NorCal Striped Bass Fishing Report… 3/16/24

California’s spring striped bass run has begun! All the signs of a prosperous and productive, striper season are starting to show themselves. It would be hard to determine the amount of Striped Bass that are already showing up daily under the stained and elevated water conditions on the lower Sacramento River. However, on the Feather River side of the Sacramento Valley Striped Bass, have been arriving for the past week. Anglers targeting striped bass on the lower Feather River in Northern California have started picking up limits of keeper sized stripers . Fishing guides like Raith Herryford of Rh Guide Service, have been producing daily bag limit for his clients this past week. Private anglers in the lower Feather River near Beer Can Beach and the East Nicholas, Ca hwy 99 bridge, have also reported, catching their limits of striped bass as these migrating fish pour into the Feather River system. Although there have been very few, if any striped bass anglers targeting these line sides on the Sacramento River, doesn’t mean they don’t exist. If stripers are showing up on the Feather River. They’re also showing up on the Sacramento River. All it’s going to take is for someone to go out and find where they are hiding. It’s striper season folks, and it’s just getting underway.

Very limited angling opportunities existed south of Chico California this past week, on Sacramento River. Primarily due to the large volume of water coming down the Sacramento River from Lake Shasta, and all of its tributaries. Causing the river to run high and muddy for quite so time. Keeping would be anglers from venturing out and targeting the stripers. With the exception of a few private anglers targeting the Trophy Striped Bass fishery in the upper Sacramento River while in between storms. Siezing brief opportunities in the rivers water clarity before the next storm would arrive, discoloring river and send anglers back to the couch. Private striped bass angler Bret Wooley took a shot at a opportunity last week to target the colossal striped bass of the winter trophy striped bass fishery. Bret managed to bring in one trophy bass weighing around 30 pounds. The following day the river was blown back out. As we approach the unofficial start to the striper season on April 1, 2024 focus will switch down river, centering around the Colusa, California region of the Sacramento River. This is where the spring striped bass historically congregate, and much of the angling will take place.

• Kittles Outdoors Sports in Colusa California will be the center of attention for all striper anglers come April 1st. Make sure to stop in this sporting goods store and support local business. Get all your bait and tackle supplies at Kittles. They are fully stocked with a multitude of swim bait, including the new G rat, thin swim. Which showed great success last season. As well as live minnows, pile worms, nightcrawlers, anchovies, sardines, and all the popular artificial striped bass baits you may want before heading out on the river. Which coincidentally happens to run right through the town of Colusa, Ca, and a half of a block behind Kittle’s Outdoor and Sport. It’s literally a one stop tackle shop and only a rocks throw from the striper grounds. This sporting good store opens at 5:00am and is staffed with expiring local youth who are ready to serve you. The coffee pot is always on and the lies and story telling is often taking place by patrons lounging around it. The walls are filled with trophy fish and game taken locally and from around the world. All things considered, this is just the epitome of a sporting good store. With great vibes, and a positive atmosphere.

If you want to get a early start to the 2024 spring striped bass run, and you don’t want to drive to the California Delta to do it. With its maze of water diversion through the designed sloughs, ditches, and bypasses. Which if you are unfamiliar with can be daunting and intimidating to navigate. If you are looking for a early season river fishing guide, I would recommend contacting RH Guide Service out of Yuba City, Ca. Owned and operated by striper legend Raith Herryford. The only active striped bass fishing guide currently operating north of the California Delta. In the weeks to come the vast majority of NorCal fishing guides will arrive and eventually be on site by the unofficial April 1, 2024 start of the spring striped bass run here in Northern California. Along with countless recreational angler from around the globe. The anticipation of this annual fishing event, for those who have looked forward to it since last year came to a close. In the matter of a short two weeks the anticipation will be well worth the wait. Hope to see you all out there. Tight Lines and Striped Sides…..

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.

Sacramento River Winter Striped Bass Fishing Report - 1/15/24

The Sacramento River winter striped bass fishing has improved a great deal over the past two weeks. This after getting off to a rough start during the end of November 2023. In a fishery known to produce giant trophy sized striped bass, success was minimal through December for the most part. There were plenty of keeper size stripers to go around early in the winter striped bass season. What lacked were the 20-40 pound class stripers that are typically targeted during the winter fishing. Where were they? I honestly haven’t a clue. I do know the success was limited for both fishing charters and for recreational striper anglers alike. Fishing for the oversized linesides has definitely been easier in years past. Some possible hypothesis for the lack of success could range from…being “splash shy” from too much fishing pressure. Too many of the “bigs” being caught and kept over the past decade, or dying after a delayed release. The consequences of lengthy photo opportunities. It could be as simple as the hot, poor, unsuitable river conditions the fish faced during the summer months, and early fall on the Sacramento River. Whatever the case may be, prior to the New Year fishing for the “bigs” was flat out tough.

With the New Year came a new fishery. Following several hatchery releases of Fall Run Chinook Salmon juveniles. Along with hatchery steelhead juveniles, caused the bite to pick up tremendously. The beginning of this month has been solid, with plenty of stripers to go around. However river conditions have kept angler targeting the colossal stripers off the water for a couple days following each storm. The Sacramento River has turned muddy several times since Christmas. Causing for two or three day breaks in the fishing before the river falls back in shape. With the passing of every storm fishing has improved.

