Kenny Priest

Salmon season set for Shelter Cove
Kenny Priest
by Kenny Priest, APRIL 13, 2017
Shelter Cove

KMZ areas closed for season The axe officially fell on Tuesday: Salmon ports from Eureka to Gold Beach will remain off limits for recreational salmon fishing this year. Because of the historically low numbers of adult Klamath River fall Chinook — a lingering effect of five years of drought water mismanagement, and poor ocean conditions — the PFMC reaffirmed their decision...
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Tough start for Cove salmon anglers
Kenny Priest
by Kenny Priest, APRIL 6, 2017
Trinity River - Upper

Saturday’s recreational salmon opener at Shelter Cove was much as advertised, a very windy day on the salt with a little fishing and not much catching. Four boats launched into some pretty rough water and howling winds and the report was only one shaker landed. The ocean calmed down on Tuesday, and a few boats took advantage. The scores weren’t...
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South Fork closes March 31
Kenny Priest
by Kenny Priest, MARCH 30, 2017
Eel River - South Fork

The South Fork is fishable above the East Branch, and should fish below Benbow on Friday if the rain doesn’t pan out. You’ll want to take advantage as the South Fork will close on Friday, March 31.

Main stem out of shape
Kenny Priest
by Kenny Priest, MARCH 30, 2017
Eel River

“The main stem is still big and brown,” said Paul Grundman of Rio Dell’s Grundmans Sporting Goods. “We’ll need a couple weeks of dry weather before it drops into shape.”

Fishing to a trickle
Kenny Priest
by Kenny Priest, MARCH 30, 2017
Smith River

“Fishing is pretty tough on the Smith right now,” said guide Mike Coopman. “For whatever reason, we haven’t seen a good push of downers in the lower river yet. They’re getting some upriver, but they seem to be just trickling down. We’ve been getting one to two hookups per trip this week.”

Chetco/Elk/Sixes
Kenny Priest
by Kenny Priest, MARCH 30, 2017
Chetco River

The Chetco was still too high to fish this week and will probably be above 4,000 cfs through Friday, the last day of the season,” said Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing. “The river has been blown out for the past two weeks, pretty much ending steelhead season early. The river re-opens in late May for cutthroat trout. The Elk...
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