Comments on: Ventura River Steelhead: New lease on life with removal of Matilija Dam?

By: Calif.'s Costly Trout Recovery Effort Criticized

Calif.'s Costly Trout Recovery Effort Criticized — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 04:41:48 +0000

[...] on them: NOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Promoting Economic Vitality Ventura River Steelhead: New lease on life with removal of Matilija Dam? | Fish with JD California Trout, Inc. Steelhead_SCS __________________ May your rods outnumber her [...]

By: JD

JD — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 03:33:54 +0000

Hi Mike, well…unfortunately…Ventura River steelhead are listed as an Endangered Species these days. There are still adult fish still returning on wet years, however! You can lean more here: http://www.venturariver.org

By: Mike Sheller

Mike Sheller — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:34:56 +0000

I was born in ventura in 1950. At about the age of 5 years I met an old neighbor gentileman by the name of Harry Lamb. I used to hang out at his house while he told me stories about harvesting salmon and steelhead from the Ventura River. I had not yet seen salmon or steelhead at that time, but I was ,already, a fierce slayor of bluegills and crappie in my ‘hood. Harry’s tales of trout that went to the ocean to grow huge, and then come back to this little stream to spawn had me absolutely mezmerized by these beautiful creatures I had only heard of.
Fast forward half a century. I now live in Springfield OR., and after catching several hundred steelhead, and salmon, I long to know of the race of steelhead that got me started on this lifelong search for this fish I hold so dear to my heart.
nAny information you could give me on the health of this race of steelhead would be greatly appreceated.
Thank you.
Mike sheller