At current time anglers who are braving the frozen morning and occasional rain storms are finding respectable success. Not everyday are trophy striped bass finding their way to the net’s of those targeting them, but the opportunity certainly exist on every cast. Fishing guides Mike Rasmussen and Robert Petty have had some quality stripers make it to the boat since the start of the new year. Having to fish around private angler with the same objective has made the fishing more difficult on any given day. With weekends of course having more boat traffic. Keeping the intelligent stripers from really getting going on the hatchery released food source. Nevertheless the pair of trophy striped guides have landed cumulatively two trophy bass over thirty pounds, two over twenty pounds and a dozen stripers ranging from 14-17 pounds. Keeping customers happy and willing to take a shot at their PB (personal best) striper.

With a little over two months left in the winter striped bass fishery on the Sacramento River. There is still plenty of opportunity to tangle with a trophy striped bass. The closer we get to the spring spawn the big female striped bass will be reaching peak weight. Right now is chow time for the “bigs” as they gorge themselves on the tax bought, hatchery raised juvenile salmon and steelhead. Despite the efforts of Coleman National Fish Hatchery to time their releases of chinook salmon, and steelhead juveniles in conjunction with elevated and muddy river conditions. The stripers have still keyed in on the plentiful food source. These release practices are beneficial to the safe outward migration of these juveniles. However a certain percentage of these young hatchery raised fish will stay in the Sacramento River for some time. Trickling southbound at their own pace. Keeping the striped bass fishery alive for those who care to target it. Ensuring steady action for the remaining two months of the trophy season. Tight lines!

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River

Sacramento River Salmon Disaster Explained 12/20/2023 SalmonSacRiver Strongly Apposes The “Bay-Delta Plan”! -Some things you probably didn’t know…

This fishing blog takes direct aim at the responsible parties for the disastrous depletion of Sacramento River Fall Run Chinook Salmon stocks. With 2023 being quite possibly the lowest return of Sacramento River Fall Run Chinook Salmon in history (under 10,000 salmon). When just twenty years ago the Sacramento River saw nearly a half a million salmon return to spawn. What happen? Take a few extra minutes out of your day, or save this blog for when you have time to read it. I’ll explain some things you probably didn’t know about the recent rapid decline of Sacramento River salmon. From the trenches so to speak. As witnesses and documented by a couple local NorCal fishing guides. First hand, in real time, as it unfolded. I won’t be shy about placing blame, or pointing out where the fault lies. So read on and decide for yourself if you feel like the “Bay-Delta Plan” that has previously been in place, using “Voluntary Agreements” is even worth the time and consideration of reimplementing. The true colors of the “voluntary agreement” arrangements for water contractors is why we are in the situation we are currently in. A state of emergency. You can decide if voluntary agreements sound like a intelligent thing to repeat. If we are to move forward in salmon sustainability and the rehabilitation of salmon stocks in the Sacramento River. While folks who don’t rely on water deliveries desperately try to fix the current salmon crisis. Those that do rely on water deliveries are not so willing to switch water management practices that clearly don’t work. We are left in turmoil and confusion as social media propaganda and distraction tries to deflect the truth on the matter. Let’s start with Coleman National Fish Hatchery for example, and their part in truth deflection. Using the local news networks along with Facebook, and Instagram posts. They spread misleading propaganda for the public to gobble up. Read along and find out what you didn’t know about the depletion of California’s King Salmon.

Coleman Fish Hatchery deserves a Academy Award for their performance in the game of California’s privileged water rights. So I say two thumbs down for Coleman National Fish Hatchery. Thanks for not keeping it real, leading the public on with your bogus theatrics. Broadcasting your doom and gloom propaganda around the county, state, country, and probably a small portion of the world. Contaminating countless minds who believe the tails you tell of these false truths and make believe stories. Turning a blind eye to the real problems at hand. Hatchery management should be ashamed of their deceitful excuses surrounding the absence of our states coveted Fall Chinook Salmon. Their press releases spread misleading “feel good” information as they make there way through the World Wide Web and it’s social media platforms. These social media post push a delusional positive vibe. Considering the hatchery hailed the worst return of Sacramento River fall chinook salmon in recorded history this past season. Something like 8,000 fall king salmon returned to the hatchery if I’m not mistaken. Certainly something to be ashamed of. Honestly if you or I had failed this miserably in our field of work, we would have been forced to shut our doors, or be terminated. Likely ending our careers. Not being able to perform your job detail is typically a recipe for termination. Yet the Coleman fish hatchery staff carries on with little to zero accountability from the department heads of USFW. What gives? This is not a personal vendetta, or an attack on the hatchery without merit. This is about accountability. Or lack there of. We’ve all herd the definition of “insanity” right? Doing the same thing over and over expecting different results defines INSANITY. Coleman Fish Hatchery has repeatedly failed to reach even the lowest mitigation thresholds for the fall chinook escapement (returning adult salmon) on the Sacramento River. This isn’t the first time either, it has happened more often then not over the past decade. Sooooo…keep repeating the same old failing process? Just letting it happen again and again? We as Californians could see all of our states iconic salmon runs become EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) listed as “endangered” species in the next decade. Possibly even less if salmon run counts stay at, or fall from the record low levels they are currently residing at.

