It appears that time is running out well before the ocean salmon do off Eureka, Trinidad and Crescent City. The first portion of the season ends at midnight July 4. It resumes September 1 but only until September 6. Then the curtain drops, period!

”Overall it's been good fishing,” said Eureka charter boat skipper Phil Glen. “Saturday we got 10 fish for 6 people fishing right out in front in 200 feet. Sunday we came in with 14 fish for 6 people fishing in 120 feet. Monday we had 5 fish for 6 people in 200 feet. Tuesday we had 14 fish for 6 people up to 26 pounds. It was lumpy”

Phil added that he will head to Bodega Bay at the conclusion of the first part of the season up here to fish for salmon and bottom fish until December 1.

From Johnny's Marina, Gisela Kinder notes that there are a few boats out today (Wednesday) and they are catching fish around the Whistler although it's roly poly. There have been quite a few 22 to 30 pounders the past week.

Fishing is pretty good in 120 to 140 feet off Trinidad, observes Misty Rollins. “Anglers are doing pretty well.”

Glen Gerard leads the Salmon Derby with a 25 pounder. Bob Luken heads the Lingcod Derby with his 21-1/2 pounder.

The salmon have left the harbor at Crescent City the past 2 or 3 days, notes charter boat skipper Bob Ginoelhio. However, the bottom fishing remains outstanding in spite of a rough ocean. “The salmon fishing has been a washout this year,” he added.

”We've had a string of good weather,” commented party boat skipper Trent Slate from Shelter Cove. “Friday we had 8 salmon, the largest 25 pounds. Saturday we went rock fishing at Punta Gorda and got 7 limits of lingcod including a 25 pounder, as well as 90 crabs. Saturday we'll be looking for albacore.”

Meanwhile, guide Rich Mossholder reports fair numbers of fresh springers are entering the Klamath River as well as a couple of steelhead today (Tuesday). Mepps spinners and CVC 7s are doing the job from the 101 bridge to Johnson's Bar mostly in the early mornings.

Fishing in the lower Rogue River is pretty much over, Rich added.

”It looks like the Trinity River is finally starting to round into shape for some spring Chinook fishing. It appears that we are getting fresh springers just about every day,” reports Willow Creek guide Ed Duggan. “You have to pick the areas you want to fish as there is still plenty of water flowing in the river.

”The color of the water is just right for fishing, nice and green with about 1 to 2 feet of visibility. You want to find a good place above a strong riffle with some slow water or an eddy on your side of the river. Use tuna balls, roe if you have it or spinners. If you are using spinners you want to start your drift upriver of the slow water, or eddy and try to drift through it down to the top of the heavy riffle. If you are using bait then you should work the water almost the same way but not down to the swift water.

”At the present time you want to use a little heavier main line, as you will have to consider the weight of the fish as well as the strength of the current.

”Grays and Burnt Ranch Falls are still high but some of the anglers who have taken their time to hike down with a long handle net have been lucky enough to land a nice salmon. It is very swift in that area and you have a high lift to get your fish out,” Ed points out.

Anglers looking for salmon on the Feather River can expect much tougher fishing conditions with lower flows and high water temperatures. Currently the flows on the Feather River near Gridley are 3,500 cfs with water temps at or near 68 degrees. Many salmon have moved in the low flow sections of the Feather River where flows are only 600 cfs with much colder water temps of 58 degrees.

Less Crowded Waterways

The nation's birthday is traditionally the busiest boating time of the year as thousands of boaters converge for local fireworks displays, family cruises, or other on-the-water activities. But the towing arm of BoatU.S., the country's largest boat owners association, says that unlike traditional, three-day July 4th holiday periods, waterway traffic from Friday, June 30 to Tuesday, July 4th is expected to be more spread out and not concentrated on one or two days. However, this still means that about 4,000 recreational boaters are expected to call the association's 24-hour TowBoatU.S. and Vessel Assist dispatch centers to request on-the-water assistance during the five-day holiday period. The two towing operations provide assistance to boaters such as tows back to port, fuel drop offs or battery jump starts.

Requests for on-the-water assistance to dispatch centers in Virginia and California have traditionally been a reliable indicator of recreational boating volume on the nation's waterways. Jerry Cardelli, vice-president of BoatU.S. Towing Services said. “With waterfront town fireworks displays on different dates and the varied vacation schedules of boaters, there will probably be less congestion on the Fourth. But it's still going to be pretty busy out there navigating you way home in the dark and we caution all boaters not to let their guard down,” he added.

In addition, Cardelli notes that fuel prices may have an impact of weekday and offshore boating patterns, that won't be a factor on July 4th. “If anything like Memorial Day - which was the second busiest period for recreational boating traffic - boaters won't be too worried about gas prices.” There were over 3,000 calls for TowBoatU.S. and Vessel Assist over the three-day Memorial Day holiday period.