AM Charter Trip – 5:00 AM Start | $300 Per Angler
Private Trip
River Fishing
5:00 AM launch targets peak morning fish activityProfessional guide provides premium gear and local expertiseMaximum 4 anglers for personalized fishing instruction
If you're serious about fishing Sacramento's waters, you know the early bird gets the bite. Richard Lovitt's AM Charter Trip puts you right where you need to be when the action heats up – on the water at 5:00 AM sharp. This isn't just another fishing trip; it's your chance to fish with a seasoned local guide who knows every current, structure, and feeding pattern on Sacramento's top-rated waters. With sunrise painting the horizon and fish actively feeding, you'll experience Sacramento fishing at its absolute best. Richard keeps groups small – just 4 anglers max – so you get the personal attention and prime spots that make the difference between a good day and a legendary one.
Picture this: you're launching in the pre-dawn darkness, coffee steam rising from your mug as Richard fires up the motor. By the time the sun breaks the horizon, you're already positioned on productive water where Stripers patrol the shallows and Salmon cruise the deeper channels. This is prime time fishing – that magical window when Sacramento's fish are most active and aggressive. Richard's been guiding these waters for years, and he's dialed in the morning bite like few others can. You'll move between proven spots, adjusting tactics based on what the fish are telling you. Whether they're hitting topwater baits in the early light or requiring finesse presentations as the sun climbs higher, you'll have premium tackle and expert guidance every cast of the way. The intimate group size means no fighting for the best spots or waiting your turn – just pure, focused fishing time with a guide who genuinely wants to put fish in the boat.
Richard runs a well-equipped operation with quality rods, reels, and tackle suited for Sacramento's diverse fishery. Depending on conditions and target species, you'll employ everything from trolling with downriggers for deep Salmon to casting swimbaits for aggressive Stripers in shallow water. The beauty of fishing with a local expert is adapting to what's working right now – not what worked last month or what some online forum suggests. You might find yourself vertical jigging over structure for Lake Trout, drifting live bait through current breaks for Shad, or working the transition zones where different water temperatures meet. Richard knows which techniques produce on which spots, and more importantly, he reads the water conditions to make real-time adjustments. The boat is set up for comfort and efficiency, with plenty of rod holders, quality electronics to mark fish and structure, and all the tackle you need. You just bring yourself and your enthusiasm – everything else is handled.
Sacramento's Shad runs are legendary among local anglers, and for good reason. These scrappy fighters show up in massive schools during their spawning runs, typically peaking from late spring through early summer. Don't let their size fool you – Shad fight hard on light tackle and provide non-stop action when you locate a feeding school. They're perfect for anglers who love consistent bites and the challenge of reading schooling fish behavior. Richard knows exactly where these silver bullets stage up, and hitting a good Shad bite means your rod will be bent for hours.
Striped Bass are the crown jewel of Sacramento fishing, and these powerful predators offer some of the best sport fishing California has to offer. These fish can range from schoolie size up to true trophy specimens over 20 pounds, and they fight like freight trains when hooked. Stripers are ambush predators that use current, structure, and baitfish schools to their advantage. The early morning hours are prime time for Striper fishing, as they move into shallower water to feed before the day heats up. Richard's intimate knowledge of seasonal patterns and daily movements puts you on fish when they're most cooperative. Land a good Striper and you'll understand why anglers travel from across the country to fish Sacramento waters.
Lake Trout provide a completely different angling experience, often requiring deeper water presentations and patient tactics. These cold-water predators can grow impressively large and offer a methodical fight that tests your endurance. They're typically found in the deeper, cooler parts of the system and respond well to trolled presentations or vertical jigging techniques. The satisfaction of connecting with a quality Lake Trout is hard to match – they're beautiful fish with excellent table fare for anglers who enjoy their catch.
Chum Salmon runs bring excitement and challenge in equal measure. These Pacific salmon are strong, acrobatic fighters that provide some of the most heart-pounding action you'll find in Sacramento waters. During their spawning runs, Chum Salmon are focused and aggressive, but they're also selective about presentation and location. Richard's experience reading salmon behavior and water conditions dramatically improves your odds of connecting with these prized game fish. The fight of a fresh Chum Salmon is something every serious angler should experience – powerful runs, aerial displays, and the kind of battle that makes your drag sing.
