in the upper river area during their spring spawning migration 

 (May - July) o A species new to the Upper Sacramento River, the 

 smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu , has appeared in small 

 numbers in areas where it was not known before. Largemouth 

 bass are still found in slough areas but are rarely taken from 

 the river. 



SPORTS FISIiERIES 



King salmon and rainbow-steelhead trout make the greatest 

 contribution to the sports fishery of the Upper Sacramento River. 

 Other species entering the sports fishery, in order of their 

 importance, are striped bass, catfish, shad, Sacramento squaw- 

 fish, Sacramento sucker, carp, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. 



The fishing gear generally used in the salmon fishery is a 

 medium or heavy rod, reel, line and leader equipped with any one 

 of a nianber of wriggling, undulating or spinning lures. Lures 

 most commonly used are spinners, plugs and flatfish of various 

 sizes, finishes and forms. All types of lures seem to provide 

 good results as long as they are bright and display action while 

 moving through the vrater. 



Four distinct types of salmon fishing found on the Upper 

 Sacramento River ares boat fishing, bridge drifting, bank 

 casting and riffle casting. 



Boat fishing is the most widely distributed fishing method. 

 Boat fishermen usually tow fishing lures through pool areas or 

 anchor in water sufficiently swift to activate their lures. 

 Bridge drifting is similar to boat troll fishing except that the 

 current of the river, rather than motion of the boat, is always 

 relied upon to hold the line taut and activate the lure. This 

 method became 30 popular that most bridges have been closed to 

 fishing as a safety measure. Bank casting takes place along 

 the river v:here ledges border deep holes. Riffle casting is 

 engaged in only daring the spawning period, when the fishermen 

 work shallow riffles where salmon are spavming. 



Rainbow (resident) and steelhead (sea-i-un) trout fisheries are 

 treated as one in this study. Both varieties are taken by the same 

 fishing methods at the same time, and are often indistinguishable. 

 Trout fishermen most frequently use salmon eggs, fresh or preserved, 

 both single and in clusters, as bait. Angle worms, flatfish, spinners 

 and artificial flies are used less frequently in the order named. 



