The ocean is the ultimate destination of water flowing through coastal streams, but in some cases it may make an extended pit stop in a seasonal lagoon. A lack of rain and low flows during summer months combined with ocean wave action can build up a sandbar at the mouth of a river, thereby forming what is known as a bar-built...
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Just as most of the coastal rivers were dropping into fishable shape, another fierce round of storms took aim at the North Coast. For now, the winter steelhead season has come to a screeching halt. From the Chetco south to the top of the Eel River system, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any water that resembles anything close to green....
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If your weekend plans involve the pursuit of winter steelhead, you’ll need to point your vehicle north. The quick-clearing Smith and Chetco rivers are currently the only real options for the green water steelheaders crave. All Humboldt rivers are currently high and muddy, and that will likely continue through the weekend. There is a chance the upper reaches of the...
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For many outdoor enthusiasts the dawning of a new year means a few things, like getting the next years fishing license and making plans to attend one of the many outdoors shows scheduled the first few months of the year.  One of the most popular for those of us in Northern California and Northwestern Nevada is of course January’s International...
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At its December meeting, the California Fish and Game Commission acted on several issues affecting California’s natural resources. One of the items of interest was to extend the locations and expand low-flow closure periods for rivers along the north and central coast. The changes will prohibit fishing in specific rivers due to drought conditions, to protect native fish populations through...
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After a very wet weekend that saw all our coastal rivers receive a good soaking, fishable rivers should begin to come into play this week — at least a few of them. Both the Smith and Chetco rivers were high and off-color Tuesday, but that will soon change. They should come down to high-but-fishable levels in the next few days....
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