The recent rainfall delivered to our parched NorCal outdoors was desperately needed. And it did not disappoint. Widespread, heavy precipitation, delivered via strong Pacific Ocean low pressure systems. Brought life back into local waterways. Some of which had reached historic “lows” (water levels) by this autumn. Although the recent storms were a welcome sight to NorCal sportsman. It signaled the end of the 2021 Fall Run Chinook Salmon run. For all salmon fishing enthusiasts. Including salmon fishing guides. Their season ending abruptly when major rainfall runoff swelled all tributaries of the Sacramento River.  Triggering a instinctual drive to proceed with their (chinook salmon) migration into the swollen tribs. Concluding the final step in their migration, and their quest to reproduce. This extremely wet weather event, in turn emptied the Sacramento River’s salmon population out. Over night!

As the Sacramento River’s Fall Run Chinook Salmon season comes to a end. The big and dime bright Late Fall Run Chinook start to arrive.  A completely separate run of chinook salmon. Genetically different then the Fall Run Chinook. What they lack in numbers, they make up for with their aggressiveness. Always willing to strike a properly presented plug. The 2021 salmon season on the Sacramento River concludes on December 31, 2021. Allowing salmon enthusiasts the ability to chase these chrome kings around the Sacramento River for around two more months. The Late Fall Run Chinook Salmon season on the Sacramento River will be peaking out from around Thanksgiving to the season closure on December 31, 2021. Great salmon fishing will be expected during this time. Weather permitting of course.

The salmon fishing scene in NorCal this week will take the backseat to the opening of California’s waterfowl opener, and the final week of California’s deer seasons. The Sacramento River will need some time to drop and come back into shape before anglers can once again resume chasing chrome.