In the old day ( pre interweb ) a certain species “run timing” ( the calander time or date when a specific run of fish shows up or migrates through a waterway ) was most likely synonymous with a naturally occurring event that takes place around the same time every year. This naturally occurring annual event would be a indication that the fishing for the species of fish that corilates with that particular annual event, would be the appropriate time to start targeting that species of fish.

Nord Cana Hwy in Butte County just North of Chico, Ca. Almond orchards in full bloom. Generally taking place in mid to late February. 3/4/2019

The scrappy and hard fighting American Shad, brought to the West Coast from the East Coast over a hundred years ago; is a sought after species by anglers of all types. Migrating to spawn in the major rivers of Northern California annually. Typically in early summer. June and the beginning of July. Growing up in the outdoor communities and circles of sportsmen here in Northern California, you never heard the time to start fishing for the American Shad (“Bunker” on the East Coast) was in June! You simply knew it was time to start catching the American Shad when the Cottonwood Trees started dropping their cotton. Appearing like snow falling from the trees and floating on top of the river water like a thin blanket. Gathering in all the calm waters and back eddies of the river. The old timers had swore by, and used this accurate annually occurring natural event to proclaim the arrival of the American Shad.

Sacramento River White Sturgeon. Fishing guide Mike Rasmussen of salmonsacriver.com and friend Jeremy Ross hold a sturgeon for a photo before it was released back into the Sacramento River, near Colusa, Ca.

Relevent to our current season and calendar date of March 5, 2019 is the run timing of the White Sturgeon, and their annual migration into the Sacramento River to spawn. Which currently is happening under the flood waters of the Sacramento River. Making the in river fishing for these ancient fish a bit of a safety issue. While trees and debri come ripping down the river just looking for a jet boat to sink. Being off the Sacramento River, and spending more time on the roadways of Northern California then usual. I noticed the Almond Trees are in full bloom. Which in my early years of sturgeon fishing (again pre interweb) was the old timers way of indicating it was time to sturgeon fish. And again it was a very safe and accurate way to know you weren’t going to go spend several hundred dollars on bait, tackle, and fuel. Just to find out you were to early in the season and the sturgeon were not yet around their spawning grounds. So seeing the Almond Trees blooming around the North State has me ready for the weather to break and sturgeon fishing to commence before more of the short season is lost. And we wait......

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