Freshwater · Best winter to spring, especially in wet years and floodplain flows
Sacramento Splittail
Pogonichthys macrolepidotus
A distinctive minnow found only in the Sacramento-San Joaquin system, named for its greatly enlarged upper tail lobe. It is a floodplain specialist whose numbers swing with wet years — abundant after flooded winters, scarce after dry ones.
Seasons · Peak
Identifying features
- Greatly enlarged upper lobe of the forked tail — the namesake split tail
- Large, obvious scales on a silvery-olive, elongated body
- Small mouth with tiny barbels at the corners
- Long, low dorsal fin set well back on the body
- Spawning males develop reddish fins and tubercles; found only in the Sacramento-San Joaquin system
Habits
- Floodplain specialist — spawns and feeds on flooded fields and bypasses
- Numbers swing strongly with wet years and winter flooding
- Feeds on bottom invertebrates, detritus and small crustaceans in sloughs
- Tolerates brackish Delta water and moves widely with flows
- Spawns in late winter and spring over flooded vegetation
Distribution
Where to find them
- Delta sloughs around the Sacramento and San Joaquin channels
- Yolo and Sutter bypass edges in wet winters
- Lower Sacramento River slow margins in winter and spring
Where they live
How to catch them
Worms and shrimp in Delta sloughs in winter and spring River
Rig: Light to medium rod, bottom rig with size 4-8 hook and worm or shrimp, fished in Delta sloughs and floodplain waters in winter and spring
Bait/lure: Worms, grass shrimp
Key tip: Fish after rain and rising water in wet years — splittail move onto flooded ground to feed and spawn.
Bottom fishing on spawning migrations Boat
Rig: Boat or bank bottom rig with small baits, set along channels leading into flooded fields during the late-winter migration
Bait/lure: Worm pieces, shrimp
Key tip: Target the channels and drains fish use to reach flooded fields; keep baits small and on the bottom.
Best baits & lures
Baseline setup
- Rod: Light to medium 6-7 ft spinning rod
- Line: 6-10 lb mono
- Terminal: Size 4-8 hooks, sliding sinkers, small floats
Recommended gear for this species
Rod · Best value
9' 5-weight fly rod outfit
≈ US$180-260
Covers chironomid lakes and small rivers with one setup.
Flies · Budget
Chironomid assortment (30 patterns)
≈ US$25-40
Chironomids are 60% of a lake rainbow's diet in spring.
Picks come from our rule library — never paid placements. Prices are guides; affiliate links may earn us a commission.
Typical size
Common 10-14 in (25-36 cm); large fish to about 18 in (46 cm)
On the table
Fair — coarse and bony; check current California regulations and limits before keeping any.
Similar species
Sacramento PikeminnowPikeminnow is a slim predator with a huge duck-bill mouth and a normally forked tail; splittail has a small mouth, large scales and a hugely enlarged upper tail lobe
HitchHitch is deeper-bodied with a small upturned mouth and no enlarged tail lobe; splittail is more elongated with large scales and the split upper tailRegulations vary by area and can change in-season — always check the official rules for your area before you fish. Regulations guide →
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