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Recreation
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- Written by: Editor
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is holding a public meeting to solicit comments on a proposed closure of 5.5 miles of the Sacramento River above the Highway 44 Bridge in Redding to Keswick Dam.
CDFW has determined this closure is necessary to protect endangered winter-run Chinook salmon.
The anticipated dates of closure are April 27 to July 31.
“At the department, it pains us to propose this action for the state,” said Stafford Lehr, CDFW Fisheries Branch Chief. “But we are in unchartered territory here, and we believe this is the right thing to do if we want to help winter run and be able to fish for big rainbows in the long-run.”
The meeting will be held Tuesday, April 7, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Redding Public Library, 1100 Parkview Ave. in Redding.
CDFW is proposing a complete fishing closure in this critical holding and spawning area to ensure added protection for the federal and state endangered winter-run chinook, which face high risk of extinction.
Given the gravity of the current situation, it is imperative that each and every adult fish be given maximum protection.
Current regulations do not allow fishing for chinook salmon, but incidental catch by anglers targeting trout could occur.
An estimated 98 percent of the in-river spawning is occurring in the 5.5 mile stretch under consideration for closure. This reach is the principle spawning area in these extraordinary drought year conditions.
This section represents only 10 percent of the waters currently open to fishing upstream of the Red Bluff Diversion Dam.
In 2014, approximately 95 percent of eggs and young winter-run chinook were lost due to elevated river temperatures.
Given current drought conditions, it is likely the 2015-year eggs and young salmon will again be subject to extremely trying conditions.
CDFW is tasked by the governor to work with the California Fish and Game Commission to determine whether fishing restrictions in certain areas are necessary and prudent as drought conditions persist.
The proposed closure is also in accordance with the state and federal Endangered Species Acts.
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- Written by: Carrie Wilson
Why don’t licenses run annually from date of purchase?
Question: Why do fishing licenses run from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 every year rather than from the date of purchase?
For example, a person buys his/her license Dec. 1 only to find it expires the end of the month. Then by Jan. 1, they must purchase a new license for the full price.
Why not let it go for one full year from the date of purchase?
Hunting licenses too run from July 1 through June 30 of the next year. I think license sales would greatly improve if they were changed from date of purchase to the next year.
Can someone give a rational answer, please? (Alan E., Los Angeles)
Answer: California has considered changing from a calendar-based sport fishing license to a license that is valid for one year from the date of purchase.
But while this seems beneficial, when we looked at the issue thoroughly, we realized that changing to a license that is valid for one year from the date of purchase would significantly reduce funding for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).
According to CDFW License Program Analyst Glenn Underwood, several other states have made the change to a license that is valid for one year from the date of purchase, and so we contacted these other states to learn from their experiences.
We found states that changed from a calendar year license to a license that is valid for one year from the date of purchase experienced a reduction in license sales from 10 to 30 percent in the three years following implementation.
Experts from these states explained license purchasing patterns changed when the license system changed to one year from the date of purchase licenses.
Customers tended to wait until the last minute to purchase a license, as they knew it would be valid for one year from that date.
Then when their licenses expired, customers again waited to renew until they fished again, creating a gap in licensure.
After a few years the sum of the gaps was often greater than a year and a complete license sale was lost.
Changing to a license that is valid for one year from the date of purchase would also reduce federal grant funding.
Each state in the country receives federal grant money from the Sport Fish Restoration Act (SFRA) which is funding generated from federal excise tax on sales of sport fishing tackle and motorboat fuels.
This program funds critical fish habitat restoration projects throughout the state, providing increased fishing opportunities for California anglers.
A tiered system is used to allocate grants to the states. In 2014, California received the maximum grant of $16,287,011, which is 5 percent of the total available to all the states.
Federal SFRA grant amounts are based partially on the number of licenses issued in each state. If California license sales declined by as little as 3 percent, California’s grant would be reduced to a lower tier and the grant amount would be reduced by approximately $2.7 million to $4.5 million, further reducing CDFW’s ability to manage and protect California’s fisheries.
