Rivers Rise, Last
Chance for Steelies
Rainfall on the
North Coast varied
widely during this
latest storm system.
24 hour rainfall
totals through 5:PM
Wednesday 3-20
ranged from .68 at
Venado on the
Russian to .88 at Ft
Seward on the Eel to
a high total of 1.84
inches at Gasquet on
the Smith river. The
Smith by far saw the
largest rise jumping
from 7.5 feet to
12.9 at Jed Smith
state park. The
Smith will quickly
drop back in and
looks to offer some
ideal conditions
this Thursday and
into the weekend.
With nice weather in
the forecast a
weekend spent
fishing on the Smith
and lodging at the
Hiouchi Lodge sounds
real appealing to
this writer.
The Chetco also saw
a significant rise
and should be in
play (and an
excellent bet) by
Friday.
The Eel pushed up
about a foot to 8.6
feet at Miranda and
is my top pick for
anglers looking to
score some huge
numbers of mostly
down runners on this
catch and release
fishery. It will
need a day to flush
out but I would
expect the South
Fork (Garberville to
Miranda) to be
fishing no later
than Friday. Lower
sections will be
fishing by the
weekend.
The Russian saw just
a minor rise of less
than 100cfs on the
Cloverdale section
and should be in
prefect shape for
those who like to
cast roe and don't
mind feeding the
down run smolts
migrating down from
hatchery releases
and general lack of
adults. This once
incredible fishery
has been destroyed
by a thousand cuts.
The biggest being
the huge expansion
of vineyards along
the entire watershed
over the past 15
years. Steelhead and
salmon are a very
resilient species
and given the chance
to recover can
quickly do so.
The Eel system was
destroyed by clear
cut logging and has
seen a steady
recovery this past
decade due to
habitat protections.
Hopefully those who
own, profit and
control the Russian
watershed will see
that healthy
fisheries are a
great indicator of a
healthy environment.
If not, maybe we
will see further ESL
regulations dictate
how much water is
diverted, what kinds
of pesticides or
chemicals like
sulfur are dumped on
local vineyards and
maybe less of these
sterile farms. Quick
profits tend to come
at a price, one that
is currently being
paid for by our
local steelhead and
salmon.
Last Hoorah
The first storm
in a week and the
third since the New
Year is just moving
in here on
Tuesday 3-19.
Rainfall totals are
expected to run from
a 1/2 to 1.5"
through late
Wednesday. With the
dry watersheds we
don't expect any big
rises but flows will
increase on all
rivers and fishing
opportunities will
improve on many
systems. Top bets
will lay on rivers
like the Eel
where guides like
Tony Sepulveda have
been seeing 5 to 10
plus fish per day a
mix of mostly ocean
bound fish and a few
fresh late run
steelhead.
The
recent lack of rain
has killed the
interest on the
Smith but a
spike in flows will
push a bunch of fish
that have been
trapped into the
tributaries into the
main stem and bring
the usual "March
Madness" of
blue backs or two
and three years olds
into the river. The
Smith is currently
running at 7.5 feet
and any bump in
flows above 9 feet
will turn things
back on.
On the Chetco
last week's rain
turned the bite back
on with guides
seeing 2 to 4 fish
per stick of mostly
runbacks and a few
fresh run fish.
Since then counts
and flows have
steadily dropped. As
flows rise and then
drop later this week
the bite could
improve here one
last time.
The drought
conditions made for
some great fishing
on the Eel and
Klamath this winter
but overall it's
been a long, dry and
frustrating season
for the majority of
rivers. For anglers
lucky and smart
enough to
concentrate on these
rivers or book with
a guide you likely
did well.
We received word
last week from a
couple of readers
that new
regulations for 2013
will close the Eel
to C & R salmon
fishing next fall.
Talk about
bullshit... The Eel
has been under C & R
regulations for what
? 20 years and both
the salmon and
steelhead runs have
rebuilt to numbers
not seen since the
70s. Angler groups
have successfully
fought against
overly restrictive
regulations in the
past and hopefully
local businesses,
guides and sport
anglers can come
together and work
with CDFW to not
only restore the C &
R fishery but one
that allows some
limited take. How
DFW allowed the C &
R fishery to end (or
why) is ludicrous
with both steelhead
and salmon runs at
20 + year highs.
Allowing a C & R or
a limited take
salmon and steelhead
fishery would
support many local
businesses from
guides to hotels and
bring in huge
dollars for a region
dependant on pot
farming.
Time is running
short and the next
week looks to be
reader's last chance
at hooking a steelie
until July when the
Klamath summer run
fish push in.
Caught
Fish?
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