With the amount of fish being caught in the ocean and record numbers of salmon returning to some of our local rivers, the first thing North Coast anglers usually hear stepping off any river or boat is, “how many did you get?” It’s real easy to get swept up in the “limits” or “how many” game. But, fishing is sometimes more about the experience – I was reminded of that last Sunday on the Klamath River.
It had been awhile since I waded into a river and had it all to myself. As I started to fish and survey my surroundings – perched high above the slot I was casting my line into – an osprey was screeching loudly in excitement and watching the river below intently. Suddenly, the raptor plunged itself into the water with a big splash. It emerged with a fish in its talons, then lifting off and slowly started to gain altitude. The osprey was now deathly quiet and I knew why. The last couple years I’ve seen many meals stolen by those majestic bullies we call Bald Eagles. As I watched the osprey fly up into the morning fog, I said to myself, “I’m about to see a bald eagle.” Within seconds and out of nowhere, an eagle flew into range and had its sights on the osprey and a free meal. The battle was short, with the osprey overmatched in both size and speed. The fish the osprey had so aerodynamically plucked out of the water was gone. It fell to the ground where the eagle swooped it up and flew off to enjoy his lunch.
About an hour later – while standing in the middle of the river – I saw a bear out of the corner of my eye slowly walk from the bushes to the waters edge, within about 50 yards of where I was fishing. Startled, I stood still and watched as the bear tested the water like a 6-year-old sticking its toes in the community pool. It definitely knew I was there as it took a couple long looks in my direction. After a few sniffs of the water and lots of hesitation, the bear inched its way in and swam across the river. I thought to myself, “Wow, how cool is that,” two spectacular wildlife occurrences 30 minutes apart.
For what it’s worth, I did manage to land and release three dime-bright adult steelhead, but I’d rank my catches a distant third behind the other two experiences I had that morning. It’s not always about the numbers.
Weekend Marine forecast
Calm ocean conditions are expected to last through the weekend according to Reginald Kennedy of Eureka’s National Weather Service. Friday’s forecast is calling for NW winds 5 to 10 knots and swells out of the NW 4-feet at 7 seconds and 4-feet at 13 seconds. Saturday and Sunday’s conditions are looking almost the same, with winds out of the NW 5 to 10 knots and swells to 5-feet at 11 seconds. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/. You can also call the National Weather Service at (707) 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at (707) 443-6484.
Klamath/Trinity 2013 regulations
The fall Chinook season and regulations start August 15 on the Klamath River and September 1 on the Trinity River. The season ends December 31 for both rivers.
The daily bag limit is 4 Chinook salmon, no more than 3 fish over 22 inches. The possession limit is 12 Chinook salmon, no more than 9 over 22 inches. If the quota of 40,006 adult fall Chinook is met, then the previous bag and possession limits apply to “jack” salmon less than 22 inches, i.e. 4 jacks per day and 12 jacks in possession.
Klamath River from 3,500 feet downstream of the Iron Gate Dam to the Highway 96 bridge at Weitchpec: Fall Run Quota 6.801 Chinook salmon
From January 1 to August 14. 0 Chinook salmon; 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead. From August 15 to December 31. 4 Chinook salmon – no more than 3 fish over 22 inches total length; 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead
Klamath River downstream of the Highway 96 bridge at Weitchpec to the mouth:Fall Run Quota 20,003 Chinook salmon
From January 1 to August 14. 2 Chinook salmon; 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead. From August 15 to December 31. 4 Chinook salmon – no more than 3 fish over 22 inches total length; 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead
Trinity River main stem downstream of the Old Lewiston Bridge to the Highway 299 West bridge at Cedar Flat: Fall Run Quota 6,601 Chinook salmon
From January 1 to August 31. 2 Chinook salmon; 5 brown trout; 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead. From September 1 through December 31. 4 Chinook salmon – no more than 3 fish over 22 inches total length; 5 brown trout; 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead
Trinity River downstream of the Highway 299 West bridge at Cedar Flat to the Denny Road bridge at Hawkins Bar.
From January 1 through August 31. 2 Chinook salmon; 5 brown trout; 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead From September 1 through December 31 closed to all fishing.