So, while we realize your license restructuring suggestion is popular, it would create a significant reduction in license revenue and sport fish grant funding for CDFW.
The resulting reduction in revenue and grant funding would reduce the CDFW’s ability to manage and protect California’s fisheries; and it would reduce the number of fish CDFW could plant for California anglers.
Live turkey decoys?
Question: Is it legal to use a live turkey as a decoy? I can't find any regulations on live turkey decoys (Todd W.)
Answer: No. The use of live decoys is prohibited when attempting to take resident game birds (California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 311(l)).
What’s acceptable abalone diving gear?
Question: Regarding equipment that is permissible for abalone harvesting, is a buoyancy compensator (BC) with integrated weight system OK to use for diving for abalone as long as there is NO air tank attached? (John D.)
Answer: Yes, a BC is for your safety and is OK to use as long as no scuba or air supply of any kind is incorporated.
Free diving for sea urchins?
Question: As a free diver, am I legally allowed to harvest sea urchins? If so, do I need a permit? Also, where in San Diego County can I legally dive from shore for sea urchins? (Derek G.)
Answer: Sea urchins are legal to take in California with a sport fishing license. The season is open year-round for all species of urchin and the limit is 35 urchins (CCR Title 14, section 29.05).
These regulations can be found in the Ocean Sport Fishing regulation booklet, along with coordinates and regulation summaries for marine protected areas in Southern California that are closed to the take of sea urchins.
Carrie Wilson is a marine environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week in this column. Please contact her at
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- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Ukiah Challenge is kicking off the racing season with a hop this weekend. Easter is a great weekend for family, friends and racing.
Drivers will get a chance to test and tune their cars at Lakeport Speedway Friday.
Then the gates will open Saturday at 3:30 p.m. for the first race of the 2015 season with the Taco Bell Bombers, Budweiser Outlaws, Jammers, Mini Stocks and Bandoleros.
In gratitude for the fan support that racing receives, every person from age 5 on up only has to pay $5 for grandstands admission to a whole night of racing. There also will be an Easter egg hunt for the kids.
Racing is a family involved sport for local promoter, David Furia. When the races start, the whole Furia family is busy working at the track or racing on it.
“My family is involved, but racing wouldn’t happen in this community without the support of the other families that share the load,” he said. “We have generations of families that come out every weekend to take on many of the tasks that make racing happen and I couldn’t appreciation them more. We also have generations of fans come out to see their favorite racers on the track. It’s not unusual to see Grandparents, Parents and Kids watching the races together. Racing truly is a family sport.”
With auto racing fast becoming one of the nation’s most popular sports, fans from all ages and walks of life attend local races to see their friends and neighbors race. Auto racing has something for the young and the young at heart.
Ukiah Speedway will have its first race of the season with test and tune Friday, April 10, and Taco Bell Bombers, Jammers, Mini Stocks, Modifieds and Legends will race around the track at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 11.
For more information and schedule, go to www.lakeportspeedway.com or www.ukiahspeedway.com or look for Ukiah Speedway or Lakeport Speedway on Facebook.
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- Written by: Editor
LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Thursday, March 26, the Terrace Middle School Wrestlers hosted the 2015 League Championships.
Out of nine wrestlers on the team, six girls and three boys, eight brought home medals – four gold, two silver and two bronze – along with placing third as a team.
Terrace league champions are Mavis Pyorre, Teagan Miller, Sergio Rodriguez and Will Green.
Silver medalists are Lupita Heredia and George Fred.
Mia Depaz-Flores and Bryanna Johnson took home bronze medals.
Scarlett Ballard also wrestled some tough matches for the Vikings, but came up just short.
“They have all come a long way in such a short time and placing third as a team is a great accomplishment for this small group of mostly novice wrestlers,” said Head Coach Steve Fisher.