Sacramento's morning bite doesn't wait for anyone, and neither should you. Richard's AM Charter Trip offers everything serious anglers want: expert local knowledge, quality equipment, productive water, and the personal attention that comes with small group fishing. At $300 per angler, you're getting access to a guide who's dedicated his career to understanding Sacramento's fishery and putting his clients on fish. The 5:00 AM start time might seem early, but it positions you perfectly for the day's best fishing opportunities. Whether you're targeting the explosive action of schooling Shad, the powerful runs of trophy Stripers, the methodical fight of deep-water Lake Trout, or the acrobatic battles with Chum Salmon, this trip delivers the Sacramento fishing experience you're looking for. Don't let another morning bite pass you by – book your spot with Richard and discover why early risers consistently catch the best fish on Sacramento waters.
This motorboat gets you on Sacramento's prime fishing waters right when the action starts heating up. Built for serious anglers, she's perfectly sized for intimate charters where you'll get plenty of one-on-one time with your guide. The early morning launch means you'll be casting lines while the fish are still actively feeding, giving you the best shot at landing Striper, Salmon, Shad, and Trout. Richard keeps this boat dialed in for productive fishing - from the rod holders to the live wells, everything's set up to maximize your time with lines in the water. The hull cuts through Sacramento's river currents smoothly, getting you to those honey holes where the big ones are lurking. Perfect for anglers who know the difference between a casual day on the water and a focused fishing mission.
Oncorhynchus KetaChum salmon average 24 inches and 9-22 pounds, making them solid mid-sized fighters in our Sacramento system. These fish are silver-bright in the ocean but develop distinctive vertical bars and olive-green coloring as they enter freshwater for spawning. They're anadromous, traveling incredible distances - sometimes 2,000 miles - to return to their natal streams. Fall is prime time as they stage in deeper water before moving upriver, typically holding 15-40 feet deep during the day and rising toward the surface at night. Anglers enjoy chums because they're aggressive fighters and good eating when caught fresh from saltwater. They're the most widely distributed Pacific salmon and can be surprisingly easy to spook. The trick is sight-casting to schools without putting your line right in the middle of them - cast a few feet off to the side and let your lure or fly drift into their zone. Chartreuse flies work great here.
Salvelinus NamaycushLake trout are the heavyweights of the char family, commonly reaching 15-40 pounds in our deeper Sacramento area waters. These cold-water fish have a grey-green coloring with cream-colored spots and prefer the deep, oxygenated parts of lakes and reservoirs. They're typically suspended in mid-water or hugging the bottom in depths of 40-100 feet, especially during warmer months. Spring right after ice-out and fall are prime times when they move shallower and feed more aggressively. Anglers appreciate lake trout for their size and the challenge of fishing deep water, plus they're excellent eating with firm, flaky meat. They're slow-growing fish that can live decades, making each catch special. My go-to technique is vertical jigging with spoons or swimbaits - the key is staying directly over them since they don't move far to chase bait. Work your lure with sharp lifts and let it flutter down.
Alosa SapidissimaAmerican Shad are the largest of the shad species, typically running 20-24 inches and weighing 3-5 pounds in our Sacramento River system. These silver-sided fish with their distinctive dark shoulder spots make their spawning runs from the ocean into our rivers during late spring, usually April through June. They're anadromous, spending most of their lives in saltwater but returning to freshwater to reproduce. Anglers love targeting shad because they're scrappy fighters for their size and excellent table fare - both the meat and roe are considered delicacies. They travel in schools and prefer areas with moderate current near the shoreline. Best fishing happens early morning or late evening when they're most active. Pro tip: use small white or yellow flies with red heads and cast within 30 feet of the bank where they avoid the main current while moving upstream.
Morone SaxatilisStripers are the backbone of our Sacramento fishery, with most fish running 20-40 pounds, though they can grow much larger. These distinctive fish with their seven to eight horizontal black stripes are structure-oriented, hanging around drop-offs, rock piles, and current breaks. They're adaptable fish that thrive in both salt and freshwater environments. Spring and fall offer the best action when they're actively feeding, but early morning trips like ours catch them during prime feeding times. Guests love stripers because they're powerful fighters and make excellent eating with their sweet, flaky meat. They prefer moving water and cooler temperatures, which is why that 5 AM start pays off. Here's a local tip: focus on areas where current meets structure, and don't be afraid to fish live bait like shad or anchovies right on the bottom - stripers often feed down there even when you'd expect them up top.
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