Roll out the superlatives if you attempt to describe the ocean sport salmon fishing opener off Eureka and Trinidad Monday.

”I've been here all my life and never seen anything like it,” enthused Judy Nelson of Johnny's Marina. “It was a great first day!” With limits of salmon weighing 10-11 pounds and some 15 pounders. Most were caught in 175 to 215 feet.

”There was a great tide and I remember past opening days were usually windy. It was great!”

Steelhead skipper Phil Glenn was equally enthusiastic. “The first day we had 6 people with limits by 10 a.m. We used straight bait. My suggestion is get a boat and go fishing.”

Phil also revealed that the four-passenger Sea Weasel has joined the charter fleet out of Eureka. It, like the Steelhead, is moored at Woodley Island. Trinidad, likewise, enjoyed a “dream” opening day with the Chinook in close and plentiful, according to Winnie Rollins. Bruce Bosworth has taken the early lead in the Salmon Derby with a 24-1/2 pound king.

However, while things were rosy at Eureka and Trinidad, salmon activity at Crescent City was slow. Tally Ho II skipper Bob Ginoelhio reports one salmon was taken on the opener and 3 or 4 on Tuesday. “We've even had slow water days on the bottom fish,” he noted.

Salmon fishing at Shelter Cove has also been slow, said launch operator Tami Savage. “We had one boat Wednesday and none Friday. There were 4 boats launched Saturday and they came in with 8 fish. However, the charter boat Bite Me clients came in with some “beautiful” 8 to 10 pound Chinook. Carlo Boncore has the largest salmon landed this season, 21 pounds.

Streamwise, the Klamath River has a lot of water but fishing conditions are improving, reports guide Rich Mossholder. There are fish in the river and the water is clearing, he notes.

Fishing in the Rogue River is spotty.

The lower section of the Trinity River is very high and you have to pick your places to fish, according to guide Ed Duggan. With the present flows of over 4,500 cfs the Falls area is totally out of the question for fishing for springers.

”There are some spring Chinook trying to make their way into the river system but high waters are making it very difficult,” Ed points out. “Any fish that are coming into the system will be working the slow side of the current, so I would suggest an area that is plenty wide with plenty of room to fish without being in the willows and shore line brush, and most of all very fine footing for you to walk.

”On the other hand, the upper sections have areas that are fishable from the bank but you will be catching mostly down-runners or hatchery yearlings. You must remember to bring these steelhead to the bank as fast as possible so they can be released in good shape. I always try to hold the fish by the tail and work them back and forth until they have enough strength to swim out of my grip. Using this method last year we had zero hook mortality rate and we released over 30 inches of which one was caught on ultra light gear.

”Under newly proposed regulations for spring fishing you will be able to keep one adult Chinook and two jacks. You will not be able to keep an adult Chinook on Tuesday or Wednesday, but you will be able to keep three jacks.

The commissioners have also added the keeping of one steelhead and one German Brown trout so that you will be able to take two fish if you desire. Starting August 15, Sept. 1 and Sept. 15 the rivers will start to stop the taking of adult Chinook. You must read the Fishing Regulations Supplement for the Klamath-Trinity River Basin because both the Klamath and Trinity rivers will be closed to the take of adult salmon after September 15, 2006.

”We will have to work very hard to get this part of the regulations changed so that the In-river Sport Fishing will never again get stuck with the Ocean Salmon Credit card over fishing of salmon,” Ed commented.

Trout fishing has begun to improve near Redding with lower releases from Keswick Dam. Trout fishing this week was the best in weeks with multiple hook-ups of wild rainbows from 1 to 3 pounds with the occasional 4 or 6 pound wild rainbow, according to guides Dave Jacobs and Hank Mautz.

Best bets for multiple hook-ups have been side-drifted Glo Bugs with a small piece of roe. The most productive water has been from Redding to Anderson.

Salmon fishing on the Feather River has really picked up the last couple of weeks for chrome bright salmon averaging 12 to 20 pounds from Oroville to Gridley.