“Dime piece”, “dimer”, “dime”, “dime bright”. All appropriate descriptive nicknames for the Late Fall Run Chinook Salmon that are currently being caught on the Sacramento River. Full of silver scales, these unique King Salmon shine like a new dime. Arguably the best Chinook Salmon of the year on the Sacramento River. These Nooks waist no time arriving in the upper river. December is always the peak of this species migration. This year is no exception to the rule. Every day right now this late run of “nooks” (chinook) has new fish moving into the system. After entering freshwater the large group of chinooks that came from the ocean break up into smaller groups. From say maybe a half a dozen to even just a single salmon. Spreading out before charging up the Sacramento River makes for consistent salmon fishing. Keep in mind there are far less late run kings then there are early run kings. However the quality of these late run kings is unprecedented in comparison to the early run.

The Late Fall Run Chinook Salmon fishing has been wide spread in the upper Sacramento River over the past three weeks. The head of the run reached the famous Barge Hole just before the Sacramento River “blew out” ( became muddy) for the first time this season. Most of the newly arriving late fall kings that had shown up in the days prior to the river blowing out. Took advantage of the elevated river flows and followed what few salmon that previously existed in the Barge Hole, up Battle Creek to Coleman National Fish Hatchery. Legendary Sacramento River fishing guide Kirk Portocarrero reported the best day of salmon fishing all year took place the day prior to the large storm rolling in. Kirk reported catching several colossal male chinooks for his clients. Who took home limits of Late Fall Run Chinook Salmon. The veteran salmon fishing guide noted that most everyone in the Barge Hole that day either caught limits or nearly did. Portocarrero laughingly said the following day as the Sacramento River went on the hard rise, and the salmon headed up the creek. At which point he had his worst day all season. This is the life of a fishing guide! Something Kirt Portocarrero has become accustomed to, in his now thirty third year of guiding. Incase you happened to have just come out of a forty year stay in a bomb shelter, or were stranded on a Pacific Ocean island for the same forty years. And you haven’t heard of Kirt Portocarrero. This triple og Sacramento River fishing guide has done it all here on the Sac. Kirt started his full time fishing/hunting guide service in 1989. He has been hard after it ever since. Paving the way for what the Sacramento River fishing guides of today’s time know as the standard in guiding for salmon. Kirk ahead of his time in advertising, left the phone book “yellow pages” and joined the World Wide Web. Being one of, if not the very first one to dot com (.com) a fishing and hunting guide service in Northern California.

Farther south on the Sacramento River the game changes for the two salmon fishing guides that call this stretch of river home. They target moving fish here. Covering up to ten river miles on a guided fishing trip. Checking in at all the favorite salmon fishing holes. Fishing guides Mike Rasmussen (SalmonSacRiver) and Ryan Tripp (Ryan Tripp’s Guide Service) fished this middle section of the upper Sacramento River until the season closed on December 16, 2022. Then the pair headed North to the Barge Hole. Having had great success throughout the month of November, and the first week of December. The pair of salmon fishing guides were forced to roll it up as the turbid waters from a strong Pacific storm, came roaring down the upper Sacramento River. Putting a end to the remaining week of the 2022 Sacramento River salmon season below the Red Bluff Diversion Dam. The crosshairs quickly refocused the famous Barge Hole. Where they will meet back up with the late fall chinook salmon that already slipped by them once in the weeks prior. The remaining two weeks of the salmon season above the Red Bluff Diversion Dam will be spent primarily in the Barge Hole, and surrounding area.

Raith Heryford (RH Guide Servie) who has spent over two decades guiding on the Sacramento River for chinook salmon and striped bass. Took up the lower portion of the upper Sacramento River for his clients. Raith put up some dandy late fall chinook salmon photos on social media platforms Instagram and Facebook the past two weeks. As he found solid action trolling K16 Kwikfish up and downhill. Covering lots of ground in the froggy and lazy waters in this stretch of the Sacramento River. Salmon fishing also came to a screeching halt for RH Guide Service as the muddy water made its way through Colusa, Ca. Putting a end to the 2022 salmon season for team RH.

Finally the bite at the “hog line” in Knights Landing, Ca was abruptly stopped by the same dirty water conditions that shut down the rest of the upper river anglers. Putting a end to the 2022 salmon season from here down to the California Delta. Making the only game in town for the remaining salmon fishermen. The stretch of river above the RBDD (Red Bluff Diversion Dam). The so called “Canyon” region, and the Barge Hole. Anglers still wanting to get their hands on a dime bright late run king salmon have only a few days to do so. The forecasted week of extremely wet weather following Christmas Day may put the Sacramento River out of commission. Several days before the December 31st closure date. The Sacramento River is projected to rise to 58,000cfs by the middle of next week. Only time will tell the real-time outcome of mother nature’s fury. Until then take the opportunity to just go salmon fishing. It may be your last chance to catch a king salmon in 2022. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, TIGHT LINES!

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.