Scott dam / Lake Pillsbury on the Eel river - ?

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW1Qy7ouSjM

[STEELIES/26c3]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW1Qy7ouSjM

That would be AWESOME! The Eel has great promise as a SUSTAINABLE, WILD-ONLY steelhead and salmon habitat and fishery... something our American River does not have...

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

The Eel river was a great river before the drought of the late 1970s.

The Fall King salmon on the Eel river would really take a fly.

[avidangler]

The eel was decimated in the 64 flood

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I hear is is slowly coming back now.

[Grassgrower]

Unless they stop sending water to the Russian watershed it will be all for not. Not to mention in the heyday of the Russian the river would dry up in the summer. Not anymore. Smallies, largemouth and stripers all forage for the same prize we do.

Sean

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

As long as this is a highly populated state and a huge agricultural place the water just won't be for the fish.

[winxp_man]

As long as this is a highly populated state and a huge agricultural place the water just won't be for the fish.

The math the idiots running this state have is so awesome! Yea let’s build more farms in the desert and loads of homes on what used to be farm lands. When teachers would tell us to learn math because it was for out benefit it was not a joke. They knew why, so we can do basic math. It seems math does not work in the minds of this states “leaders!” But it sure does work when it comes to money. Politicians making 200K a year coming out as millionaires. That’s the problem.

[STEELIES/26c3]

Unless they stop sending water to the Russian watershed it will be all for not. Not to mention in the heyday of the Russian the river would dry up in the summer. Not anymore. Smallies, largemouth and stripers all forage for the same prize we do.

Sean

It doesn't help that the president of the California Fish and Game Commission is one of the largest Napa Valley Grape and Pot growers in the state...

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

If you knew the truth you would just stop talking about it.

We have nothing to do with what happens to the water in California, and never will.

In 10 years you will be telling the latest generation how cool it was to actually have fish in our rivers.

[winxp_man]

If you knew the truth you would just stop talking about it.

We have nothing to do with what happens to the water in California, and never will.

In 10 years you will be telling the latest generation how cool it was to actually have fish in our rivers.


If we are to stop talking about it why mention it? Why even bring up conservancy when we know that this subject has two faces? Can’t talk about one but leave one side out. If we just stop posting about conservancy only then can we keep quiet. This subject is touchy but it’s more than one issue and it starts with politics if we want to be truthful with ourselves first.

But what do I know..... nothing I guess so let’s keep it one sided.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I am sorry for getting so down about our fisheries from time to time.



Actually I see tons of videos that show lots of dams coming down now.........I read that about 1,500 have come down.

Also lots of miles of stream restoration going on....World wide.

[JasonB]

I am sorry for getting so down about our fisheries from time to time.



Actually I see tons of videos that show lots of dams coming down now.........I read that about 1,500 have come down.

Also lots of miles of stream restoration going on....World wide.

It’s hard not to be upset when you consider what once was, compared to what’s left. There was no single factor in the demise (although a good 95%, or more, are directly attributable to us humans).

I like all the positive videos you share about dam removals, and habitat restoration going on. We probably won’t ever see the levels of fish that once swam in our waters, at least not in our lifetimes; but we do have choices going from this day forward. Those projects are a small hope, that perhaps we can make a few watersheds a little bit better over time. It’s certainly a better chance than letting our frustrations get us down.

[winxp_man]

I am sorry for getting so down about our fisheries from time to time.



Actually I see tons of videos that show lots of dams coming down now.........I read that about 1,500 have come down.

Also lots of miles of stream restoration going on....World wide.


Any news about the Klamath dams?? Maybe with the current state of affairs a delay?

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Any news about the Klamath dams?? Maybe with the current state of affairs a delay?

I am 75 this month and my hopes are to see videos of the dam removals on the Klamath river..........before I pass into "what ever".

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

"We probably won’t ever see the levels of fish that once swam in our waters, at least not in our lifetimes; but we do have choices going from this day forward." ~JB

_______________________________________


When I was a teenager growing up (1960s) in south Sacramento all my friends and family were hunting and fishing......

Many driveways had a small boat on a trailer, pulled by a pickup or station wagon.



People from the Bay area, southern California and even other states stayed for months in trailer parks along our rivers.

Back then our Spring Striper run and Fall salmon and Steelhead runs were World class and drew thousands to northern California.

When I was a kid there were hundreds of boats at the mouth of the American river in the Spring for Stripers and the Fall for salmon.


Back then the sports sections of the news papers was filled with fishing and hunting news plus professional sports,


We hunted ducks, geese, pheasants, quail and doves with much success in the open land and farm land around the city.

We fished for salmon, steelhead, stripers, shad, warm water species and trout in the mountains.



We were told stories about the fishing and hunting by members of the Greatest Generation.

They told us that before World War II, when they grew up, the fishing and hunting was even better than ours?



In the past 50 years in the sporting goods business I have watch 90% of it go away but there is a movement, World wide.

In the past 30 years there is a big movement, World wide, to take down dams and rehab many miles of streams and rivers.

It should only get better, even if it takes some time........

.

[Dave E.]

Thanks Bill,

I hadn't thought about that area in a while.

My '69 CST 10 just a tick down river from Scott Dam, circa 1980.

15518

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Good one Dave....


I had a guy come in my shop maybe 20 years ago. He had gone to Lake Pillsbury with his girlfriend for a weekend camping trip.

He stopped in at a tackle shop at the marina on the lake and asked about some stream fishing?

They said that the water below the dam for several miles had some nice trout and steelhead in it.

He said in a few days he caught dozens of nice Rainbows or Steelhead that were around 18 to 22 inches.

It was in May and he used size 10 Irresistible dry flies. He said it was one of his best trips ever.


Next May George Innes and I drove over there to fish it and the water was high and off color.

Always wanted to go back but have never made it.

At the tackle shop in the marina on the lake we saw pictures of long slender steelhead that looked be 6 to 8 pounds.

I hope someone goes over there. Be sure to check the regulations first.

For a few miles below the Scott dam I think there is a road on both sides of the Eel river.

[Rossflyguy]

It doesn't help that the president of the California Fish and Game Commission is one of the largest Napa Valley Grape and Pot growers in the state...

How do they appoint the head of Fish and Game?

[STEELIES/26c3]

How do they appoint the head of Fish and Game?
Governor Brown appointed him.
I do not believe the public has any direct vote or say in the matter.
It is most unfortunate and unjust.