Wide Open Striper Bite Mouth of the A River May 5,6,7

DFG to Release Three Million Salmon Smolts Near Mouth of American River Three million young Chinook salmon, or smolts, will be released near the mouth of the American River on May 5 and 6. The smolts were raised at Nimbus Hatchery on the lower American River by the Department of Fish and Game (DFG). This release site was chosen because studies have shown that young salmon released near the mouth of their home river are more likely to return to that river to spawn, two to five years later. "This year we are expecting a very good return of salmon on the American River and this will give anglers a greater chance to catch one of these magnificent fish," said Senior Environmental Scientist Joe Johnson of DFG's North Central Region.  The adult salmons' journey is tracked through the use of coded wire tags that show when and where they were tagged and released. Since 2007, 25 percent of the 48 million salmon smolts released by state and federal hatcheries have been imbedded with these tiny tags.  DFG biologists are working to decrease straying rates, where adult salmon return from the ocean and spawn in a different river than the one in which they were born. Releasing these young salmon at the mouth of the American River is one more step fisheries managers are taking to help bring back a full and healthy run to the river and improve the genetic integrity of each river's salmon population.  The Jibboom release site, which is near the mouth of the American River, was selected after biologists reviewed release and return data from numerous sites. They found that a large number of smolts released from the Jibboom site in previous years were returning to the American River. To ensure the highest survival rates of the smolts on their migration downriver, DFG and the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) are coordinating release timing, flows and closure of the Cross Channel Gates operated by BOR during the short migration period. The DFG Law Enforcement Division reminds anglers that these salmon are off limits. Salmon may not be taken or possessed in the release location. Use of salmon as bait is also a violation. For more information, please review the 2011-2012 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations posted at www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations/FreshFish-Mar2011/.

I have seen some reports that the big ladies are there and waiting. JD Richey. O :smt003ops, should I have said that? DFG has the head where it dont belong AGAIN!

That's why we need to get over there and take care of those poor smolts.
Maybe a swimbait to the mouth of a 30lb'er will curb it's smolt appetite for a few days

awesome!  just like Crockett-- 5" rainbow trout pattern swimbait or rapala...and its curtains.

That's why we need to get over there and take care of those poor smolts.
Maybe a swimbait to the mouth of a 30lb'er will curb it's smolt appetite for a few days

LoL..THATS EXACTLY RIGHT! WILL BE THERE AS WELL WITH THE REST OF THE FLEET WHO KNOWS HOPING FOR SOME GOOD TOPWATER ACTION...ME AND ADAM TRIED LAST NIGHT AT HOWE IN SEARCH OF THEM MOGANS THROWN SWIMBAITS AND TOPWATER FOR NOTHING, BUT I DIDN MARK SOME NICE ONES! AND YEA, DFG ALWAYS HAS THERE HEADS UP THERE ASS! Personally, i  dont think the salmon pop. is ready forn a full season yet! just op!

I'll be there thursday evening

Ricci - I agree on the salmon, but I will still be catching the **** out of them if I can 

I'll be there thursday evening

Just a heads up its Cinco de Mayo Thursday which equals to drunk people and tons of boats at the mouth of the American. Amir and I were thinking about going but decided to reconsider since kayaks and drunk boat operaters don't mix. Maybe this weekend in the morning, we will keep you posted.

Friday morning? Seis de mayo?
I will still give it a shot Thursday...gonna paddle down from Watt, get there mid afternoon...anyone wanna go let me know. You could drop the yaks at watt , leave one with them,and take cars down, bring mine back at my appt at watt....and then make the journey. It's a fun paddle...not too long...and allows you to see some great opportunities for some salmon fishing coming up.

Matt