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Eel River salmon run best since the 1950’s!

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Halfpounder steelies hanging with wild Chinook in the 12th Street Pool on the lower Eel (PHOTO: Eel River Recovery Project/Willits News)



Wild Chinook salmon runs on Northern California’s Eel River have been making a great comeback and this fall’s run looks to be the largest one since the 1950’s!

Before the first significant rains of the season, over 10,000 are estimated to have entered the Main Eel and, since fresh fish enter the system all the way into January, biologists figure the final number could hit the 20,000 to 30,000 mark!

Read the entire story at the Willits News

California Hatchery Killing Salmon??

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In an attempt to increase fall and spring Chinook salmon runs to California’s Feather River, hatchery personnel have been killing thousands of salmon this year. What gives?

It’s a move that biologists deem necessary — cull fish to help get a distinct separation between the fall and spring runs — but as you may guess, anglers aren’t too fired up about the whole deal.

Get the whole story at the Sacramento Bee

Long Live the King!

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I was just messing around with a new photo editing app on my phone last night up here in salmon camp and thought this turned out kinda cool.

As I like to say after a king breaks off or spits the hook: “May he live long and have many babies…” Looks like this guy may have done just that!

Now’s your Chance to Help California Salmon!

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Okay, folks let’s get real here. While things like poor ocean conditions, pollution and habitat loss contribute significantly to the decline of our Salmon fishery here in California, the number one hurdle our fish face is a lack of water.

Water that gets sucked…in obscene amounts…out of our rivers and down into the arid portions of Central and Southern California is the major culprit. It’s an undeniable fact.

The ever-thirsty water barons to our south have extremely deep pockets and the only way we have a chance to keep some of it for our fish is to band together — sport salmon anglers, commercial trollers, striper fishermen, sturgeon chasers, bass anglers, kokanee fans, etc. We need a unified front because water (and lack thereof) effects everybody.

Now, here’s where I challenge you to step up and do your part. The Golden Gate Salmon Association is dedicated to getting us all on one team…and then, as a united voice, we can fight the big boys down in Fresno and keep our water and preserve and enhance fish populations.

Time to put your money where your mouth is: Join GGSA now! It’s a good group of people who know what they’re doing and will, if you help, make a difference. We need your support now…and so do the fish!

The inaugural Sacramento Membership Dinner is coming up fast — April 26. Tickets are $75/person or $800 for a table of 8 people (which includes $200 worth of raffle tickets and a chance at a Yamaha outboard). I’ll be there and so will lots of other industry folks who are fighting for the fish. The menu looks spectacular and there’s free drinks until 7:30!
Plus, you can’t believe all the cool raffle and auction gifts available (including plenty of guided salmon trips from Nor Cal guides, myself included). There will be special guest speakers and all kinds of fun. And by the way, a dinner ticket also buys you a membership into GGSA!

So, please consider this an investment in your own fishing future and join us for dinner in Sacramento (the event is at the Scottish Rite Temple and begins at 5:30 pm). For more details, log onto www.GoldenGateSalmonAssociation.com

Lawsuit filed to Stop California Salmon Fishing!

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This is incomprehensible: The very same group that has had a profound effect on the decline of California’s salmon population is now suing to get the recently opened recreational season fishing closed!!

I’m sure it won’t surprise you to hear that a group of Central Valley irrigation districts that supply water to farms and cities is behind this one. The San Joaquin River Group Authority filed the suit on Thursday in federal district court in Fresno (hmm…Fresno…a perfect place to get your case heard by sympathetic ears!). It argues that the National Marine Fisheries Service and its related agencies violated their duty to protect the threatened Sacramento River fall run of Chinook salmon by allowing a full commercial season.

My blood’s boiling on this one…it’s like the guy who ran over your dog is now suing you…only worse! What an amazing slap in the face!

Read the whole story here in the LA Times