Trout Action at Folsom Lake Plus Surprise Chinook Spawn | The Fish Sniffer

Trout Action at Folsom Lake Plus Surprise Chinook Spawn

Developed in paid partnership with Tom Mailey
Trout Action at Folsom Lake Plus Surprise Chinook Spawn

There seems to be a decent bite for small wild trout in the main body right now. Fish aren't huge - most are between 12 and 14" but that could be a great sign for this spring. The more interesting thing is a number of small chinook are being hooked (and hopefully released!). They are running 10-12" and, since there were no salmon plants last year (last one was in '24) these fish have to be naturally spawned in the river arms. For those who don't know, until 2008 DFW planted non-sterilized chinook in Folsom and some of those fish established spawning runs up the river arms. After that, there were no plants again for 8 years but we kept catching salmon, so DFW did a survey and confirmed that's what was happening. Despite wildly fluctuating water conditions since then, it appears enough descendents of those pre-'08 salmon are spawning to keep a somewhat "wild" strain of landlocked chinook going in Folsom. Pretty cool!

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Tom Mailey

Tom Mailey

Get The Net Fishing Guide Service

Tom Mailey is a Northern California fishing guide with deep Puget Sound roots and more than 30 years of chasing salmon and trout on local waters. He launched Get The Net in 2020 while still working as the "Tom" on the Pat, Tom and Cody Show for 32 years, but he retired from radio in May 2025 to guide full-time on lakes like Folsom, Collins, Amador, and others across NorCal. Fully licensed, bonded, insured, and holding a USCG OUPV certification, he specializes in trout and landlocked salmon trips that suit beginners and experienced anglers alike. Expect hands-on instruction, access to the best spots, and plenty of stories from a lifetime on the water.

Book a trip with Tom, call 916-521-4641

Volume 45 Issue 2 Out Now!

Volume 45 Issue 2 Out Now!