Garcia, Gualala and Russian rivers fishing report

Russian River

Tom Dudenhoeffer of Sweeney’s reported very good action in the upper stretches of the river near Cloverdale with some anglers reportedly catching and releasing lots steelhead. The river is very low currently at 400cfs a Dry Creek here on Tuesday 2021. There are fish already moving downstream in the upper stretches, and local fishermen are saying, “This is one of the better years on the river.” Below Healdsburg and the mouth of Dry Creek, anglers are tossing Little Cleo’s, Tadpolleys, or Hot Shots in pink or orange in the clear water. 4-inch pink worms, night crawlers, or roe are also picking up fish.
For the Bay Area the next chance at rain is the middle of next week and if we don't see some soon we could see reduced runs in two to three years.

Endangered Coho Salmon Return to Russian River
DFG NEWS
Scientists working on the recovery of endangered coho salmon in northern California appreciate success even if it comes in small doses. Field biologists from the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) are reporting the largest number of coho returning to spawn in Sonoma County tributaries of the Russian River in more than a decade.
Most of these fish were released as fingerlings into the river system, as part of a captive broodstock program at Don Clausen Warm Springs Hatchery on Lake Sonoma. The broodstock program began 10 years ago, when wild coho salmon were rapidly vanishing from the region.
Prior to the launch of the recovery program in 2001, the number of returning adult coho salmon averaged less than four per year. These low numbers were the catalyst for the Russian River Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program, a recovery effort in which offspring from hatchery-reared adults are released into the river system.
This year, biologists estimate that more than 190 adult coho may have returned to the Russian River system, beginning with early storms in October and peaking in December. Promisingly, a few coho are being sighted in creeks that are not stocked, utilizing habitat beyond those tributaries in which coho are released.
We are hopeful that coho salmon released through this program will continue to return to the Russian River system in increasing numbers and begin to establish self-sustaining populations, says Manfred Kittel, Coho Salmon Recovery Coordinator for DFGs Bay Delta Region. The program is a cornerstone of coho salmon recovery efforts in central California, but the number of fish observed this year must be seen in perspective. A healthy coho population should number in the tens of thousands in California.
Coho salmon abundance has declined dramatically statewide in the past few years. Biologists believe that additional captive breeding efforts and other focused recovery measures will likely have to be instituted to prevent widespread extinction of coho salmon in central California.
Coho salmon in central California are listed as an endangered species under both the State and Federal Endangered Species Acts. It is against the law to catch them anywhere in the state.
The Russian River Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Program is a broad coalition of government agencies, scientists and private landowners dedicated to bringing back productive salmon runs. Its members include DFG, which manages the hatchery component at the Don Clausen Warm Springs Hatchery, University of California Sea Grant Extension, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and Sonoma County Water Agency.