Trinity River main stem downstream of the Denny Road bridge at Hawkins Bar to the mouth of the South Fork Trinity River: Fall Run Quota 6,601 Chinook salmon
From January 1 to August 31. 2 Chinook salmon; 5 brown trout; 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead. From September 1 through December 31. 4 Chinook salmon – no more than 3 fish over 22 inches total length; 5 brown trout; 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead
Trinity River main stem downstream of the mouth of the South Fork Trinity River to the confluence with the Klamath River: Fall Run Quota 6,601 Chinook salmon
From January 1 to August 31. 0 Chinook salmon; 5 brown trout; 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead. From September 1 through December 31. 4 Chinook salmon – no more than 3 fish over 22 inches total length; 5 brown trout; 2 hatchery trout or hatchery steelhead
Tuna out of Eureka
A half-dozen boats made the 55-60 mile trek to the warm water Tuesday according to Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing. “I didn’t hear all the scores, but it sounded like the range was about eight fish to the high 20’s per boat. I heard lots of double, triples and quad hook-ups were had, so it sounds like there’s quite a few fish out there,” Klassen added. “More boats made the run on Wednesday as the ocean was again forecasted to be flat.”
The Oceans:
Eureka
The insanely wide-open salmon bite continues out of Eureka. Charter boat skippers Tony Sepulveda of Shellback Sport Fishing, Tim Klassen of Reel Steel Sport Fishing and Gary Blasi of Full Throttle Sport Fishing continue to score early limits of kings ranging from 12 to 30-pounds, with the occasional 40 in the mix. According to Klassen, fish are spread from the Cape to Eureka and halfway to Trinidad. Blasi, who’s boated limits within 45 minutes this past weeks reports there are so many fish out here, you can’t miss em. “From the 44 to the 51-line in 120 to 200 feet of water is where I’ve spent most of my time,” Blasi said. Sepulveda has also been on the fish, and probably had the best story of the week when he landed what he is calling a “septuplet.” “Fishing my normal seven rod spread late last week, they all doubled over at once. Seven fish on at one time, and we landed every one of em. Two nets flying, a little chaos, and lots of fish flopping on the deck. That sums up how good the bite is right now,” Sepulveda added.
Trinidad
According to Curt Wilson who runs the Wind Rose Charter out of Trinidad, the continued pattern of drive three miles west of Trinidad Head, put anything in the water and catch big kings has continued all week. “There are some real large kings in the mix as well as some big Coho. Halibut efforts are being rewarded nicely all over. An 82-pounder won the July Derby caught on the Foxy Roxy. It seems a lot more lingcod have been hitting decks with a very large grade of rockfish stretched out between the Head and Patrick’s Point,” Wilson said
Shelter Cove
Boats made their first albacore run on Tuesday reports Russ Thomas of Mario’s Marina in Shelter Cove. “Four or five boats made the 40-mile run to 60-degree water and most had some pretty good scores. I heard the top boat landed 25, and they were all decent size. More boats also made the trip on Wednesday and the late word was the bite was red-hot. The salmon bite has slowed considerable, but fish are still being caught. Definitely not red hot by any means and there’s still quite a few commercial boats working the area.” Thomas added.
Crescent City
According to Chris Hegnes of Crescent City’s Englund Marine, the salmon fishing has fell on its nose a bit. “I’m not sure if it’s a lack of fish or what, but it’s slowed down here as well as in Brookings. From what I’m hearing scores are roughly two fish per boat. The lingcod bite remains wide-open, with boats putting in limits south to the Sisters and north around the Big Reef. The rockfish bite has been best around the Sisters, and not as good south,” Hegnes said.
The Rivers:
Lower Klamath
There’s a pretty good morning bite happening on the Klamath right now reports Mike Coopman of Mike Coopman’s Guide Service. “It definitely gets tougher when the sun hits the water. Boat pressure has also affected the bite, when there’s not a lot of boats, they’ll bite a little longer. We’re landing predominately steelhead right now, but I’ve been averaging one adult king and a couple jacks per trip,” Coopman added.
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Fishing the North Coast with Kenny Priest 