The Steelhead Angler

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Just when I thought the Little Salmon River was going to come in we started to receive some rain and the river has blown out again. I did make a trip down to the river Tuesday and hooked into a fish but I fished al day and it was the only hit that I got.

 

The river is as high as I’ve seen it in years and the one fish I did hooked got out in the current and if you have ever fished for Chinook salmon you know what happened next.

Yep it was like trying to stop a D-8 cat from running down a frozen cliff you hold on and hope for a miracle. Even with 40lb test line I was unable to even slow it down let alone turn him. In about thirty seconds he had striped off most of my line and was headed back to the Ocean. It was exciting but the battle if you want to call holding on for everything you got a battle, did not last long and I had to admit defeat before I even got started.

 

With the river running as high and fast as it is fishing is really tough you use three ounces of weight to even touch the bottom and your line drifts through the hole in about ten seconds. Most of your day will be spent casting that is when you are not tying up a new rig because when you do hit bottom with that much weight it usually finds a way to crawl under some rock and you end up leaving your rig to the river gods. Yet even with conditions the way they are I can’t wait to get back on the river after all it is Chinook salmon season.

 

If you do not like spending your day casting and tying rigs you may want to hold off for a week or two before you head down. There is however always plunking if you don’t want to fight the current river condition. I have had some pretty good luck with this technique of fishing over the years.

 

For those of you that are not familiar with plunking it is setting up with a heavy weight as a drop sinker and using a spin and glow with eggs or a similar lure casting it out in a deep pool and then you just sit and wait for the fish to find it. When condition are like the are this is a very good technique plus while your waiting for a fish you have time to relax and tell some fishing stories with you buddies.

 

Well I’ll keep watching the river and let you know as things develop but for right now fishing is tough.

 

RR Smith

Steelhead, Salmon and Trout Fishing Gear

Chinook salmon fishing continues to be a very popular sport fishery even as salmon numbers drop. The fisheries managers continue to monitor salmon runs and returns to allow the sportsman every opportunity possible to fish for these magnificent fish. Fishing techniques are adjusted to avoid species whose populations are at risk such as the native or natural runs and focus on those which can sustain large-scale fishing those that have been raised and released from hatcheries. Where that is impossible, the native fish are released unharmed, allowing these endangered species to continue with their natural spawning cycles. The hatchery fish can be identified by a missing adipose fine which is clipped before their release from the hatcheries.

 

This year is no exception it appears that the anticipated returns are going to be down from what was supposed to have been one of the better runs in years to a run which will be capable of providing some limited fishing. As the managers monitor return numbers they are adjusting the fishing seasons and take limits and even in some cases they have closed salmon season down for the year.

 

Did you know that Pacific Northwest Salmon is a rich source of heart-healthy polyunsaturated fat called Omega-3 fatty acids or basically good fats? Omega-3s are found mainly in fat rich fish such as salmon, trout, mackerel and sardines.

 

Wild fisheries could never meet the global demand for salmon especially when you consider their dwindling habitat and in my opinion having the hatcheries is one of the best moves mangers have made to keep a fishable run. While we would all love to see the native fish flourish with politics and economical factors influencing decisions regarding their survival and habitat the natural runs continue their decline.

 

Fishing must be carefully managed so that salmon continue to be a harvestable resource.

RR Smith

There appears to be even more good news for salmon fishermen here in Idaho. Along with the Chinook salmon return numbers showing a vast improvement over the last several years the number of jacks that are returning to Idaho are also u; this is good news for two reasons. 

1. Having a good number of jack salmon return is a good sign that the numbers of  adult chinook salmon that will return the following year will also be good
2. This year anglers will be able to keep two jack salmon a day without them having to be counted against your season limit of 40 salmon. And the size of the jack salmon has been increased from a fish measuring less then 20″ to one which measures less then 24″. 

The weather and river flows has been playing a large role in the amount of Salmon crossing Bonneville dam during the last week one day the numbers are over 9,00 and the next day they may be down to 2,500 only to bounce back up the next day. I guess as long as the numbers stay up we can keep smiling though. 

So far I do not believe the total numbers are as good as every one was hoping but we need to remember that the run started three weeks later then normal too. 

I will continue to watch the numbers over the next several weeks and keep you informed so far thing are looking good for the Idaho salmon angler though and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this will continue.

By: RR Smith
Salmon Steeelhead And Trout