The Klamath: A big return of kings this year??
April 22, 2008
Okay, so the ocean is completely closed to salmon fishing this year. The final decision has yet to come out, but prospects for king fishing in the Sacramento Valley are also very dim. So, where can you get you salmon fix?
The Klamath River!
The Klamath is likley to be really the only stream in the state where you’re going to have a good shot at kings. Biologists are expecting a good return of big, 4-year-old fish and the quota this year has been set at an amazingly high 22,500 fish.
There will be lots of people and lots of fish…or will there?
You can bet the people will be there, but I hope like heck they’ve got this thing right. I’m certainly no biologist but I’m not totally sold on the fact that there are that many 4-year olds out there, especially when talking with commercial and sport anglers who fished the ocean off the North Coast the past few years. They just didn’t see the big numbers of fish out there that would indicate a huge return this season.
Also, jack counts were very low last season, and while I know those aren’t a stone-cold lock as far as predicting salmon returns, I’d feel better if there had been a big jack attack in the fall of 2007.
In any case, there will be more fish on the Klamath than anywhere else and I’ll probably take my chances and run some trips up there with the masses.
Keep your fingers crossed!
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