Feather River Fishing Report
View the latest Feather River fishing report updates for current conditions, tips, and updates.
The fall run is on and the Feather is loading up with fish, as DWR's counting station has logged 5,901 Chinook since July 1. Bright kings are pushing through the high-flow section in waves, and anchored boats casting Silvertron-style spinners in the faster seams are putting fish in the net. The lower river from Shanghai Bend down toward the Hwy 99...
The fall run is on and the Feather is loading up with fish, as DWR's counting station has logged 5,901 Chinook since July 1. Bright kings are pushing through the high-flow section in waves, and anchored boats casting Silvertron-style spinners in the faster seams are putting fish in the net. The lower river from Shanghai Bend down toward the Hwy 99 bridge is producing well. The Thermalito Outlet is releasing about 6,850 cfs, with just 650 cfs trickling through the low-flow section in Oroville, for roughly 7,500 cfs below the Outlet, and that cooling water should keep pulling salmon upriver all month.
Fall-run steelhead typically start showing in September no news yet... keep an eye on the low-flow water as the month rolls on. The stretch from the Afterbay Outlet down to Live Oak closes to salmon Sept. 15, while below Live Oak to the Hwy 99 bridge stays open through Oct. 31, both with a 1-fish daily limit.
The Feather is fully blown out after the heavy rain, with chocolate water, strong current, and debris moving throughout the system. Visibility is near zero, and access is limited. Stripers are still around but buried in the mess, holding tight to whatever clarity they can find. A few are being picked off in slower seams, back eddies, and floodplain...
The Feather is fully blown out after the heavy rain, with chocolate water, strong current, and debris moving throughout the system. Visibility is near zero, and access is limited. Stripers are still around but buried in the mess, holding tight to whatever clarity they can find. A few are being picked off in slower seams, back eddies, and floodplain edges by soaking frozen bait, but reaction lure bites have been tough. Steelhead effort is minimal with flows this high. You’d have to push way upriver near Oroville to even begin finding fishable water. More storms are on the way, so expect conditions to stay blown out for now.
Bright Chinook are beginning to stack in the Thermalito outlet stretch (Section D), most running 10–20 lbs with a few pushing 25. The bite is building... boats are averaging 1 to 4 fish a day, with Silvertrons and Killerfish plugs (psych clown color) doing the work in the faster seams and holding slots. No sign of dark fish yet. Downriver, anglers...
Bright Chinook are beginning to stack in the Thermalito outlet stretch (Section D), most running 10–20 lbs with a few pushing 25. The bite is building... boats are averaging 1 to 4 fish a day, with Silvertrons and Killerfish plugs (psych clown color) doing the work in the faster seams and holding slots. No sign of dark fish yet. Downriver, anglers are also finding fish around Shanghai Bend.
Flows are stronger than normal for this reach, pushing salmon through in pulses. Section D remains open through Sept. 15, with Section E (Live Oak to Nicolaus Bridge) open until Oct. 31.
Stripers still hitting on jerkbaits near Live Oak. Steelhead are still around below the hatchery, mostly 2–5 pounders on egg patterns and crawlers.
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