I was talking with someone from the hatchery yesterday as well as a Skok tribal policeman and they both said that the run peaks at Thanksgiving. They said the number of fish they are seeing this week is what it looks like at thanksgiving. They are surprised at the number of fish that are returning so far, so it will only be getting better which is hard to believe. They already have all the fish that they need, 8.5 million eggs.
Now for the snaggers. Most of the fish that I have caught have been fair hooked, a few were fouled. But I saw things that made me sick. One gentleman, and I use that term very lightly, had his 1 oz weight below the hook by about 6 inches and a little green yarn on the hook. He asked me how many fish was the limit and the procceded to foul hook his next three fish. All whacked and stack, his fourth fish was fair and he took it and left. I tried to explain to him that fouled fish need to be released but his english wasn't all that strong. I pulled out of one fish, a 6 oz chunk of green lead painted green with a 6/0 treble in his vent fin. I would also guess that 30% of the people I have seen fishing the last 4 days didn't have a tag or license. I have yet to see a game warden. I would think that they could make a few dollars in just a few minutes. My guess that they feel this is a meat fishiery and so who cares, well I do. The law is the law, I follow it, I expect others to as well. I know a deputy that I take fishing from time to time, and I've talked to him about what goes on. Well he was at chico the other day with a game warden and was surprised how many people didn't have licenses. A number of tickets were handed out.
Ok, I will get off my soap box.

Tight lines and many fish

Matthew <img border="0" alt="[eat]" title="" src="graemlins/eat.gif" />