The Sacramento River in Northern California is in it's final ten remaining days of the King Salmon season, open from July 16, 2016 to December 16, 2016. As the salmon season on the Sacramento River comes closer to its closure, the Late Fall Run Chinook salmon start to reach the peak of their run. And the first of the very endangered Winter Run Chinook Salmon on the Sacramento River make their showing. Thus the closing of the salmon fishing on the Sacramento  River as to protect every crucial Winter Run Chinook, who's existence hangs by a thread. Ironically the Winter Run Chinook Salmon on the Sacramento River was the largest of the four distinct runs of king salmon on the Sacramento River. Numbering over 400,000 annually prior to 1968 and the construction of the Red Bluff Diversion Dam in the city of Red Bluff, Ca on the Sacramento River. There has never been a Winter Run Chinook Salmon caught on the Sacramento River before the date of December 16th and no arrival of a Winter Run Chinook salmon has happened at Coleman National Fish Hatchery by the same mid December date. This was the reason for changing the initial closure date of December 31, 2016 on the Sacramento River during the early 2000's and their very memorable and outstanding late season salmon fishing through November and December.   

      As reported by Sacramento River fishing guide Mike Rasmussen with SalmonSacRiver.com on December 7, 2016, the salmon fishing on the Sacramento River in Northern California has been consistent for him in Colusa, Ca salmon fishing out of Steelhead Lodge for the most part. And salmon fishing up river all the way to the Barge Hole in Cottonwood, Ca was also steady for those who braved the sometimes cold weather and less then preferable water conditions. With water temps reaching 46 degrees in the early morning hours on the Sacramento River in Colusa, Ca. Rasmussen reports a daily boat catch rate of 1 to 3 Fall Run Chinook a day.  "Not red hot, but not super slow either." Reported Rasmussen on December 7, 2016. SalmonSacRiver.com salmon fishing guides have been anchoring in the morning using Klamath River style spinners in gold and copper with chartreuse beads on the wire. Then slow trolling or back bouncing T-60 flatfish wrapped with sardine in the deeper holes during the high sun hours from 10am until 2pm, finishing up the day with a hour or two of throwing glide baits and top water baits for Sacramento River striped bass. Which has also been consistent for Rasmussen landing a thick striped bass or two on their way back to Steelhead Lodge. A large group of hatchery ( fin clipped ) chinooks are making their charge up the Sacramento River and were reported to be at Woodson Bridge in Corning, Ca at press time.  With bad weather in the 7 Day forecast and a Sacramento River water level projected to reach 52ft on the Colusa, Ca bridge gauge, you can pretty much kiss the remainder of the 2016 salmon fishing season on the Sacramento River, GOODBYBE!!!  Although salmon fishing guide Mike Rasmussen reported to be cancelling remaining trips and calling it a end to the salmon season here in Northern California on the Sacramento River, it is important to remember just how much these big rains are needed to protect the future of our King Salmon here in Northern California on the Sacramento River.

     SalmonSacRiver.com will start striped bass and sturgeon fishing trips on Sacramento River after the New Year. And an occasional steelhead fishing trip on the Smith and Eel rivers may exist pending water conditions on the Sacramento River. Contact Mike Rasmussen to book in advance for 2017 sturgeon fishing on the Sacramento River. 530-722-8876 or online at SalmonSacRiver.com. Mike can also be reached via Email at salmonsacriver@gmail.com.

Mike's Fishing Guide & Charter Service For Sacramento River Fishing targeting King Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, Striped Bass, Sturgeon, Shad And Trout the best Sacramento River Fishing guide and Sacramento River Charter on Sac River