About San Joaquin River, CA

The San Joaquin River is central California’s longest river. The river is formed from forks coming from the Sierra Nevada and flows southwest and then north-northwest towards the city of Stockton. It then joins the Sacramento river on Suisun Bay after a course of 366 miles. It flows and sustains the highly agricultural areas in northern San Joaquin Valley and is a great place for wildlife in the area. Aside from these, the river also provides clean water to thousands of people. 

Despite its importance, the river has suffered from human activities. The area has several dams built unto it, such as the Friant Dam northeast of Fresno. These dams divert the river’s waters towards other areas, disrupting the natural flow of the river. Because of this, there are parts of the river that have dried up and ended what used to be the country’s biggest spring run of chinook salmon. 

Because of these, efforts have been made to restore the river. Laws such as the 2009 San Joaquin River Settlement Act allowed federal agencies to enact measures to re-water dried areas and restore the once plentiful salmon populations in the area. In 2020, spring chinook salmon has once again returned from the ocean to spawn in the river. 

All About Fishing in San Joaquin River, CA

Although it has seen better days, San Joaquin River still has a lot of gamefish to offer for anglers wishing to go there. Fish such as the rainbow, brown, and brook trout, largemouth and striped bass, and chinook salmon can be found in the river’s waters. The shallow waters of the river are the perfect spot to cast your line and snag some trout, or if you’re lucky, even one of the returning salmon. The river also has a lot of tributaries that contain a lot of trout and even catfish. 

In terms of fishing techniques, fly fishing is one of the most popular techniques used by anglers to catch gamefish in the area. A lot of the action in this river is situated on its South fork, the river’s largest branch. So if you’re new here the best place to start is there. Other good fishing spots are in the Montezuma Slough, Sherman Lake, Edison Lake, Florence Lake, and the eight-mile tailwater section below the mammoth pole. Do note that some of these fishing spots require you to hike to reach them. Be sure to be fully prepared for this so that you won’t suffer any problems. When out looking for salmon, anglers are advised to practice catch and release to preserve the number of salmon. Since they have only recently returned to the river, salmon numbers are still pretty small. 

First-time anglers can ask for assistance from the many fishing guides in the area. Or, you can also avail of the services of the fishing charters. These fishing charters provide a wide range of services to anglers who wish to make the most of their fishing trip. If you’re not sure how to tackle the San Joaquin River just yet, try availing of their services to get to know the river better.

Fishing Seasonality

Fishing is an all-year-round activity in the San Joaquin River. The best time to go to the San Joaquin River is from late April to mid-November. Summer is usually the best time to cast your line in the river, as the fish are most active during this time. If you’re feeling lucky, you can try catching the newly returned chinook salmon in the river during its spring run. If you want to go there during January or February, you can catch a lot of white sturgeon in its waters as well. 

Fishing Seasonality

Fishing is an all-year-round activity in the San Joaquin River. The best time to go to the San Joaquin River is from late April to mid-November. Summer is usually the best time to cast your line in the river, as the fish are most active during this time. If you’re feeling lucky, you can try catching the newly returned chinook salmon in the river during its spring run. If you want to go there during January or February, you can catch a lot of white sturgeon in its waters as well. 

All About Fishing in San Joaquin River, CA

Although it has seen better days, San Joaquin River still has a lot of gamefish to offer for anglers wishing to go there. Fish such as the rainbow, brown, and brook trout, largemouth and striped bass, and chinook salmon can be found in the river’s waters. The shallow waters of the river are the perfect spot to cast your line and snag some trout, or if you’re lucky, even one of the returning salmon. The river also has a lot of tributaries that contain a lot of trout and even catfish. 

In terms of fishing techniques, fly fishing is one of the most popular techniques used by anglers to catch gamefish in the area. A lot of the action in this river is situated on its South fork, the river’s largest branch. So if you’re new here the best place to start is there. Other good fishing spots are in the Montezuma Slough, Sherman Lake, Edison Lake, Florence Lake, and the eight-mile tailwater section below the mammoth pole. Do note that some of these fishing spots require you to hike to reach them. Be sure to be fully prepared for this so that you won’t suffer any problems. When out looking for salmon, anglers are advised to practice catch and release to preserve the number of salmon. Since they have only recently returned to the river, salmon numbers are still pretty small. 

First-time anglers can ask for assistance from the many fishing guides in the area. Or, you can also avail of the services of the fishing charters. These fishing charters provide a wide range of services to anglers who wish to make the most of their fishing trip. If you’re not sure how to tackle the San Joaquin River just yet, try availing of their services to get to know the river better.