The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

I fished the Lower Sac yesterday and today. Conditions were not ideal, but really, the river was in pretty good shape. I didn't do really well, but it as nice to get out on the water for the first time in 2008. I managed just one fish a day... today was a nice 21"er, yesterday a 15"er... fish were not on the same gameplan and they ended up pulling off a Giant upset... hee hee.

Not too cold and not blown out. We were on foot, which limited options a bit. Many fewer salmon in the system than I would have expected, although I had heard the return was poor.

Both fish were caught on egg patterns.

B-

Speaking of the Central Valley salmon run (where have they gone?), KQED FM public radio had an interesting episode on their Forum program recently about the disappearing run:
http://www...org/epArchive/R801310900

In a nutshell, experts on the show blamed bad habitat conditions. The salmon's freshwater environs have been in decline for awhile, but the new gotcha may be declining ocean conditions.

Hopefully this year is just a blip.

Wild Bill

Bill,

I hope you are right, but that's not the way to bet....

I haven't talked to any biologists on this, but didn't we have a great return a couple years back? Given the low rain this year, couldn't they have just decided not to come back this year? It's not like they are like the Delta Smelt where they all reproduce every year... so improved conditions could mean an improved run, no?