All the while Coleman Hatchery tries to keep their social media profile followers, and page visitors convinced significant fishery conservation, and accomplishments have been taking place. Or are currently underway. Destine for success as always. The federal hatcheries social media posts during fall spawning time exhibit a big, red, digital tally. Displaying the up to date, total harvested fall run chinook salmon  eggs. The digitalized numerical display appears to the public as if big things are being done. Egg counts are shown in the millions. Leading people to believe that such big numbers must correlate to big salmon returns. Sadly this is no where near the case. Only a single percent or less of these harvested Chinook salmon eggs make it back to the hatchery as adults to spawn. In reality the triple digital display should have a much larger numerical value if run counts were at historic levels. This hatchery “score board” if you will, reads in big numbers. Yet the fall chinook run counts are as low as have ever been recorded.  So let’s just call a salmon a salmon and say for the record. “Colman National Fish Hatchery, you flat out failed to deliver the mitigation goal required by law, yet again this year. You failed!” What are we blaming it on this year? Was it drought? Let me answer this for you in your absence. No, it wasn’t drought. Chinook salmon have managed to show up to the spawning grounds and reproduce in countless droughts. Long before Euro Whites came West in search of gold. The real cause of this salmon disaster was predetermined. Illegal water management practices that literally cooked the incoming Sacramento River fall run to death in 2022. As well as causing a massive stray of the Sacramento River fall run chinook salmon in 2023 (this year). Where did they go? The majority of arriving salmon simply headed up the Feather River just to stay alive. Finding thermal refugia on the Feather River instead of cooking to death in 75 degree river water coming from the Sacramento River. So again Coleman National Fish Hatchery, how dare you lead the general public to believe  that the low salmon returns to your hatchery this year are due to low salmon run counts coming from the Pacific Ocean. This simply isn’t true and you know it. Churching up the ugly truth about the absence of salmon returning to your hatchery this year was no fault of your own. I know this to be true. However leading the public to believe this is a “natural cause”is misleading at best. Not to mention it fixes nothing moving forward and allows for the real culprits to continue the killing off of the Sacramento River fall chinook salmon. The fact that there may or may not have been enough salmon in the ocean abundance to allow for a successful spawn had nothing to do with how many king salmon showed up to your hatchery. Again the hatchery knows this. Portraying to the public a “doom and gloom” scenario and outlook for this years hatchery production. Instead of “drought” as the excuse. “At the hands of water mismanagement” would be much more accurate, and truthful. Misleading the public just sets the table for a future closure of the 2024 salmon season. Also allowing this continued water mismanagement to go unnoticed yet again. Aiding in the further depletion of the Sacramento River fall chinook salmon stocks. Giving the green light to your friends at the USBR another year to kill off yet another year class of our states salmon. Coleman National Fish Hatchery you are misleading the public. Period! I won’t call it lying to the public because you were not directly asked why the salmon counts were to low to meet your hatcheries minimum requirements for spawning. Hatchery management gave a statement (not a interview) to News Channel 7 two months ago. At which time the cause of this historically low 2023 salmon return was blamed on California’s three year drought crisis. Which is true, partially! Very partially in this particular situation however. In fact this is where things get “juicy” so to speak. Stay with me.

Coleman National Fish Hatchery’s management gave a press release type statement to the Channel 7 news reporter that was nothing but false and missing information. Doing so knowingly, in hopes to continue masking the facts surrounding the historically low salmon returns. Deflecting attention from where cause, and blame should lie. To be fair Coleman Fish Hatchery isn’t completely to blame as far as “cause” is concerned. They just played their roll. Coming up with a excuse for the salmon’s absence and running with it. Playing a pawns roll in a political game of chess over Lake Shasta’s pricy water. The greasy, money hungry, water mongers, and salmon killers of the Sacramento River and California Delta are the very people put in place to make sure California’s water is appropriately managed. For environmental protection needed during water deliveries on dry seasons, and as demand for the ever so thirsty California grows. Unfortunately these state and federal agencies conveniently left the health of the Sacramento River and California Delta in severe demise when state water contractors whipped out the greenbacks.

