Russian 3/10

Ben and I fished about a mile of River just above Healdsburg. The water looked great but we fished my go to spots with no love Ben had a couple of pulldowns but I didn't have a nibble. Saw no fish rolling or jumping hopefully the fish are just blowing through in the higher water. try again tomorrow.

Looks pretty dirty.  Nice try.   

Looks pretty dirty.  Nice try.  

18/20" Visabilty I like it a little dirty

  Thanks for the heads up Mike. The river is probably gonna be a zoo by the weekend. Has the Lake Sonoma hatchery been getting good numbers? I am thinking of going thursday morning.....not sure where yet.

update:
I just called the Don Clausen hatchery.......not good news. By the way... the people that answer the phones up there are the nicest to speak with.

To Date: This year     593
             Last year   3059

This will probably the the first fishable weekend with fish actually in the system.  Yeah t's gonna be nuts.

Heard a report of people nailing them just below the dam at memorial beach... on shore just below the 200 foot line, casting into the no fish zone. 

I was at the hatchery last week.  They had received about 500 fish season to date.  Last year, season to date they had received 2700+.  Heard reports of slaughter by the seals on the lower river earlier in the season.  All the fish were stacked up there because flows were so low.  Hopefully the low numbers indicate a delayed run, not a fishery collapse.

There may be no work for me on Thurs. Mike are you going to try again?

I like it a little dirty

TMI

Thanks for the report, btw!

   This was supposed to be the/MY year of the Steelhead!! 
 I had so much hopes that one of my BestFriends would be finding and sharing the goodtimes.......Thanks for the reallity check Mike
IstillGOTmeFIGERS&paddlesCROSSED

Mike & Ben
Good job getting out on the water. I would have loved to have been up there with you guys. That place looks awesome. Better luck next time.

There may be no work for me on Thurs. Mike are you going to try again?

Craig
How far is the Russian from your place?

Thanks for the report guys. Looks like a great day to be on the river. Good luck!

I had a few good bites, loosing bait, maybe just figuring out these bites and the swing of it. Beautiful water, it beats sitting on anchor for 6 hrs at China Camp for some bullheads. Still had a great time, what a cool river-pad to hang at, thanx Mike!

Heard a report of people nailing them just below the dam at memorial beach.

That makes me hopeful those fish didn't turn left at DC and must be headed to Ukaih.

Heard reports of slaughter by the seals on the lower river earlier in the season.

Yep how true http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,16006.0.html

There may be no work for me on Thurs. Mike are you going to try again?

yep after lunch

same part of the river tommorrow?
Im stuck at work but ill look for you.

yep maybe up a little more

No doubt about it, it's a real slim year. All the rivers have had poor returns this year... Looks like they caught up to the salmon declines of the past couple years... Appreciate any you get this year.