Now, all wild steelies on the Smith will be headed back where they belong: The water!

Keep track of the action on the Smith and other steelie rivers in our Fishing Reports section.

The dynamic duo of sturgeon slaying, “DJ Kool and MC Sleepy Sleep,” teamed up for this fine-looking 75-inch, ghost shrimp-slurpin’ Sacramento River sturgeon on March 5.

For their efforts, the pair is entered into our Hawg of the Month Contest and have a chance to win a free fishing trip at the end of the year…to which DJK said “Cool.” Sleepy had no comment and instead just asked for his pillow back…

Have you caught a Hawg lately? Send it to us now!

As I’ve mentioned in the past, I’m a big fan of fiberglass fish reproductions. The concept is solid…take a few pix and measurements before you release that trophy fish and you can have an exact replica mount made. It’s the best of both worlds — the fish goes free and you get a memento that won’t rot or get chewed by rats…like skin mounts do.

Take a look at these mounts from Alaska’s Real Life Taxidermy — they may just be the best I’ve ever seen. And here’s the disclaimer: I don’t know these guys, never met ‘em…in fact, just stumbled onto their website last night. Check out these fish…they’re hot!

The detail work on this steelhead is amazing!

I've always thought that bright king mounts never look all that great, but these are about as accurate as it gets!

Again, the detail work is superb...

About as humpy-looking as it gets!

I think it's the scales that really make fish like this Kenai bow look alive.

Apparently, these guys do custom molds and skin mounts too...like this intricate china rockfish

After drooling over all the pix on the site, I did a little more research and found that taxidermist Mark Oslund has won several state and national awards for his work. According to his website, his custom molded fiberglass reproductions have been “deemed to be of high scientific value due to their precise anatomy and accurate color blending and are being used for study by the University of Alaska Anchorage.” Oslund’s fiberglass-cast reproductions are also being used by the North Pacific Fisheries Observer Training Center in their Species Identification Course.

The mounts are spendy: $28-$39 per inch, but there is something to be said for having it done right. For a look at the other end of the spectrum, check out our Taxidermy Gone Bad page.

Oregon’s recreational and commercial ocean salmon seasons, scheduled to open today (March 15) and run through April 30, have been closed due, in part, to a low projected run of fall Chinook to the Sacramento River.

“The closure of these March and April openings was expected,” said Eric Schindler, ocean salmon project leader for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “This typically occurs in years when fishery managers anticipate a significant constraint to fisheries.”

Chinook salmon forecasts for numerous runs that contribute to ocean salmon fisheries off Oregon are expected to allow some fisheries in 2010, Schindler said, but, to develop the best range of fishing options for the remainder of 2010, the March and April sport and commercial ocean salmon seasons were eliminated.

“Of specific concern in the decision to cut these seasons where the continued low number of fall chinook within the Sacramento River,” he said.

The decision came during the week-long Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) meeting taking place in Sacramento. The fishing season options developed at this meeting will go out for more public comment through a series of public hearings to gather testimony. The council will adopt the final set of regulations for the ocean waters off Washington, Oregon, and California when it meets April 10-15 in Portland.

The final regulations from PFMC are also submitted to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for approval. The commission may adopt more stringent regulations for the area inside of 3 miles, but otherwise must adhere to the regulations as finalized by the PFMC.

According to our man in the Northwest, Joel Shangle, the bomber spring Chinook season on the Columbia River has yet to materialize. Dam counts are pretty anemic so far and the bite is far from red hot. Were the forecasts for a massive run that far off (again) or are the fish just fashionably late? Time will tell!

See fish counts and all the how-to and where-to go stuff for the 2010 springer season at Northwest Wild Country

Don't let your favorite passtime go away without a fight!

It is important that the Obama administration recognizes and promotes the economic and conservation contributions of outdoor recreation, including recreational fishing and boating.

Without such recognition, decisions made under this national oceans and Great Lakes policy could be used to close saltwater and freshwater recreational fishing areas. Click HERE to send a letter to the White House and Congress (it’s easy and takes about 30 seconds). Read on to get the full story…

Within the next 30 – 60 days, the Obama Administration is planning to issue a final report, and possibly other management guidance, intended to govern the management of the nation’s oceans, coastal areas and Great Lakes. The plan originated in June 2009, when President Obama created the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force. The Task Force, led by the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), was charged with developing a national policy for conserving and managing the United States ocean territory and the Great Lakes. The policy will govern ocean and Great Lakes resource management and coordinate efforts among the many federal, state and local agencies that oversee a significant portion of our nation’s waters.

The White House is in the final stages of developing the final report, which must balance sustainable uses with ocean and Great Lakes conservation. Anglers and boaters are the original stewards of our environment. If you take us off the water, this country will lose a vital element in the conservation of our fisheries resources. Outdoor recreation is a part of our way of life and we need to ensure that it remains an option for all Americas.

Make sure your voice is heard so that anglers’ and boaters’ conservation, economic and social contributions are recognized as a key component of the policy.

White sea bass are called the “ghost fish” in central and northern California, so therefore Larry Roland must be the “Ghost Buster” with this bad ass brace of WSBs from Monterey Bay. These brutes ate candybait and weighed 30 plus pounds.

In addition to having some extra fine eating on his hands, Big Lar is entered into our Hawg of the Month Contest and has a chance at winning a free fishing trip with the FishwithJD gang…though it looks like we just might learn a thing or two from him if he wins!

Enter your big fish HERE Check out the latest fishing report for the Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay area HERE

The Pacific Fisheries Management Council, at it’s Sacramento meeting this week, has announced three options for the California recreational salmon season in 2010. They range from a full-blown season to none at all. Keep in mind, these are the options and the National Marine Fisheries Service gets the last say on the matter in April.

But for now, here’s what’s being considered…

Option 1

Ft. Bragg: April 3 through November 14, 24″ minimum (was 20″)
San Francisco: April 3 through November 14, 24″ minimum
Monterey: April 3 through October 3, 24″ minimum

Option 2

Ft. Bragg: April 3-30 and July 1 through November 14, 20″ minimum (now closed in May & June and 20″ minimum, same as SF)
San Francisco: April 3-30 and July 1 through November 14, 20″ minimum
Monterey: April 3-30 and July 1 through October 3, 20″ minimum (now closed in May & June and 20″ minimum, same as SF)

Option 3

Ft. Bragg: Closed
San Francisco: Closed
Monterey: Closed

Sturgie, you make my heart flutter!

Okay, so maybe Jeremiah Wattenburger didn’t really get down on his knees and propose to this sturgeon, but he was genuinely stoked when he pulled this 72 incher (his first ever!) from the Cache Slough area of the California Delta. The pair shared a tender moment before J.W. turned the object of his affection loose. You know what they say: If you love something, set it free…

His fishing buddy eloquently described the scene: “Jer’s 6′2″ 230 lbs…you have to know the size of his big-ass, bald head to understand how big the fish is!” Nicely put!

J.W.’s fish is our latest Hawg of the Month Contest entry. If you’ve got a Hawg that you think will make the grade, enter it HERE for a chance to win a free fishing trip with the FishWithJD boyz.