The start to the Late Fall Run Chinook Salmon fishery on the upper Sacramento River has been solid. Private anglers along with salmon fishing guides, who are willing to put in their time, are being rewarded with a nasty plug bite, and the tenacious fight that follows. These late fall kings are primarily targeted with “plugs”! Kwikfish, Flatfish, and Killerfish! Personally my favorite way to catch any king salmon. However the hours spent fishing these salmon lures can be daunting to say the least. While properly presented plugs are deadly. When using them incorrectly....well, it could make for a long day of fishing. Let’s put it that way. There is no better place to test out your plug game, then at the famous Barge Hole. Located a few miles due south of the Roosters Landing boat launch in Anderson, Ca. Where the majority of the late run salmon fishing has been taking place thus far in 2021.

Salmon fishing at the Barge Hole for these late run of chinook salmon isn’t for the fare weathered angler. Let me be frank about this! It is either rainy and wet, windy and cold, or foggy and frozen! These conditions vary from week to week as the season progresses. However the fall scenery gives back what the weather may steal from this time of year. The salmon? They couldn’t come any better! These fish are clean, and can be very large. Always mean and ready to chomp all over a properly presented plug. These are quality king salmon by anyones standard. The Late Full Run Chinook salmon lack in run numbers what they make up for with aggressiveness. There are certainly not nearly as many of these salmon around during this particular run, as there are during the Fall Run Chinook run (August, September, October). A good day of Late Fall salmon fishing would be concluded with a fish per rod average. A typical day will land you somewhere between 2-4 kings. Again this is a quality over quantity fishery. Personally it’s my favorite part of the Sacramento River’s six month long salmon season.

Salmon fishing guides and salmon fishing charters have congregated at the famous Barge Hole over the past two weeks. Joined by a handful of recreational salmon anglers on the weekends. The Sacramento River has been extremely low and slow to clear. Water clarity being a issue since the big rain storms that saturated the north state in late October and early November. The entire Lake Shasta water storage is still murky for the most part. Pumping stained water into the Sacramento River in Redding, Ca. Making salmon fishing condition on the Sacramento River more difficult for anglers. The salmon would be more willing to chase down a plug if the river water were to be a little more on the clear side. This hasn’t stopped salmon fishing guides like Kirk Portocarrero of Outdoor Adventures. Or salmon fishing guide Robert Petty of North State Salmon. From successfully targeting these bright kings in the stained river water of the Barge Hole. Robert Weese of Northern California Guide Service who is no stranger to this late season salmon fishery. Has also been in the hole picking off his share of newly arriving late run king salmon. As well as Sacramento River salmon fishing charter service SalmonSacRiver. Owned and operated by Mike Rasmussen. Who has been frequenting the hole since the fishery started fishing during the first week of November. Persistent plug fishing has payed off for these guide services and there clients on most outings. The reality exists in the fact that this fishery will hand everyone a ass kicking on random occasions. Keeping even the best fishing guides humbled after a entire day spent wrapping and drowning Kwikfish, Killerfish, or Flatfish. Only to end up with no salmon at the end of the day. This is a rare reality of this fishery, however it does exist.

For the most part fishing was solid over the past two weeks. A handful of new incoming kings check into the barge hole daily. Adding to the pool of late run chinooks that are accumulating at their final destination. The fishing guides working the hole have been able to yank out a few salmon everyday for their clients. Remember this is a quality over quantity fishery. A few bright, quality, hard biting, and hard fighting late run king salmon, is a good day. Salmon fishing in or around the Barge Hole will continue to stay consistent. Gradually improving as we move closer to mid December. When this late fall chinook salmon run will reach it’s peak. Staying as so until the season closure on December 31, 2021. Weather permitting of course! One month of the 2021 salmon season on the Sacramento River remains. December! My personal favorite month to salmon fish. Hope to see you out on the river.

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.