Salmonriver
10-14-2015, 11:16 AM
So yesterday, I took the trip to the river to throw some lines. I knew going into it that I would most likely have a long day with little activity but it was the first time this year and I could not have thought of a better way to spend the day than on the water. I hooked up on my second cast and lost the fish after about 3 minutes. The weight was nice and it had potential. I spent half the day in the upper area with a spinning rod and after having enough of watching the sad display of non-sportsmen like attitudes, I switched over to a fly rod and moved down river. Now understand, I grew up fishing the great lake tributaries in upstate NY and I return there every year in December for some cold steelhead action. I have never seen guys act that way and it is disappointing none the less. Anyway, after moving down river, I had some small fish with some nymphs and caught a very large sucker (not a fan of them but fun to fight on a fly rod). I saw a few salmon roll and that was it. I have no complaints about the drive or the day on the water. I do have one other complaint.
Upon taking my first glimps of the river, I was disappointed and deeply saddened by the condition and lack of water. I felt like the indian in the old commercial rowing through the river in his canoe and seeing all the garbage and then having the tear fall from his cheek. I can not understand how the river was flowing at 4,000 cfs in July when I was there to the 600 or 700 yesterday. July there are no spawning fish and as we all know, there should be salmon pushing through and spawning now as they have for hundreds of years! Now understand, I do not design rockets on the weekends and do not believe myself to be the smartest of men. But what I do know is later in the year salmon spawn and the steelies follow. So why are the flows not at least 2,000 cfs now? I heard summer flows keep the salt out of the bay but that is not a good enough reason for this terrible level of water. I cringe at the combination of the words "water" and "management" when used in a sentence by an elected Californian person.
That was my day and I will continue to pray for rain and great flows this next year. I am sure I will make another trip this month and will definitely be swinging for some steelies in the spring !
Upon taking my first glimps of the river, I was disappointed and deeply saddened by the condition and lack of water. I felt like the indian in the old commercial rowing through the river in his canoe and seeing all the garbage and then having the tear fall from his cheek. I can not understand how the river was flowing at 4,000 cfs in July when I was there to the 600 or 700 yesterday. July there are no spawning fish and as we all know, there should be salmon pushing through and spawning now as they have for hundreds of years! Now understand, I do not design rockets on the weekends and do not believe myself to be the smartest of men. But what I do know is later in the year salmon spawn and the steelies follow. So why are the flows not at least 2,000 cfs now? I heard summer flows keep the salt out of the bay but that is not a good enough reason for this terrible level of water. I cringe at the combination of the words "water" and "management" when used in a sentence by an elected Californian person.
That was my day and I will continue to pray for rain and great flows this next year. I am sure I will make another trip this month and will definitely be swinging for some steelies in the spring !