By the time this newsletter reaches your home Thanksgiving will be overand you'll be working on getting your Christmas shopping completed. Normally, this is the time of year that I'm chasing monster Chinook Salmon on Smith River. However, due to a very dry month and ultra-low river conditions, I have yet to fish the river. So, with no news to report
from the Smith, I'll summarize how our most recent fishing was and preview the upcoming steelhead and striper seasons.
Klamath River Springers - Simply put, the springer fishing in 2000 was the best that I've ever experienced. Excellent water conditions and good return of big, healthy salmon combined to produce the best springer action in perhaps the last ten or twelve years. Limits or near limits of these great-tasting fish were the rule for the bulk of the season.
Klamath River Fall Salmon - A record return (over 60,000 chinook made it back to the hatchery at Iron Gate dam) began entering the Klamath in mid-August and had peaked by the 10th of September. We had unbelievable fishing in late-August and early September. The fifty to sixty fish days that we normally see from mid-September through early October were had mostly in the first week of September. Kent Bond, Steve Bernardi, Jim Lewman and Mike Cameron fished the 6th and 7th and caught nearly a hundred salmon for the two days. Steve, Linda, Dan and Chris Rosenberry landed in
excess of sixty salmon on the 15th while fishing with my partner on the Klamath, Mike Moore. The 2000 season produced quality in addition to the usual quantity on the Klamath. We caught more big fish this year than ever before. I had at least a dozen in the 25 pound class landed on my boat, and Ernie Beck's 44-pounder was the largest salmon that we've ever had on the Klamath/Trinity system.
Trinity River Fall Salmon & Steelhead - As the run was early on the Klamath this year, it stands to reason that the Trinity would follow the same pattern. I really believe that many of the salmon had already gone
through the lower Trinity by the time I got there on October 6th. The Trinity also had a record return of salmon in 2000. The hatchery at Lewiston received over 20,000 chinook, a number nearly four times greater than that of a normal year. Again, big salmon were the rule, due in large part to the fact that we started using lures that really tend to target the
larger fish. Doug Arndt caught the biggest fish of the season, a 36-pounder, and had a 35-pounder to go along with it. Doug and long-time customer, John Mclean were fishing with Brice Dusi. Nicol Ours got a 35
pounder with me, and Ray Meador had a 42 inch, 33 pound fish while fishing with guide Alan Borges. The Trinity's steelhead run was only fair. A typical day would produce three or four hookups, but there were a few exceptional fish that come to mind. Lowell Wall, Bob Foster, and Jake Ours each landed steelhead that were as large as any that I've had in 15 years of drifting the Trinity. These fish were in the thirteen to fourteen pound class and all fought tremendously hard. While talking with fish and game biologists, I found that these large fish were four year olds, not the usual three year old fish.
Looking Ahead - I am now taking reservations for the winter steelhead season (mid-December through March). Due to the health of the salmon and the size of the runs, I can only expect that the steelhead run will be
strong also. Mad River already has steelhead in it, and I have no doubt that the other coastal rivers do too. All we need is a little rain to really get things started. Brice will be working with me again this February and may start as early January depending on how his commercial crab season goes. I would not wait too long to reserve your Winter dates if you have not done so already. At this point, I still have a number of prime dates available, but they always go quickly when it starts to rain. I am also taking reservations for the Striper Season on the Sacramento River. I'll be offering the jetboat trips in the Colusa area from April 20th through May 10th. If you would like more information on these trips, feel free to contact me. I'll be happy to answer any of your questions.
You are also welcome to reserve any other 2001 dates if you know which ones you would like and don't want to risk losing them. The Fall trips on the Klamath and Trinity are very popular and both are about 50% booked
already. I can't stress enough the importance of reserving your dates as early as possible to get the ones you want.
Finally - Those who have fished with us for a few years will remember guide Tom Mathena. On November 19th Tom married long-time girlfriend Cathy Stalker. Tom's wrist problems are mostly behind him, and he is a driver for UPS. We all wish Tom and Cathy well. I really want all of you to know how much I appreciate your business. From the time I started guiding nearly fifteen years ago, I wanted to make the trips personal, something more than simply going fishing with a guide. I believe I've done that. As my business has grown, I have been fortunate to have guides working with me who strive to do the same. Creating relationships with customers is good business. We are continually striving to put forth a better product for you. If you have any ideas, let us hear them. If you enjoy your times on the water with us, please tell your friends. There simply is no better form of advertising than that from a happy customer.
The guides, Lisa and I all wish you the happiest of holidays and good
fishing.
Tight Lines
John Klar!