                                 FACTS…

  Let me explain why I say Coleman Fish Hatchery isn’t to blame for the absence of fall chinook salmon. For those of you who don’t know, here are some fun facts that we already know to exist. Concerning the cause and effects of deadly water management practices on returning chinook salmon, and the abundance of chinook salmon prior to this years migration (June, July, August). Which is widely known by the listed federal and state agencies, and organizations. The Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission (PMFC), California Department Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), NorCal Guides and Sportsman Association (NCGASA), and the Northern Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). All of which concurred on a combined agreement on the 2022 commercial salmon harvest reports provided by the NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service). Information that was gathered off the California coast season before last. Which I can only assume was determined by landing records from commercial fishing vessels who took part in the 2022 ocean commercial salmon season. Estimations by the fisheries research, studies, and data collection personnel estimated the commercial take to be roughly 230,000 Central Valley Fall Chinook Salmon (CVCS). Again this is the number of salmon “taken” by the commercial fleet last open season (the 2022 season). Why is this relevant for the 2023 salmon return to CNFH (Coleman National Fish Hatchery), or lack there of. For the simple fact that with the California and Southern Oregon commercial salmon fleet shut down and tied to the docks this season. Theoretically from the state and federal fish and wildlife departments own research modules. It would only make sense that a surplus of (CVFC) would be coming under the Golden Gate Bridge, and into “inland waters” (Northern California’s freshwater river systems). Carrying out their annual spawn in the same river systems they were born to. Statistically speaking, three years prior. So without the commercial salmon fishing fleet taking a single king salmon out of the Pacific Ocean this 2023 season. A safe assumption in my opinion would be to see at least close to the same 230,000 salmon the commercial fleet did not take out of the ocean this year. A much larger then usual influx of fall chinook salmon should have been in the Central Valley river systems during the 2023 season. With the largest percentage of returning fall chinook salmon to head up the Sacramento River. This is where confusion sets in. So where did all these salmon go? Although some Northern California tributaries showed signs of improvement with fall chinook returns this season, the Sacramento River did not. Confronted with this scenario department skeptics be like “we started with less fall chinook salmon in the ocean in 2023, than we did in 2022”. This may, or may not, be entirely true. How would anyone know without the “take” number from the commercial salmon fishery. This being a primary consideration in the formula used to find the ocean abundance every year. Remember either way the 230,000 salmon that became the commercial take number in 2022, and then became the numerical value used to approximate what would be taken by commercial fishermen again in 2023, if the season had remained open. Then how could it possibly be that Coleman Hatchery had a significant decline in returning fall chinook salmon this year? Going back on the projected “commercial take” estimation of 230,000 salmon would only indicate these agencies have no idea of the actual ocean abundance of CVCS in the Pacific Ocean. Opening a much larger can of worms for the federal fisheries staff. This putting into question the accuracy of the agencies formulas and methods of gathering research. Which honestly at this point are starting to look about as worthless as tits on a boar. In fact NOAA fisheries recently found, and openly admitted they had been underestimating stock assessments in other commercial fisheries in the U.S. by as much as 33%. Potentially a very serious problem when using this information to create catch limits and commercial fishing quotas. That millions of people’s livelihoods count on nationwide.

NOT GOOD!

  It has been made clear by state and federal agencies that If the total escapement (number) of returning fall chinook salmon, that are to spawn in the Sacramento River this season. Does not reach 120,000 adult chinook salmon. The ocean commercial, ocean recreational, and inland sport fishing fleets will again face a salmon season closure in 2024. At this point concerning the events that have continued to take place (which I will be explaining as we move forward in this blog), we as salmon fishermen will almost certainly face another season tied to the docks in 2024. There was not 120,000 fall run king salmon in the Sacrament River this year.  Not even close! More like 5,000-8,000 fall chinook salmon made it back to Coleman Fish Hatchery. The lowest return in recorded history. The amount of salmon that do not use the hatchery, called “natural spawners”. Is so low it’s hardly relevant. Sad too, these salmon have the highest percentage of offspring survival. Two or three times the return rate of their hatchery born relatives. They also fall victim to Sacramento River water mismanagement. Again at the hands of USBR. Not in the form of lethal water temperatures, but rather something called “redd dewatering”. Google that sometime! In my opinion these natural spawning fall chinook are the fastest way to rebound from the crisis we are currently facing. We’ll be covering that topic in a completely separate blog post. My intentions here in this blog are to educate the readers and the public in general through a thorough account of how and why our states Chinook Salmon runs have declined to the point of season closures.

