THE ANGLERS

 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved California’s water quality improvement plan for restoring salmon fisheries and water quality in the Klamath River. The plan calls for massive pollution reductions for the California portion of the river, including a 57 % reduction in phosphorus, 32% in nitrogen, and 16% in carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD). The plan also calls for annual reductions in the river's reservoirs of more than 120,000 pounds of nitrogen, and 22,000 pounds of phosphorus.

The Klamath River, a federally protected "Wild and Scenic River," flows 255 miles southwest from Oregon through northern California, and empties into the Pacific Ocean. The Klamath River drains an extensive watershed covering over 12,600 square miles, and has been called the "Everglades of the West.”

The Klamath River and its tributaries support the highest diversity of anadromous fishes of any river in California, including salmon, cutthroat trout, steelhead and sturgeon. Upstream in Oregon, the river hosts the state's most robust population of redband and bull trout. In 2002, a massive die-off of more than 33,000 salmon brought national attention to this area.

“This historic Klamath River plan charts the path to restoring one of our nation’s largest, most scenic and biologically important watersheds,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “By establishing clear benchmarks and accountability this plan will ensure that Klamath River can thrive long into the future.”

"The Klamath particularly is a troubled river system, and once supported the third largest salmon runs in the nation. Implementation of these Klamath Mainstem TMDLs will go a long way toward helping restore those key salmon runs, and the jobs those salmon once supported," said Glen Spain of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations.

The State’s plan identifies actions to improve water quality to restore salmon and other fisheries in the River, protect Native American cultural uses and enhance general recreational uses of the Klamath River. Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality, the Regional Board, U.S. EPA and many other partners are developing a watershed-wide tracking program to increase the pace and reduce the cost of improving Klamath Basin water quality to support all water-related uses in the Basin. The plan also addresses water quality impacts of the Klamath Hydroelectric Project, establishes a policy to protect thermal refuges (cooler areas in the river that provide critical habitat for fish during high temperatures), and addresses nonpoint sources of pollution such as roads and agriculture.


source: EPA press release

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is offering a 2011 Winter Steelhead Guide. The guide offers the novice steelhead angler an overview of where and when to fish during the winter steelhead season.

The guide also includes updates on access and regulations, and lists other changes that could affect fishing.

Anglers will find the guide on ODFW’s website at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/RR/steelhead_guide/index.asp

With the holiday season in full swing, fishing enthusiasts often shop online for freshwater fish ornaments, cards, and other gift ideas for fishermen.

Among the online stores that specialize in fish Christmas gifts are the following 2 resources:

Outdoors USA online store offers a wide range of freshwater fish Christmas ornaments, stickers, buttons, magnets, apparel and other gift items.

Visit Fish-Fishing-Seafood to find customizable freshwater fish and fishing t-shirts, sweatshirts, stickers, coffee mugs, cards, art and other gifts. This online store offers an extensive collection fish artwork. Shoppers can choose from pre-titled logos or select untitled versions and add their own custom text to create a one-of-a-kind fishing gift.

Anders Olafson landed a new state record the rainbow trout on Oct. 31, 2010, while fishing on the Kennebec River. The fish was weighed 8.42 pounds. The previous state record was a 7 pound trout caught by Michael Thebarge on Lake George on Feb. 6, 2009.

Colorado Division of Wildlife has issued an emergency order prohibiting the transport of live crayfish from Sanchez Reservoir State Wildlife Area following the discovery of invasive rusty crayfish at the popular southern Colorado reservoir.

An aggressive and invasive fresh-water crustacean, the rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) has large claws and out-competes native species for food and habitat. They can clear large areas of aquatic plants, reducing habitat for invertebrates and shelter for small fish. They have a higher metabolic rate and appetite than other crayfish species and attain higher population densities.

Anglers collecting crayfish must either return them to the reservoir alive or immediately kill the crayfish by separating the crayfish's tail from the body, or thorax. Even crayfish harvested for human consumption must be killed by separating the edible tail from the body before leaving the reservoir.

source: Colorado Division of Wildlife

Mosquitofish are tiny freshwater fish that are native to North America. These small fish closely resemble dime store guppies, and like many aquarium fish, mosquitofish bear their young live rather than lay eggs.

In Australia, these tiny insect eating fish are considered to be an invasive species.
Still they are popular among aquarists and are stocked in garden ponds. Their popularity is related to their ability to control mosquitoes, their beauty and hardy nature. They are also important as forage for larger species of freshwater fish such as green sunfish.

Rainbow trout are very easily spooked and cunning fish, that often dwell in clear streams and rivers of Canada and North America. In order to catch rainbow trout, there are many tips and tricks of the trade that are useful to apply. I will go over what I have learned in my lessons and follies over the years following trout streams through the middle of nowhere and back in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.

First of all, you must remember to be as quiet as possible at all times. Step very lightly, as the vibrations of your steps can be felt in nearby bodies of water unless the water is flowing vigorously. Do not speak loudly with friends, keep it down to a whisper. Try to move without any sharp or jerky movements, as this may spook the fish away.

You also should be wearing clothing that blends in well with the environment. This means that you need to wear earth tone colors, such as browns, dark greens or even darker greys are fine. A large yellow thing moving around in the woods is clearly not natural and the rainbow trout know this - so no matter how much you love your nanna's sweater, leave the ugly thing at home.
Another tip is to use the lightest tackle that you possibly can. This means at most using 6 pound test line, although I usually opt for 4 pound test you have the chance of losing some of the bigger ones. Use very small hooks, just big enough to pierce whatever bait you are using. If you are using lures, the smaller the better.

Active lures are not good. Rainbow trout will rarely bite on crankbaits. Jigs can be useful from time to time, though hard to fish with in swift moving waters. The best jigs for rainbow trout tend to be the small tube baits.

Small inline spinning lures can also catch rainbow trout, this can be an especially useful trick when the trout are being lazy and clearly aren't feeding. If you cast out and then reel the lure upstream past the trout, but a few feet away, sometimes the fish will bite out of agitation. You need to bring it far away enough so that the trout can notice it approach, but doesn't get spooked. Sometimes this will scare the rainbow trout away, so be careful.

Salmon eggs and small red worms are by far the best baits for rainbow trout. Put them on as small a hook as you possibly can, toss it upstream and let it float down with the current. The work does itself. When you see your line twitch unexpectedly, you set the hook and reel in your prize. Did I mention that rainbow trout make for really good eating? The flesh is very tender and I'm told that it could also be good for you.

The last piece of advice I have for you when rainbow trout fishing is a two parter, but a standby. Those two things that you must always keep in mind when fishing are patience and perseverance. With those two things we realize that not all days will be good fishing days, some days the trout just won't bite and will hole up in a pocket under an overhand and dangit you know that they're there you can see them! But that day just won't be a good day. For every day like that though, know that your patience will pay off, and your rainbow trout bounty will come to you soon.