Fishing the North Coast

from North Coast Journal 04-21-2022 Edition

On the Table

Spring Rains a Bonus for North Coast Rivers

By Kenny Priest

fishing@northcoastjournal.com

With very little rain falling throughout our region from January to March, most of us were already preparing for summer. However, the April showers hitting the coast are providing a second winter. These rains will defi nitely impact the health of future salmon and steelhead runs, which will likely be stronger a few years down the road because of it.

First o , the late winter and spring rains will benefi t the next run of adult fi sh moving upriver, mainly spring salmon and summer steelhead. It may also increase the survival rates for recently spawned adult steelhead, or kelts, as well as salmon and steelhead fry and smolts that are all making their way downstream to the estuaries and ocean. The high, muddy water allows the fi sh to make their way downriver with less risk of predation. The lack of fi shing pressure will also help the kelts make their way back downriver successfully. Heavy spring rains should, in many cases, also result in higher fl ows and improved water quality later in the summer.

In most cases, the high fl ows also contribute to the health and complexity of the river’s estuary. A nutrient-rich estuary o ers the young fi sh ample sources of food, allowing them to grow to an optimal size before entering the ocean. This greatly increases their chances of survival. A healthy estuary is also benefi cial for the kelts, weak from their spawning journey, o ering a safe haven for them prior to making their way back to the ocean.

With nature, it seems for every plus Marty Woods holds a Smith River steelhead caught in early April prior to the rise in flows. The spring rains hitting the coast now will have a positive impact on the health of salmon and steelhead runs, as well as the rivers themselves.

Photo courtesy of Mick Thomas.

there’s also a minus. In the event of extremely high late-winter and spring fl ows, problems can also occur for fi sh. Without adequate freshwater and estuarine slack water habitat, the young fi sh can get washed downstream before they’re ready, putting them in harm’s way. Extremely high late-winter and early spring fl ows can also have a negative impact on late-spawning fi sh. Spawning areas known as “redds” can be scoured or the gravels within redds can be buried in fi ne sediment, preventing the young from emerging. After a few months of unseasonably dry weather, it’s a blessing to see the rivers running high and dirty. Hopefully our “second winter” will pay dividends in the future.

The Rivers:

Reminder: The South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mattole, Mad, Redwood Creek and the Chetco rivers are all closed to fi shing.

Eel (main stem)

After peaking at nearly 20,000 cubic feet per second Sunday, the main is big and brown. With more rain on the way, it’s forecast for another big rise to 21,000 by Friday morning. Needless to say, it will be blown out for some time. The main stem Eel to the South Fork is open all year. Only artifi cial lures with barbless hooks may be used through Sept. 30.

Smith River

With more rain in the forecast this week, another big rise is predicted for Thursday morning that could top 12 feet at Jed Smith. Flows will then drop and conditions are shaping up nicely for the weekend. This will likely fl ush the last of the spawned-out steelhead downriver and could bring in a few fresh ones. The main stem of the Smith will remain open through the end of April from its mouth to the confl uence with the Middle and South Forks. The Middle Fork will also remain open through April from its mouth to Patrick’s Creek. The South Fork is open through April as well, from its mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet to the County Road (George Tryon) bridge and Craig’s Creek to Jones Creek.

Lower Rogue

The best spring salmon fi shing so far this season took place at the end of last week and over the weekend on the lower Rogue, reports Andy Martin of Wild River Fishing. “Guides were getting two to four springers a day, about half wild and half hatchery,” said Martin. “The river was still fi shable after Monday’s rain but was still rising. Last week’s rain brought in big schools of spring kings.” ●

Read the complete fi shing roundup at www.northcoastjournal.com.

Kenny Priest (he/him) operates Fishing the North Coast, a fi shing guide service out of Humboldt specializing in salmon and steelhead. Find it on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and www.fi shingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fi shing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@ fi shingthenorthcoast.com.