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Thread: The best and the worst things that happened in the Steelhead world.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sebastian, FL, USA, Earth
    Posts
    23,837

    Default The best and the worst things that happened in the Steelhead world.

    I started fly fishing for Steelhead in the 1960s in Northern California.


    Back then most used a 9' #9 line 2 piece hollow fiberglass fly rod with a large single action fly reel.

    We used 30' shooting heads in different sink rates with 100 feet of mono shooting line and then some braided Dacron backing.


    One of the worst things was all the dams they put in the last 100 years.

    Then the next was the drought on the late 1970s witch really hurt our fisheries.

    Another sad thing for fly fishing in general was the onset of the indicator.


    A good thing was the development of graphite materials making rod lighter and casting further, easier.

    A wonderful thing for Steelheading was the Spey world coming from Europe to the Pacific Northwest.

    Two handed casting really slow down the indicator fishing for Steelhead.


    Removing some smaller defunct dams is one of the best things to happen in my lifetime.

    I am excited for the future of Steelheading on the West coast of North America.


    I think Steelheading is on the rise again today because of the popularity of two handed fly casting.

    And the removal of dams............................
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Monterey
    Posts
    218

    Default

    I'm really excited about the proposed Klamath Dam removals.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sebastian, FL, USA, Earth
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    Default

    I guess we only have one Steelhead and salmon river with no dams.......the Smith River.

    I think it is still a river that you can kill wild Steelhead?


    That river should have not a hatchery or get any hatchery fish.

    It should also be artificials only, single barbless hook, and catch-n-release.

    It has the largest Steelhead and largest King salmon in California.

    It is also one of our clearest, cleanest rivers.
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sebastian, FL, USA, Earth
    Posts
    23,837

    Default

    He is a response from a friend of mine......

    _______________________________

    Hi Bill,

    I saw your Forum post regarding the Smith River.

    Yes, for awhile, the Smith River was the only river in CA where one could keep a wild steelhead.

    However, the reg was changed (a few years ago?), so you cannot keep a wild steelhead on the Smith River.

    Today, harvest of wild steelhead is prohibited in all CA rivers. It's all catch and release for wild steelhead throughout our state.

    Best fishes,

    G
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sebastian, FL, USA, Earth
    Posts
    23,837

    Default

    Thanks G.....

    This makes me feel better......
    Bill Kiene (Boca Grande)

    567 Barber Street
    Sebastian, Florida 32958

    Fly Fishing Travel Consultant
    Certified FFF Casting Instructor

    Email: billkiene63@gmail.com
    Cell: 530/753-5267
    Web: www.billkiene.com

    Contact me for any reason........
    ______________________________________

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Location
    Guerneville
    Posts
    290

    Default

    Im glad to hear that too...

    I think the Mattole river is the only CA coastal river that is artificial only, unfortunately.

    I really don't get how bait is OK for rivers that have wild fish along with hatchery fish like the Russian or Mad rivers, and I find it especially baffling how rivers with all wild steelhead like the Smith, Eel system and Gualala rivers, etc. allow bait fishing with barbless hooks if its all catch and release. Id like to see those rivers artificials only. If it was hatchery fish only then I wouldn't care about bait being legal.

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