So we are all clear on the fact that the escapement objective of 120,000 fall chinook salmon in the Sacramento River is not just a target number. It is the MINIMUM required escapement for fall chinook salmon mitigation (law). Where is the accountability? Is the hatchery completely to blame? We’ll get there… As pointed out by CNFH hatchery managers who are facing their own catastrophic decline of returning adult fall chinook salmon, yet again this season. Continuing a annual trend of failing to meet mitigations bottom line. Using the naturally occurring phenomenon “severe drought” brought on by “climate change”, as their theoretical hypothesis for their failures. In all actuality the drought has nothing to do with this severe drop in salmon number on the Sacramento River. Water management does! Instead of selling out other state agencies, their agendas, and the results of selfish, money driven, water management practices. Leaving the Sacramento River Fall Chinook Salmon for dead. Coleman Hatchery management is left to answer the tough questions and take all the blame. Bare with me! As confused as this blog may have you right now, rest assure it will enlighten you as to who the real dirtbags are. The folks that are at the very cause of this salmon catastrophe. Hang in there as I further explain where these missing salmon that were destined for Coleman Hatchery have been hiding. Like I said earlier in this blog, there were 100% enough SRFC (Sacramento River Fall Chinook) to meet or possibly even exceed the state and federal departments and agencies minimum escapement threshold for 2023. Which would have most likely allowed for the reopening of the salmon season in 2024. Problem is….. even though these salmon were instinctually driven to return to the Sacramento River. More specifically, back to the exact location in which they were born in the river. This year as well as last, the SRFC never made it up the Sacramento River past the town of Verona, Ca. Roughly one hundred and fifty miles short of Coleman Hatchery in Cottonwood, Ca. Why did they stop migration up the Sacramento River at Verona. Because they “strayed” (traveled up a non natal tributary to complete spawning)! Why did they stray? Migrating up other river systems with more suitable river conditions guarantees their existence. During times of severe prolonged drought for example. In A A y v by ft large part this 2023 season the run strayed up the Feather River. Which meets the Sacramento River in the town of Verona, Ca. Our focal point of interest and discussion moving forward. The Feather River is the valleys second largest tributary, and second largest contributor to the CVFC stocks. Now for the second consecutive season the Feather River has ended up with an unknown amount of Sacramento River bound king salmon. Leaving Coleman National Fish Hatchery for bust in consecutive seasons. Forcing the hatchery management at Coleman to find excuses for the continued unacceptable low returns to its hatchery. Instead of pulling the covers on the damage being caused by the corrupt antics of the SWCB and USBR. Caused by their filthy water contract agreements with senior water right holders.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…. VIEWS, VALUES, EXPERIENCE,  PERSONAL MOTIVATIONS, AND  PUBLIC AWARENESS

          I'd like to quickly note that the state and federal agencies involved in the salmon decline and season closures rely very heavily on the premise that the general public is mostly ignorant to the extensive political influences that hinder the success of any given salmon season here in California. The public’s “ignorance” is rightfully blinding in their perception of what it actually entails to bring home even the very minimum mitigation requirements for SRFC to return to spawn. Understandably making the social media propaganda posts very believable to the public. Especially when it’s the only side painting a picture. Making it even more difficult is the fact that getting these SRFC home to spawn is governed by federal and state environmental laws. Which unfortunately get enforced by neither state or federal interest. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM…To make matters worse there are zero non-governmental organizations invited to the decision making processes which benefit salmon run health and longevity in the future. Including private environmental organizations, native indigenous tribes, fishermen and so on…

My fairly extensive knowledge of this salmon fishery, the waterways it takes place in, and that waters political importance to water contractors. Is gained by the over three hundred and twenty days a year I have spent fishing on the Sacramento River system over the past twenty years. Not as a hobby or personal interest, but as a career. My knowledge gained for the most part isn’t even shared by the majority in my trade. A full time fishing charter owner and operator. Operating in all of Northern California’s waterways. Specifically the Sacramento and Feather Rivers. In my twenty years spent guiding for salmon, steelhead, stripers, and sturgeon. Fishing day and even night when the time calls for it. I have learned a tremendous amount about the “inland” salmon fishery. Made up of our state’s vast waterways. Paying attention to every little detail along the way. Something my personality disorders demands. I am a person who needs to know things. “Knowledge is power” I was once told. Since I heard those words I have stopped at nothing to gain as much knowledge as I could possibly gain in my field of expertise (salmon fishing). Continuing to do so until I part ways with this once world famous salmon fishery. Something I actual love and hold dear to my heart. Long story short, I make it my business to know the every ongoings of the salmon in the Sacramento River. I have heavily researched anything and everything that has to do with salmon and the Sacramento River. Mainly provided by the World Wide Web witch hosts all government studies, policies, laws ect. On any topic imaginable. All as the publics right to information. The key here is investigation and education on the topic at hand. Now one can decipher the facts from the bull s__t!

Spending the majority of my life living on the Sacramento River, accompanied with a twenty year career chasing salmon as hard as any one person can chase them. I can say with certainty I know a little bit about this fishery. It’s mismanagement, its political strangleholds, its struggles, and its resilience and successes when allowed. Both in todays modern times, and historically. After the tens of thousands of hours or more dissecting every aspect of this fishery. I have learned and mentally logged in more data and information than anyone should do in their respected field. I believe they call it “obsessing”, or “obsessive/compulsive”. On an unhealthy level to be completely honest. Loosing touch of real world happenings, but at the same time holding a plethora of knowledge concerning the intricacies of this special west coast salmon fishery. So basically what you are reading is the basis behind my factual accusations. The knowledge bequeathed upon you readers in my attempt to open the public’s eye and awareness, to the real reason the salmon did not arrive back at Coleman Hatchery this year. Or during the 2022 spawn year. This knowledge gained from my first hand accounts of real time happenings. In conjunction with a tremendous amount of research. To be quite frank my personal beliefs and values are the reasoning behind my choice in writing this blog. Not turning a blind eye, walking away, or just sitting by letting laws be broken by agencies that are in place to enforce them. I watch as the lives of talented new fishing guides who’s businesses and dreams were devastated by the effects of something that was one hundred percent avoidable. Crushing all their hard work, dedication, and the sacrifices they have made to become successful in this line of work. My reasons for writing this blog are to at the very least “tell it how it really is”. Possibly even hold accountable the persons, and organizations that need to be held responsible for their illegal and corrupt actions. Creating a sense of public awareness over the struggles of maintaining a healthy salmon population.

