The reports are starting to come in with predictions for our 2009 salmon fishing. Here is one exerpt: “However, about 81,000 fall chinook are bound for the Klamath River,cell row
While we mainly target steelhead in our guiding, it is noteworthy that the Salmon seem to be better on the Klamath than on streams such as the Sacramento. I find it somewhat ironic that this is the situation while dam removal proponents and Klamath River advocates have little good to say about the status of the Klamath.
My anecdotal observation from my position as a steelhead guide on the Mid-Klamath is that my clients almost never have a skunk day, I see large numbers of Salmon on their reds in the main stem of the Klamath, and we routinely take (and release) adult fish on a daily basis. This observation is of no value in the on -going arguements about conservancy, but it is valid as far as encouraging a low impact sport fishing business and as far as getting excited about an upcoming steelhead season.
My first years guiding were in the 80’s drought years. That was an awful time to keep guests happy with fish on the line, and over the last decade I have felt increasingly good about the steelhead guiding on the middle Klamath. In my dream vision of fishing on the Klamath, I too dream of cooler Summer flows, and of a healthy year round fishery. My most immediate goal is to advocate minimalist impact styles of sport fishing, since that is the industry I am immdeiately tied to. For me, that means, barbless hooks, releasing ALL fish (I don’t believe the hatchery fish are seperate from the wild fish anymore), fish friendly nets, and basic river conservancy in my own area of stewardship.
In any case, I look forward to a great 2009 steelhead year, and hope you can join me in the search for “steelhead on the fly” Here is a shot of some spawning salmon from my brother Greg.
Doug