The fishing report

I just returned from a family camping trip over the weekend  to
Burney Falls State Park. We were warned that it could be a little
smoky, but I rationalized that this was going to be our last trip
before school started so we took our chances. We didn’t see what
everyone was talking about until we came over the rise and headed
down into the Hat Creek Valley. From the vista you could see three
different fires burning. The smoke was in the air and, while not
thick, was certainly a shock to see all the activity in the
air.
By the time we got to the park entrance, the smell was
noticeable, but it was late and we decided to deal with it that
night and make a decision the next morning. Well, as luck would
have it, the smoke had cleared the campground, but as we moved
around the valley in search of a willing fish, the smoke would come
and go, with ash falling on us at times. The fish and bugs seemed
to know that life was not quite right either, and there was very
little activity except for a couple of hatchery fish up near
Cassel. The Pit River is closed for the season by PG&E.  The
Hat River was barely marginal. Baum Lake showed some life for
anglers with float tubes and prams using caddis imitations midday.
Burney Falls State Park is still the best state park in the system,
and once the fires die down, should continue to be high on your
destinations for a great fishing trip.
Andy Gulliano, skipper of the six pack boat “The Talisman” out
of Emeryville, showed the Kemp Family from Healdsburg a great time
on the bay. Andy reported fantastic striped bass fishing along with
several halibut to go along for the boat ride home. Andy said the
group basically caught all the bass they could want to catch using
live anchovies and sardines. This fishery will remain solid through
the month of August as the fish push through the bay on the
upstream migration to the central valley.
Mario Arguilles, Klamath River guide, reports good fishing both
down near the mouth and upstream on a combination of half pound
steelhead, a few adults along with a salmon or two. Mario fished
with Cory Harms and his family from Cloverdale last Saturday. In
yet another exhibition that life comes full circle, the Harms
family bought a charity trip for the Healdsburg Hospital that I
donated six years ago. Mario was my deck hand and Cory’s kid
couldn’t have been five.  Well, when they got together this time
with Mario as the skipper, everyone was ready and they landed five
adult steelhead and a whole bunch of half-pounders. Salmon fishing
on the Klamath is just beginning, and with a strong showing of fish
this early, bodes well for the upcoming season. The ‘09 season has
been predicted to be one of the best in many years.
Bites and Pisces: Clear Lake continues to suffer from one of the
worst algae blooms in 20 years. It is really creating a stench and
is unfishable on the downwind side of the slime. I am hearing that
a few steelhead are being caught up at Lake Sonoma down at 50 feet.
The limit on this fishery is due to change by next year from five
to two. Also, for all of you that followed the process, the more
restrictive of  MPA options was adopted. It is unfortunate that
this resource grabbing, unscientifically documented, politically
ram-roded and unfunded measure could pass. The 220 DFG Wardens will
be responsible to enforce this sweeping legislation which covers
area restrictions along the coast from Oregon to Mexico. They can’t
handle all the fish and game issues on their plate now, let alone
this monstrocity, and the fishermen and their license fees are
expected to pay for all of it. It will only take away from the fish
and game resources in this state and protect nothing.
For more information and or reports, please contact Hunt
Conrad at Prospect Mortgage, 431-9715.