The Russian river 100 years ago?
Veteran coastal fly fisher Walt Bennett told us that right after the end of World War II anglers in California did not have to go further
than the Russian river to have world class Steelheading. The river also had American shad, salmon, Stripers and Smallmouth bass.
Cortland Line Company Rep Joe Patterson told us that the Russian river had spring and summer runs of Steelhead during the summer
closure so they just said they were bass and shad fishing so they could catch and release these Steelhead with flies.
Walt told us that not many fished the Eel river and other further north back then because the Russian river was incredible.
Back then there were no dams on the Russian river and not much AG (wine & dope).
So with one dam we destroyed one of the world's finest fisheries?
That is a crime......
They sold California on the idea of flood control to dam 90% of our rivers with.
Now it is obvious that they really wanted to get all of Northern California's water to have giant agriculture down south.
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