don’t forget the American opens to Steelhead in Jan. 1

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JD Richey JD Richey

Back in the USA!

Sorry for the lack of reports but I was in Patagonia for most of December. We were exploring some new guiding opportunities and man, the potential is amazing!  

 

Ill fill you in later but here are some pix of the jaw dropping scenery! 

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JD Richey JD Richey

It’s Striper Time!!

I did my final salmon trip of the year just before Thanksgiving and we ended up with one so I switched to Delta stripers and we hare been seeing some really nice fish on topwater, swimbaits and jigs so far this early season!  

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A nice big hen caught & released. 

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C&R topwater fun! 

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Another nice popper bass that will live to fight another day! 

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Solid one! 

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Double header spoon bite! If you are gonna eat some, these are the right size. Let the big ladies go... 

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A few stripers on the meter... 

That’s a wrap on the 2017 North American king season! 

That’s a wrap on the 2017 North American king season! 

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JD Richey JD Richey

Good King Action (Still!)

The beat keeps on going...good king salmon fishing continues as we are still seeing nice action each day trolling the Sac Valley.  

 

Sadly, my phone went over the side last week so I lost a bunch of pix but here are a few from Yesterday.... 

 

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JD Richey JD Richey

Best Salmon Action of the Season...& some bigger ones too!

It's been a really, reality good week of salmon fishing on the Sac, where trolling has been the hot ticket. This has been the best action, day-to-day, of the season so far!

I keep hearing about party boats out in the Salt still catching kings too so we look to be poised to get some more fish soon! 

While this has mostly been a small fish year, we started seeing much larger kings this week, with several in the mid to high 20-pound range. 

For the first time in months, my schedule opens up next week, so now's a great time to hop aboard !

 

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JD Richey JD Richey

The hits keep on comin'!

The king salmon fishing in the Sacramento River has been steady lately...and some larger fish started showing this week too. Here are some pix from the past couple days...

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JD Richey JD Richey

Nice, Bright Kings!

Today was one of those days that makes me lay awake and stare at the ceiling fan in the middle of the night.  


We caught two beautiful kings on the Sac...but it was the "what could have been" that's haunting me a bit. We had 8-10 other Bites that snapped the rod down and just didn't stick. Deep down I know that's just how the ball bounces sometimes. We'll land everything that bites one day and then we'll miss some on others. But still, I'm always analyzing, always thinking of ways to improve my game. 

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JD Richey JD Richey

Sac & American

Fished the Sac & American the past couple days. The fish on the Sac were brighter but the American's kings were a little more numerous though darker.  

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JD Richey JD Richey

Tougher Bite

I was really pumped to get these two super nice ladies into their first ever salmon today. The bite was slow though we actually would have had limits if all the grabs stuck. Wind coming up for the weekend.... 

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JD Richey JD Richey

Fresh Kings Coming Through!​

On Thursday, we had a nice day of catching bright kings on the Sac but the bite was a little off on Friday though we still managed to hook 4 and land 2. 

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JD Richey JD Richey

Good Fishing on the Sac & American

I have been bouncing back and forth between the American and Sacramento rivers lately and have been finding some pretty nice action. Seems like the American's kings are finally in-bound and the fishing is getting better daily!  

 

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Weds was a good Day! 

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Some nice Americano action! 

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The Feather is about done... 

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JD Richey JD Richey

Sac chromers taking over as Feather salmon bite mysteriously dies

Wow, what a difference a few days makes! After limiting early on Salmon on the Feather on Friday, I headed back to the Sacramento for some chrome. It was a good thing, too, as my guide buddies who stayed up there said the bite dropped off dramatically. The water levels are coming down quickly on the Feather and it seems as if no new fish are coming through. 

Luckily, there are some absolutely gorgeous kings pushing up the Sac now and we have been picking off some dandies. Looks like I may be sticking to that from now on...and, of course, the American, when it kicks on. Here are some Sac beauties from Sunday. Monday I headed for a little fun fishing at the Pyramid opener and then cancelled Tuesday due to wind....

 

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JD Richey JD Richey

Great light tackle egg bite

Drifting eggs on light spinning gear today resulted in a great bite! This has been a major jack year but they have been on the chew so I'm not complaining! 

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JD Richey JD Richey

Good Salmon Bite!

The past few days have been producing some very good salmon action. We have been catching everything on light spinning gear away from the crowds! 

Good times!  

I do have some room here and there next month if you'd like to get in on the fun.  

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