It is believed that the most common game fish during the pre-Shasta 

 Dam period were the striped hass, Roccus saxatilis, and a species 

 of catfish, probably Ictalurus catus « Species of lesser importance 

 to the sports fishery of that period included largemouth bass, 

 Micropterus salmoidesj bluegill, Leponiis macrochirusj Sacramento 

 perch, Archoplites interruptus ; shad, Alosa sapidissima ; Sacramento 

 sucker, Catostomus occidentalism carp, Cyprinus carpioi and Sacramento 

 squawfish, Ptychoohoilus grandis o ~~~~' 



King salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and steelhead trout, Salnio 

 gairdnerii, were available to the Sacramento River sports fishery only 

 during their spawning migrations in the fall, winter, and early spring 

 months. The contribution made by salmon to the sports fishery cannot 

 be accurately determined« Tales about the salmon fishery do not agree, 

 probably because of variable populations and unstable conditions in- 

 fluencing its distribution. The steelhead trout fishery was quite 

 constant, starting late in the fall and continuing until the season's 

 end on the last day of February. 



Following the construction of Shasta Dam, the Sacramento River 

 below it was altered considerably. The 50-degree water from sub- 

 thermocline depths .and the increased summer flows released from 

 Shasta Reservoir produced conditions in the Upper Sacramento River 

 suitable for salmorioid fishes during all months of the year. 



Adult king salmon are present in the Upper Sacramento River in 

 every month of the year. They are most abundant during spring, summer, 

 and fall. Young salmon are also yeai — round residents in this section 

 of the river. A variable portion of each season's hatch remains in 

 the river until the second spring after hatching before moving down- 

 stream to the ocean. 



Early spring migrations of steelhead trout and many steelhead 

 that migrated into the drainage to spawn during the previous winter 

 find the river environment favorable and remain there into summer. 

 These fish take on rainbow trout color characteristics and, together 

 with resident rainbows, constitute a year-round trout population. 



Local fenglers believe that striped bass are not as abundant in 

 the Upper Sacramento River as they were prior to the construction of 

 Shasta Dam. The full significance of this change is yet to be learned, 

 but it is possible that altered river conditions have resulted in 

 modifications of the migratory habits of striped bass in this area. 



Catfish and carp have become less abundant in the Upper Sacramento 

 River but are still common in slough areas. These fish are also found 

 in the lower reaches of tributaries entering the Sacramento River. The 

 Sacramento sucker and squawfish have thrived and multiplied under con- 

 ditions produced by Shasta Dam and are now represented by relatively dense 

 populations distributed over the entire upper river. Shad are still found 