WHAT THEY DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW..

  At this point I would now like to introduce the two biggest killers of Chinook Salmon in the state of California… The State Water Control Board (SWCB) and the Bureau Of Reclamation (USBR). These two agencies are responsible for the countless thousands of dead SRFC that floated down the Sacramento River at Verona, Ca. The evidence was overwhelming as SRFCS floated dead one after the other, twenty four hours a day, through the city of Sacramento, Ca. Every single day for weeks during the 2022 salmon season. Killed by lethal water temperatures on the Sacramento River, and the Feather River. I’ll explain more on the relationship Chinook salmon have with water temperatures further along in this blog. Under another subtitle. This subtitle is aimed at the truth about these two agencies who together play water games for money grabs with state water contractors. Having zero consideration to the irreplaceable damages that were and are currently being incurred by the SRFC. During the past two salmon seasons, and again this year in what would have been the 2023 salmon season. The exact amount and extent of damage these Rockefeller priced water deliveries have done to the SRFC. Is left vastly unknown, and certainly not studied or documented. It’s conveniently never really spoken about, and has gone unknown by most people. Who also have little knowledge of the ongoing detrimental effects the timing of these big money water deliveries have on the SRFC. Which we won’t see play out for a additional three years. This after these practices are actually stopped from happening. Which has not happened yet. The amount of money laid on the table, in trade for Lake Shasta’s water supply and its delivery practices. Has done nothing, and will continue to do nothing but kill off our states iconic chinook salmon runs until they are EPA listed as endangered of extinction. Or reach extinction.

Privately funded advocates for salmon reliance, native indigenous tribes, or environmental type advocate groups, may be the only people who are able to flex their powers, stopping these current practices of the two biggest killers of Sacramento River fall run chinook salmon. This fishery, and actually every salmon fishery in general, anywhere worldwide. Are dependent on stable cool water temperatures. Which provide much more sustainable river conditions for salmon survival. Far from what they are receiving under current water management practices of the SWCB, and USBR. And this is where our troubles start to specifically unfold on the Sacramento River. Lethal Sacramento River water temperatures in the Knights Landing, Ca region of the lower Sacramento River. Extending approximately fifteen miles down river to Verona, Ca. Where it meets the Feather River. This stretch of the Sacramento River has proven to be by far the biggest hurdle for returning fall run king salmon migrating through the California Delta and up the Sacramento River system during the summer months. Over the last three years tens of thousands of SRFC have basically been either cooked to death by extremely high and lethal river temperatures. Or forced to turn around and stray up the Feather River to seek “thermal refugia” (livable river water temperatures). Let me be very clear, making note that the Sacramento River water temperatures in the summer months, during peak SRFC migration, linger from 74-79 F in this stretch of river. THESE WATER TEMPERATURES KILL SALMON INSTANTLY. This is well documented on a government websites. Recorded by electric temperature monitoring devises staged throughout the Sacramento River system and California Delta. The severity of the lethal river water temperatures are dependent on how hot the daytime air temperatures get on any given day in the Sacramento Valley. Accompanied by river water flow rates regulated by the two mentioned water managers of Lake Shasta’s water supply. Nevertheless these river water temperatures are killing countless tens of thousands of king salmon annually. Which would otherwise be arriving at CNFH. Or spawning naturally in downtown Redding, Ca. The salmon who don’t get killed while engaging the Sacramento River at Verona, Ca. Hold up instinctively refusing to migrate up the Sacramento River at the lethal river water temperatures. A instinct provided to these chinook salmon from years of evolution in drought prone areas like Northern California. Intuitively halting up river migration in conditions they know will kill them. Instead of migrating the SRFC hunker down and seek thermal refuge (cooler river water) at the bottom of the rivers deepest holes. Here they will either decided to stray, wait, or die waiting for cooler river water temperatures brought on by the arrival of fall. In large part these salmon stray or die waiting. This is where the greatest problem exists for SRFC. By now a clear understanding of the magnitude of our catastrophic decline in California’s salmon should start to be apparent. Make no mistake about it, these water management practices are the primary cause keeping Coleman National Fish Hatchery from achieving the numbers of the fall chinook salmon they need to spawn annually. Causing the failure of the hatchery to meet the 120,000 SRFC target number the hatchery is required by law to produce. In turn meeting the mitigation requirements put in place since the completion of Shasta Dam in the 1940’s. It’s fairly simple everybody. If the salmon either die, or are unwilling to migrate up the Sacramento River to spawn. Due to the lethal river water temperatures brought on by the greedy negligence from those who control the lifeblood of the salmon’s existence. What do you think will happen? Well it’s happening people. They aren’t spawning. Not in numbers that will sustain a fishery of any kind. They simply can’t spawn if they are not there to spawn. Sure a handful are making it to the hatchery. These are the fish that either A) survived the lethal water temps by hiding in cooler water they found at the bottom of the few deep hole’s below Verona, Ca. B) they arrived as part of the later run of SRFC. Showing up in the Verona area in early September when river conditions have cooled enough to satisfy their instinctive migration requirements. Or showed up to the Verona area prior to the arrival of lethal river water temps brought on by Northern California’s extreme summer heat. However the vast majority either stray, migrating up a non natal tributary that has colder water, or die waiting for water temps to drop. Either way they don’t come home.

