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!
Jim Del Bono says
J.D. I really wish I didn’t agree with you on the abundance of 4 year old fish this year because I am coming up there this weekend to fish for 2 days. I feel that the reason for the reduced numbers of adult kings all along the coast (including Oregon and Wash) is due to conditions in the ocean. I get a lot of flack when I write this on the fish sniffer message boards, but this is the only common denominator. Apparently you are doing well up there and it should get better now that the commercial netters have reached their quota. I love the Klamath and would probably drive up from Monterey just for the jet boat ride. I will be looking for your boat this weekend. I have fished with Gary Farley for the past 20 years.