Meandering Angler: CalTrout responds to ‘new normal’

Nonprofit helps to protect native fish from drought and climate change.|

California Trout’s annual report for 2021 included a summary of how the San Francisco-based nonprofit conservation organization addressed another very tough drought year in our state, working with private landowners to improve their watersheds to reducing fire risk in the Sierras.

In the northern part of California near Mt. Shasta, CalTrout partnered with 12 private landowners with property along the Scott and Shasta Rivers to supply an additional 1,000 acre-feet of water to those streams to help save the native fish, including steelhead and salmon.

It also continues to work with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to develop methods to translocate trout trapped where streams are drying up. This includes finding new streams where water, streamflow, gradients, temperatures, cover, etc. are suitable to support fish.

The report also pointed out that there is a lot of good things in the state’s plan to spend $8.8 billion for drought, fire preparedness and climate resilience, including $4.6 billion over three years to respond to drought, and a $1.5 billion investment to project California communities and woodlands from wildfires.

CalTrout also lobbies the state legislature for more conservation funding.

One of the organization’s major scientific effort is in working with the UC Davis to establish baseline science on the Klamath River in order to facilitate and respond to the pending removal of Klamath Dam.

All over the state from north to south, CalTrout seems to have a hand in protecting, preserving and enhancing the waters so our native fish can survive and prosper. It is an organization that can always use more members. For more information go to caltrout.org.

My nephew, Chris Lynch, and his daughter Maddie, fished Lake Oroville with guide Hogan Brown last month and caught some nice spotted bass. Maddie landed one that went 5-pounds. Then, last week, Chris fished the Yuba River with Hogan and caught several nice rainbow trout, and fought a large steelhead for a long time before it got away when Hogan lost his net trying to land it. They would have released it anyway, but would have liked to confirm its size, which Hogan estimated at about 36 inches and between 12 and 15 pounds.

Closer to home, Keith Fraser at Loch Lomond Bait Shop in San Rafael says that this weekend’s minus tides are excellent for good sturgeon fishing in the bay. For reasons perhaps only known to the fish themselves, the last half of a big outgoing tide is when they like to eat. Striped bass are also being caught in the usual spots. Live shrimp and herring are the best baits and Keith has both at his shop. The best spots are in the north bay if you have a boat or off the McNears Beach Park pier. McNears park is a great place to take kids fishing. You can fish off the shore or pier, and picnic on the grass.

Call Keith 415-456-0321 for directions and the latest information.

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