The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Thought I'd share a report with you that I received this afternoon.

I talked to a guide buddy who also works in a sporting goods shop near the T, just to torture myself since I should be up there right now. He actually told me what I wanted to hear.

It's STILL slow on the T. Guide boats are hooking 0-2 fish. He said it's just like 2005, the bad old days, before we all got spoiled with more fish than we could shake a stick at.

I imagine there are probably some good spots, but unless you're prepared to hook a fish every other day, do yourself a favor and find a nice trout stream.

Of course, conditions could always change...

I stopped by the Fly Shop on my way to Oregon this week and got similar feedback. While I was hoping the fish were just late, they indicated reports from the lower river and Klamath confirmed.......it ain't 2007. Approximately 8k fish recorded at the Willow Creek Weir, compared to 60K last year. There are fish, but one has to work for the few that are landed.

There are fish, but one has to work for the few that are landed.

You mean like real steelheading? Gasp!

It ain't 2006 either (20K). After the past 2 years, folks forgot that they have to EARN steelhead with pain (the cold), fatigue (pre-dawn to post-dusk fishing) and a sick, sick mind that's driven by the notion of just hooking up one, just one please God, fish in a day.

(I'm wet, I'm freezing, I can barely move my hands, my toes...do I still have toes? And, I paid for this "vacation"?!) Yup, sick, sick minds

that fishing on the T this year is like REAL steelheading.

But, of course, the T ISN'T supposed to be like real steelheading. Hence my report. Maybe it'll save someone a bit of pain?

I can confirm those reports, I fished 6 hours on Wednesday an didn't get any hookups. I saw fish but they would not cooperate.

Could some of those fish have been salmon? I saw scads of them when I was up there, but only occasionally could I identify the rainbow stripe on a rolling fish.

Yes, some were salmon but others were definitely steelhead.

Ain't it grand, having to work for a fish or two! Maybe will result in a few less people too.

Fewer fishermen is right! If I'd heard that the run was in in gangbuster numbers, I might have found a way to head on up.

Since I have to fish "smarter" now that the economy is in the toilet, I figure if I'm gonna fish under "normal" steelheading conditions, I might as well try to do something different...like Washington &/or Oregon in March.

It's just a thought, not yet a plan. (I AM, however, feeling denied.)

You gotta try whitefish on the Crooked. Numbers far outdistance the Trinity!

I caught some Whitefish on Crooked Creek in OR, while unsuccessfully trying for Redband Trout.

Same Crooked? I'd rather have caught the trout.