Bill Kiene semi-retired
07-28-2005, 09:20 AM
Tradtionally Summer Runs start to enter many Northwest rivers in July.
The Klamath, Rogue, Umpqua, Deschutes and others get schools of fresh Steelhead from early July on.
Locals and serious Steelheaders fish for them in the early AM in this hot weather.
I believe we have some that come into the Lower American River as well. They planted WA State Washougal River Summer Run Steehead in the American back in the '70s when they had more funding. These fish have showed up for years in the summer running 6-8 pounds.
There are Summer Steelhead in some Nor Cal Rivers. The Middle Fork of the Eel River, the North Fork and South Fork of the Trinity River, the Salmon River, Scott River and Wooley Creek I think are a few mentioned in DF&G reports and in an article in 'Salmon, Trout Steelhead' magazine years ago. I don't know if any of these rivers are open to fishing as the protection of these special rare fish is very important.
I have had reports over the past 30 years of people seeing the fish sitting in schools in the deeper holes in these rivers.
I believe they come into those smaller rivers in the high water of spring and then sit all summer up river in the deeper shady holes and then spawn the following fall/winter?
The most noteable run or population has always been in the Middle Fork of the Eel River near Clovelo. It was reported that there can be as many as 1500 fish running 8-12 pounds. About 10 years ago a friened working with the CA DF&G floated that stretch of river with another employee in snorkel gear with counters to check the population one summer. Her said it was exciting to see these wild rare beauties.
Probably 50 years ago Oregon Salmon's (Galen Geller) father use to belong to a group of serious steelheaders who owned a piece of land along the Middle Fork of the Eel River. Mr. Geller told me that they legally fished those Summer Runs with old bait casting outfitts with small pieces of cured salmon roe. He said they would chase after it and fight over it. Now that was the good old days. I believe the river has been closed for the passed 30 years now because we tried to go over there after hearing those stories.
The Klamath, Rogue, Umpqua, Deschutes and others get schools of fresh Steelhead from early July on.
Locals and serious Steelheaders fish for them in the early AM in this hot weather.
I believe we have some that come into the Lower American River as well. They planted WA State Washougal River Summer Run Steehead in the American back in the '70s when they had more funding. These fish have showed up for years in the summer running 6-8 pounds.
There are Summer Steelhead in some Nor Cal Rivers. The Middle Fork of the Eel River, the North Fork and South Fork of the Trinity River, the Salmon River, Scott River and Wooley Creek I think are a few mentioned in DF&G reports and in an article in 'Salmon, Trout Steelhead' magazine years ago. I don't know if any of these rivers are open to fishing as the protection of these special rare fish is very important.
I have had reports over the past 30 years of people seeing the fish sitting in schools in the deeper holes in these rivers.
I believe they come into those smaller rivers in the high water of spring and then sit all summer up river in the deeper shady holes and then spawn the following fall/winter?
The most noteable run or population has always been in the Middle Fork of the Eel River near Clovelo. It was reported that there can be as many as 1500 fish running 8-12 pounds. About 10 years ago a friened working with the CA DF&G floated that stretch of river with another employee in snorkel gear with counters to check the population one summer. Her said it was exciting to see these wild rare beauties.
Probably 50 years ago Oregon Salmon's (Galen Geller) father use to belong to a group of serious steelheaders who owned a piece of land along the Middle Fork of the Eel River. Mr. Geller told me that they legally fished those Summer Runs with old bait casting outfitts with small pieces of cured salmon roe. He said they would chase after it and fight over it. Now that was the good old days. I believe the river has been closed for the passed 30 years now because we tried to go over there after hearing those stories.