The San Lorenzo River in Sanata Cruz, California - Cal-Trout.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7yZySOv6vU

I spent a lot of my summers as a youngster in Santa Cruz.

It had a good Silver salmon run in the Fall until they dammed the river.

The river was open on Sat, Sun and Weds and it was a zoo of fly fishers.

It also had a winter run of Steelhead that was impacted by the terrible drought of the 1970s.


In the 19th century, CA dammed 90% of all rivers that flowed into the Pacific Ocean.

Today, I am so happy with dam removals in the USA and Europe.


Be sure to watch, "Rivers of a Lost Coast", so you know more about what was lost and what is coming back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmo_q6fh2gw trailer.

[RoosterHunter]

I fished the San Lorenzo every sat, sun and wed, along with 200 other guys. The fly guys vs. the cliff guys. The cliff guys were the conventional guys who used to throw their lures over our heads. The funniest thing was after a rain, there would be a few who slid off the muddy cliff into the water.

I fished out of my pram so I could get in the middle of the river at the "bend" and then rowed up to Buckeye Hole. It was fun to watch the Steelhead come swimming from the ocean into the mouth of the river. Lots of swaggers and also lots of game wardens watching from the railroad trestle.

I used to stop at Ernie's Casting Pond every day I fished. His shop was located on the Soquel River. That river was heavily covered with brush and quite hard to fish. Standing on the bridge and watching the Steelhead swim up river was the highlight of the day.

I also fished the Pajaro River mouth when it opened up. At one time we had access through an artichoke field but then like everything else it was closed off. People were leaving their trash and also stealing artichokes. A number of Steelhead would enter the river and get stuck when the mouth closed up.

What great memories to have.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

There were little Steelhead rivers the entire length of California that customers told me about for decades.

There are even some little coastal Steelhead rivers down into Mexico.


They have been trying to reintroduce Silver salmon to the California Coastal Rivers with little success.


For years now they have been trying to get the East Coast Atlantic salmon runs going again with little success.

Dam removal and stream restoration will help a lot.

[Tony Buzolich]

Bill,

There's a really good website called "Where to see Salmon and Steelhead in Marin Co. Ca.". It's a great website with maps and good information about the recovering populations of these two species.

When we were living in Napa we'd often go and see these streams near San Rafael, Lagunitas, and Olema. Easy access and plenty of viewing spots.

Read the website first and it'll give you a heads up about saving these fish close to home.

Just a mile north of Bodega Bay there is Salmon Creek (hence the name) which has now become silted in from early years of logging in the area. This creek travels north almost to Occidental. Stop at the Occidental Hotel and have some of the best ravioli anywhere.
Tony

[DPLee]

At one time every California river that flowed to the Pacific Ocean and provided suitable habitat supported a run of winter steelhead. For those wanting more information about the history and current status California's winter steelhead from the Smith to the Tijuana River, check out our most recent book California Winter Steelhead, Life History and Fly Fishing. Over 300-page hardback book, hundreds of color photos, only 500 copies were printed and less than 100 are left.

Dennis

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

If you are a serious Steelheader, you must try to get both of Dennis' books: Half-ponders and the new one, Winter Steelhead.

I will be 80 in March, so I don't think I will be doing any more Steelheading, but many of you will be.

Dennis teaches and ties fly flies at Fly Fishing Specialties, so taking SH tying lessons will benefit you.

No one alive today knows the history of the fisheries in California like Dennis.


PS: you might be able to find "Half-ponders" used.


Thanks for posting here Dennis.