WATER MANAGEMENT/DELIVERIES AND THE SACRAMENTO RIVER TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT PLAN (SRTMP)

     Fall chinook salmon have been studied by state and federal agencies, multiple departments and organizations, native tribes, private entities, universities, other countries, and just about anyone else who has had interest in their existence. So what I’m telling you is well documented, factual, and for the most part understood and agreed upon by all mentioned interests. Here are some facts about fall chinook salmon and their needs prior to spawning (during their migration period). In this particular case it’s primarily concerning river water temperatures. King (Chinook) Salmon require cold water. Period! This is not a new thing, it is not something that has just been discovered. In fact it’s been well documented since the first salmon hatchery in the world (Baird Fish Hatchery) was operational in the 1860’s. Over one hundred fifty years ago. Acknowledged and well documented by every salmon group, and organization since that time. There are environmental laws in place, in California, on the Sacramento River, its tributaries, and the California Delta, protecting against deadly water temperatures. Such as we have seen over the past three years. These laws require that temperature models along the entire length of the Sacramento River and through the California Delta, are met. Keeping river water from exceeding the temperature threshold for each particular model. For instance the water temperature at a designated location in the California Delta is not to exceed 68 degrees F.  This is the temperature threshold for migrating chinook salmon. As we have learned, any elevated water temperatures above 68 F chinook salmon migration is negatively affected. The farther up the Sacramento River you travel, the colder each threshold gets. This allows for the river temperatures to stay at non-lethal levels as Sacramento River water warms up while flowing down the scorching Sacramento Valley during summer months. With the coolest river temperatures coming from Keswick Dam in Redding, Ca. Just below the Lake Shasta Dam. Shasta Dam was built with the ability to mix warmer water from the top of the lake and water that is much cooler from the bottom of the lake. Allowing the discharge of water into the Sacramento River to be as low as 48 F degrees. This discharge temperature at a certain flow rate (X) will allow the temperature thresholds at each designated temperature recording devises along the Sacramento River, and the California Delta to meet temperature requirements. Ensuring proper river water temperatures necessary for a healthy California Delta and the continued existence of chinook salmon. Problem is there have been no repercussions, penalties, fines, or correctional actions taken for these environmental violations. These laws are continually being exploited by the USBR and the SWCB. In turn killing off our states salmon runs. Fact of the matter is these agencies could care less about our SRFC. Knowingly and continuously making big money water deliveries to extremely wealthy Central and Southern California water contractors, and senior water right holders. Despite the long lasting impact their careless actions are having on our salmon runs. Yet this whole facade I’m laying out for you, the unknowing reader. Is one hundred percent known by the agencies involved in destroying it. Coleman National Fish Hatchery management knows this, the Sate Water Control board knows this, The Bureau Of Reclamation knows this, DWR (Department of Water Resources) knows this, California Department Fish and Wildlife knows this, Us Fish and Wildlife knows this, the Northern California Guides and Sportsmans Association knows this, and the list goes on. As sportsmen and women here in Northern California we get the shaft. There is no accountability for these violations.  Not on a state level, nor on a federal level. Sadly I can promise you this… if you or I had killed as many salmon as these folks. We would loose everything we have as a consequence. Including our freedom. Yet not a word is mentioned for the atrocities incurred at the hands of bureaucrats. Heads are turned as our salmon are knowingly killed or led astray by illegal water management practices. Which are still currently occurring at this time. This has never been addressed, mentioned, or stopped from happening. We as sportsmen who along with indigenous tribes have no legal representation or course of action against these atrocities. There is no unity or organization on our side. Sacramento River water temperatures thirty miles up river of the California Delta are reaching the mid to high seventy degree range for most of the summer months. No were near the legal requirement to assure sustainable cold water flows for the migrating of salmon and a healthy California Delta. Still nothing is being done to stop it from happening year after year. Blame is place elsewhere, distracting the attention away from the real problem of water temperature management, and it’s deadly effects on chinook salmon. Every year before the month of May the Sacramento River Temperature Management Plan (SRTMP) is proposed and then adopted by the State Water Control Board and the USBR. The SRTMP sets the flow rate (cubic feet per second [cfs] ) schedule that will be released into the Sacramento River through the water delivery season of May-September. The SRTMP 2022 was so bold as to openly admit that their annual proposal out and out acknowledges what would happen to Sacramento River water temperatures in 2022, and the negative deadly effects it would have on the federally listed as “endangered” Winter Run Chinook Salmon, The federally listed as “protected” Spring Run Chinook Salmon, and the dwindling Fall Run Chinook Salmon. If left at the proposed flow rate of a measly 4,500cfs (normal year 12,000cfs). So they did it anyway. The SRTMP 2022 was adopted at the cost of a 100% loss of EPA listed Winter Run Chinook Salmon offspring for the 2022 brood year. A 100% loss of EPA protected and listed as “threatened” offspring of the Spring Run Chinook Salmon. Who are not represented by a hatchery program, but were expected to have suffered the same fate in 2022. STOP right there for a minute….Devils Advocate! If you or I spilled a gallon of pesticides in the Sacramento River (not killing a single EPA protected winter or spring run salmon) our fines would start in the tens of thousands of dollars for the environmental damages. Guess what? That’s right! The total fines incurred for killing one hundred percent of a entire year class of a EPA listed species. Not just for one, but for two entire years worth of offspring, for two separate EPA listed chinook species. You guessed it. $0 in fines for bureaucracy. It was the adult Fall Run Chinook Salmon that were killed off by lethal river water temperature while trying to migrate up the Sacramento River in 2022. Killing an estimated five to ten thousand adult fall chinook salmon near Verona, Ca. Dozens floated by metro Sacramento, Ca every day. Dead and dying from the lethal 75-78 F degree water temperatures spewing from the Sacramento River at Verona. Many of the salmon that didn’t perish, strayed (migrating up a non natal river system). Countless SRFCS strayed up the much colder American River (the first cold water tributary the salmon run into on their migration up river) entering the Sacramento River at Discovery Bay in Sacramento, Ca. A more substantial amount strayed up the Feather River at Verona. Where Feather River water temperatures ran 68-74 F degrees at the confluence of the Sacramento River in 2022.  At this same time at Verona, Ca the Sacramento had 75-78 F degree river water temperatures flowing down it (as illustrated by photographs above). Killing countless thousands of adult fall chinook salmon. Only a very small portion of the SRFC that left the Pacific Ocean destine for the upper Sacramento River spawning grounds. Actually arrived at the upper Sacramento River spawning grounds. Completely destroying a whole year class of all three separate species of Sacramento River chinook salmon. Doing so knowingly.

