Steve Itano was on the lower Klaamath River recently and said the water was off color

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

He said it was still good enough visibility to fish though.

20096

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

About 40 years ago Chris Pasley and I were invited to come fishing the lower Klamath River with Mac from Time Flies.

Larry Simson had a famous fly shop in Arcadia and a jet boat guide service on the Lower Klamath River.



We sent people to them for many years so they wanted us to come up in August to fish with them.

In August you fish an hour or two really early and an hour or two very late in the day.



We did catch some really hot screaming half-pounders that day, early and late.

On the way down river, very late, we found a school of Half-pounders and they were so hot.

Chris had one on and I walked up to him as he landed it. It was only 13" long but a beast of a little fish.



You can not, ethically, fish for half-pounders without using a rachet reel or click and pawl reel.

[Steve Dinardi]

Yes, 40+ years ago the half pounder fishing was very good on the both the Klamath and the Eel rivers. More recently, the past several years have seen great fishing on the Klamath for half pounders in October around the Happy Camp area. Not sure what to expect this year but I don't have my hopes up. However, there should be a bunch of half pounders in the lower Klamath right about now and historically in the Eel as well.

Mac was my fishing partner in the 70's as we both attended HSU as Fisheries majors during that time. We used to frequent Time Flies fly shop often and enjoyed talking fishing with Larry Simpson who usually had the latest info on river and fishing conditions. Really miss that era. I lost contact with Mac many years ago and would really enjoy reconnecting and spend time fishing together again.

The past seven years my home water has been the Rogue River. With the river being just minutes away, I still fish quite often. That big rain and thunderstorm yesterday should bring up some fresh steelhead.
And Yes, I still fish that old Hardy Perfect (circa 1932) click and pawl reel.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Hi Steve,

I feel bad talking about the "good old days" with so many fisheries in decline today.

Where do you live now?