7/16/05 Times Standard

While San Francisco Giants fans wait with bated breath for the second half of the season to get under way, sport salmon anglers anxiously await the resumption of their season at Shelter Cove. Consult your regulations for the dates.

"Fishing for salmon was great until the closure," commented Ken Vallotton. "Limits were being taken in a couple of hours a little north of the Cove. The fish averaged in the mid-teens up to 20 and 30 pounds."

Ken also pointed out that the charter boat Bite Me brought in a 45 pound Pacific halibut on Sunday. And Ron Trafton landed a yellow tail. "It was only the second one I've heard of in 10 years," Ken said.

An occasional California halibut is being taken off the Humboldt Bay jetty on jigs or scampi tails, according to Greg Rice of Bucksport Sporting Goods. Black and red snapper as well as lingcod are also being landed. "With salmon season closed, people are taking an interest in the other fish," Greg explained.

Misty Logan notes from Trinidad that bottom fishing is real good, but the ocean has been rough. Gene Nelson has taken over the Lingcod Derby lead with a 34 pounder. Mike Davis is second with 31 pounds.

Anglers continue to score big and with consistently on the Klamath, Trinity and Sacramento rivers.

Springers are being taken up and down the Klamath River, notes guide Rich Mossholder. "We landed 5 by 10 a.m. above Klamath Glen on Tuesday," he said. "There were quite a few steelhead taken last night off the gravel bar. Fishing is getting better and better."

Rich added that the steelhead were taking spinners, roe and Glo Bugs. The salmon were averaging a little over 8 pounds and hitting spinners. Guides are averaging 2 to 6 fish per boat.

Flows on the Trinity River which have been decreased since July 9 are down to 1700 cubic feet per second and fishing is picking up accordingly. The best fishing is from Douglas City down.

Prior to July 9 most fish had been holding up from the north fork of the Trinity River to Cedar Flat. Anglers were fishing Grays Falls and Burnt Ranch Falls and finding good early morning action drifting roe or tuna balls.

Salmon anglers looking for action get their opportunity on Saturday, July 16, the official opener below the Red Bluff Diversion Dam.