UNDERSTANDING CHINOOK SALMON

To understand chinook salmon, their life cycle, migratory habits, water temperature thresholds, and other key factors needed for their continued existence are very simple. Understanding these things about chinook salmon only takes minimal time doing research. Any information gained by government entities and their billions spent on research is all public information. It’s all been downloaded on the World Wide Web. All the information pertaining to chinook salmon that I’ve covered in this blog is available with a simple Google search. You can fact check the content of this blog for a better understanding of its content. Most of the research compiled over the past few decades has come from the very agencies who are currently doing nothing more than exploiting their own findings. So yes, the decision makers such as the State Water Control Board (SWCB), the Bureau Of Reclamation (USBR), California Department Of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Department of Water Resources (DWR), and of course the management at Coleman National Fish Hatchery (CNFH). Are all fully aware of the degradation they have caused, and who continue to cause to our states chinook salmon runs. More specifically the states largest run of chinook salmon, the SRFRC. This is matter of politics people. Plain and simple. A straight up, greed driven, money grab for California’s water. Please don’t be fooled by the rhetoric and propaganda thrown at you via press releases and social media posts by any of these agencies or departments. Don’t buy into opinions of others who are misinformed on this topic. Or whose agenda’s may be aided by poor judgments concerning the lack of environmental knowledge by the general public. I encourage you to use your own thinking on this matter. Learn for yourself, and fact check what doesn’t make sense. I’ve spent the better part of my life on the Sacramento River system. Accumulating more time on this upper river system than anyone I know to exist. Through the process of elimination, research, and my own personality disorders. I have discovered the truths about our states dwindling salmon runs. What I’m telling you here are FACTS. I gain nothing personally from exposing where accountability lies, and where blame falls. In fact if anything it tarnishes my perception in the eyes of the state’s fish and wildlife officers. Keeping me off sub panels, and comities that want no opposition when voting in more toxic problematic decisions concerning our states salmon runs. Outcasted if you will for clearly choosing sides on this matter. However truth and accountability are far more important to me then agreeing to manipulative deception and environmental depletion. Currently we as California sportsmen and sportswomen face loosing the opportunity to experience fishing for the iconic salmon runs that have been a part of our state for ten thousand years. Part of cultural life for the indigenous tribes of Northern California. Who if ownership is in consideration, should be the rightful owners to the decision making process concerning the chinook salmon of this state. See we were lied to in school taught history. We were taught that we (Euro White) discovered the Americas. Giving us the rights to ownership and decision making over our lands. In all actuality we didn’t discover shit! These lands had long been discovered and inhabited so far back in history that our “discovery” should hardly be considered historically relevant. Not to mention how we treated these lands since our occupation occurred. Regardless of ownership I personally feel like sharing and preserving the environmental opportunities provided to us by Mother Nature should be without question, a primary concern moving forward into the future. At this time we are very, very, close to loosing this fishery for eternity.

I strongly urge anyone who has read through this blog, until reaching this point. To please feel free to state your opinions, oppositions, or any concerns on this matter in the comments below. Weather you agree or disagree with my blogs content. I value all input as the importance of our freedom of speech! Tight Lines….

Mike's Fishing Guide Service for Sacramento River fishing targeting King Salmon, Striped Bass, White Sturgeon, American Shad and Rainbow Trout. The Best Sacramento River Salmon Fishing Guide and Striped Bass Fishing Guide on the Sacramento River.