Spring, along with the accompanying nice weather, has arrived. And with it, comes a new set of angling opportunities. As the number of storms begin to decrease, we’ll begin to see some much-improved ocean conditions. With that, anglers will head to the jetties and beaches in search of rockfish and redtail perch. The California halibut fishery will also begin to take off, especially once the influx of freshwater into Humboldt Bay subsides. The same can be said for those in search of Dungeness crab in the bay. The lagoons, including Big, Stone and Freshwater, will also come into play. Both Big and Stone lagoons broke open numerous times this winter and should be full of trout and steelhead. Spring is also the time for salmon. The lower Rogue is one of the best fisheries on the coast for springers, and it’s been kicking out some large kings for weeks. The Klamath River’s spring-run fisheries fate will be decided in the next couple of weeks by the California Fish and Game Commission. And let’s not forget the nearshore rockfish and Pacific halibut seasons, both kicking off May 1. It’s been a very wet and long winter, but plenty of spring angling options are right around the corner.

Weekend marine forecast
Friday’s ocean forecast is looking plenty fishable, but winds will begin to increase through the weekend. As of Thursday afternoon, Friday’s forecast is calling for winds out of the northwest up to 5 knots with northwest waves 4 feet at eight seconds and southwest 2 feet at 16 seconds. Saturday, winds will be out of the northwest 10 to 20 knots with northwest waves 6 feet at eight seconds and southwest 2 feet at 16 seconds. Sunday, winds will be 10 to 20 knots out of the north with northwest waves 10 feet at 12 seconds and southwest 2 feet at 17 seconds. These conditions can and will change by the weekend. For an up-to-date weather forecast, visit www.weather.gov/eureka/ or https://www.windy.com. You can also call the National Weather Service at (707) 443-7062 or the office on Woodley Island at (707) 443-6484.

Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor Classes April 19-20
Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) is conducting a Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor class in Eureka, CA. This course is offered at a reduced cost to commercial fishermen thanks to support from NIOSH, the U.S. Coast Guard, and AMSEA members. Classes will be held April 16-17, 2024 at the Humboldt Fishermen’s Marketing Association, # 2 Commercial St. Eureka, CA 95501. Hours are: 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. April 16th, 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. April 17th. Cost is free for Commercial Fishermen, $225 for all others. The class will cover these topics: cold-water survival skills, EPIRBs, signal flares, and MAYDAY calls, man overboard recovery, firefighting, flooding & damage control, dewatering pumps, immersion suits and PFDs, abandon ship procedures, helicopter rescue, life rafts, emergency procedures drills, and in-the-water skills practice. This course meets the US Coast Guard training requirements for drill conductors on commercial fishing vessels, 46 CFR 28.270(c). Register online at www.amsea.org or call (907) 747-3287.

Increased flows down the Trinity begin April 16
The April B-120 water year determination has been posted as “wet” with predicted inflow of 1,610,000 acre-feet into Trinity and Lewiston Reservoirs. A wet year requires 701,000 acre-feet to be released to the river for restoration purposes, out of an estimated inflow between 1,350 and 1,999 million acre-feet. This year’s recommended flows are scheduled to begin April 16, 2024. Flows will peak at 8,500 cubic feet per second on April 24 with a slow descend to maximize riparian habitat and vegetation objectives.

Visitors near or on the river can expect river levels to increase during the flow releases and should take appropriate safety precautions.

Landowners are advised to clear personal items from the floodplain prior to the releases. An up-to-date daily schedule of flow releases is available at the program’s website www.trrp.net/restoration/flows/current/. The public may subscribe to automated notifications of Trinity River release changes (via phone or email) at www.trrp.net/restoration/flows/flow-release-notifications/

Upcoming kids fishing derbies

On Saturday, May 18, 2024 all kids 15 years old and younger are invited to the Ruth Lake Marina for the Kids Free Fishing Derby. The event will be from 8 a.m. until noon. Kids must bring their own fishing poles and must be accompanied by an adult. There will be a hot dog feed at noon. For more information, call the Ruth Lake Community Services District at 707-574-6332 or visit https://www.ruthlakecsd.org/local-events/

On Saturday, May 18, 2023, all kids age 4 to 15 are invited to the Carrville Dredger Pond for the 50th annual Trinity Lake Lions Fish Derby. The pond is located five miles north of the Trinity Center. Registration is from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. The fishing derby will last until 11 a.m. Free fishing tackle will be provided to the first 100 kids registered. Kids must bring their own fishing poles, and only bait will be allowed. Prizes will be awarded in many categories, along with a grand prize.  Free hot dogs, chips and drinks for everyone. For more information, call Scott at 408-401-8333.

The Rivers:
Reminder: The South Fork Eel, Van Duzen, Mattole, Mad, Redwood Creek and the Chetco all closed to fishing March 31.

Main stem Eel
The main stem is dropping into shape. As of Thursday, it was running at 7,800 cubic feet per second at the Scotia gauge and should be down to 6,000 cfs by mid next week. It will need to get down close to 5,000 cfs before it’s fishable. The main stem Eel, from its mouth to the South Fork is open to fishing all year. From April 1 through Sept. 30, only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used.

Smith River
The Smith is low and clear at 7.4 feet at the Jed Smith gauge as of Thursday, and dropping. Fishing pressure has been light and not a lot of reports of fish being caught. The main stem of the Smith will remain open through the end of April from its mouth to the confluence with the Middle and South Forks. The Middle Fork will also remain open through April from its mouth to Patrick’s Creek. The South Fork is open through April as well, from its mouth upstream approximately 1,000 feet to the County Road (George Tryon) bridge and Craig’s Creek to Jones Creek.

Lower Rogue
According to Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing, spring salmon are being caught in good numbers on the lower Rogue, but there are lots of boats and hit-and-miss action. “Schools are entering the river daily, with plenty of hatchery springers,” said Martin. “The second half of April is generally peak season. Anchovies and spinner blades are working best. 

Brookings ocean update
“Lingcod and rockfish action has been good out of Brookings on calm weather days, and this weekend looks especially nice, with light winds and swells down to 2 feet on Friday and Saturday,” said Martin. “The best fishing has been from Bird Island north. Surfperch action also has been very good.”

Kenny Priest operates Fishing the North Coast, a fishing guide service out of Humboldt specializing in salmon and steelhead. Find it on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and www.fishingthenorthcoast.com. For up-to-date fishing reports and North Coast river information, email kenny@fishingthenorthcoast.com.