I am doing historical ecology research for the San Francisco Estuary Institute. We are currently working on a historical fish project looking for information that shows the existence of salmonids (salmon, trout, steelhead) in the creeks which flow into the San Francisco Bay. If you can contribute any answers or leads to the following questions I would really appreciate it: Where were good fishing sites in the creeks? Which fish were in which creeks? We are looking for people who can recall stories of fishing or hearing about those who fished in the creeks. Any suggestions about which books, newspapers, newsbulletins, etc. to look through that may mention fish in creeks in the bay area prior the 1960's (esp. in the 1800's and the turn of the century)?

Please see our website at www.sfei.org for more information about the ongoing historical ecology project. Current fish populations have been censused and once we compile all historical information then the project's findings (including a publically accessible bibliography) will be available on our website.

Thank you, Julie, San Francisco Estuary Institute

-- julie ekstrom (jaekstrom@hotmail.com), July 28, 1999

Answers

hey julie--good job--someone give this girl a raise!!!!!

-- x-man (aekstrom@nettaxi.com), July 28, 1999.

I don't recall ever pulling a salmon out of a bay area creek. We took a lot of stripers out of the Sacramento River in the 70's all the way up to the Carquinez Straits. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

-- Mark Ekstrom (markekstrom@hotmail.com), July 29, 1999.

During the early 1950's, I used to occasionaly fish in San Francisquito Creek which flows from the Portola Valley/Los Trancos Creek area to the bay just south of East Palo Alto. There was a small dam with a spillway not too far upstream from the Stanford Golf Course. I believe it was called "Degas Hole". When the creek had water in it during the winter one could occasionly catch a salmon or steelhead. I never caught one myself, but I did see a couple of good sized fish reeled in there and saw a number make their way up the spillway. I couldn't tell if they were salmon or steelhead but they were defintely salmonids. For those that are interested, we used salmon eggs with spinners. I used to fish a resevoir further upsteam (Felt Lake) but never caught anything but bluegills. Just FYI, there used to be a shark derby at Coyote Point, San Mateo in those days. They gave prizes for the biggest leopard shark and sting ray (ca. 300 lbs.). Also used to do a bit of duck hunting out along the salt evaporaters in East Palo Alto back then. Oops, I better shut up - I'm getting too nostalgic.

-- Don Martinich (dutchm@dcn.davis.ca.us), August 07, 1999.

Contact the San Pablo Sportsman's Club and the Richmond Rod And Gun Club. Both Clubs have records since the 1930's. I remember reading about Salmon being caught in El Cerrito Creek when the San Pablo Sportsmen were located at Pt. Isabel in El Cerrito.

-- Randy Grandin (Rlgrandin@aol.com), September 19, 1999.

girl you so crazy. whats up with that , you are just off the hook, ohhhh my god what is up, i can't believe i am saying this. good job, but stop fighting beth el, in berkeley, they just want to biuld thier temple, and they dont need you nader foulk snooping around! ok, lay off!

-- julia ekstron (jaekstron@hotmail.com), November 14, 2001.

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Nice try, "j-u-l-i-A," but we feed historians, not trolls.

-- Rosa Debonneheure (rosadebbon@yahoo.com), November 15, 2001.