Humboldt Steelhead Days is back for year #4!

January 1 – March 31, 2017

Steelhead fishing contest looks to highlight watershed conservation

on the North Coast

– Spawning tours added to this year’s event –

Humboldt Steelhead Days (HSD), a celebration of all things steelhead in Humboldt County, has received a significant donation from the Humboldt Lodging Alliance (HLA). The donation will enable HSD organizers to move forward with ambitious plans for the 2017 event.

Fast becoming Humboldt’s signature wintertime event, HSD will run from the first of January to the end of March, 2017. The event is a winter-long promotion of steelhead angling opportunities, education, conservation, and celebration throughout the county. Major rivers featured are the Trinity, Mad and Eel. HLA’s support makes possible both catch-and-keep and catch-and-release photo contests featuring cash prizes totaling $10,000. In addition there will be will be fish and habitat-related tours, onshore clinics and seminars, as well as theater and film events on selected weekends throughout the season. Events will take place at a variety of venues throughout Humboldt County, targeted for both beginners and experts.

Justin Wallace, from Eureka, and Cade Webb, from McKinleyville, caught and released a chrome bright steelhead on the Mad River during Humboldt Steelhead Days last winter. Green Diamond generously allowed drift boat access on private land just for Humboldt Steelhead anglers. Photo courtesy of Don Banducci

HSD is coordinated by three local non-profits: California Trout, Mad River Alliance, and Mountain Community and Culture. The aim of HSD is to build community awareness and fund continued restoration and recovery activities on Humboldt rivers and streams while promoting the region in the wintertime to the outside world. During January and February there are more steelhead in Humboldt rivers than anywhere else in California.

Mary Burke, CalTrout’s North Coast Manager states, “Humboldt Steelhead Days is a perfect way to celebrate the many ways that wild steelhead have defined the history and sense of place in the Eel River watershed,” said Mary Burke, CalTrout’s North Coast Manager. “Humboldt Steelhead Days offers events for all ages to appreciate California’s north coast, from majestic Redwood forests to the meandering rivers and streams that wind through the landscape. Whether you are an avid angler or parent to a budding science buff, seeing these wild fish return to their native streams to spawn is truly a special opportunity.”

To broaden the scope and appeal to anglers and non-anglers alike, 2017 HSD will feature a number of restoration seminars and spawning tours to local streams with help from Pacific Outfitters. Humboldt County is a leader in salmonid restoration and recovery.

Humboldt Steelhead Days had 1,500, mostly local, participants in 2016. HLA funds will be used to do significant outreach around Northern California and Southern Oregon in an effort to bring people into the area to experience all of Humboldt’s many amenities during the winter season.

Thank you for your support!

Thank you to everyone who supported Humboldt Steelhead Days last year! We are looking for additional sponsors, partners, donations, prizes for 2017. Donations will go into our prize pool for our steelhead anglers who catch and photograph the biggest fish in three watersheds during the 3-month long contest. All wild steelhead are to be photographed in the water and released. #keepemwet

Your sponsorship of the this event will help support restoration, conservation, education and community building in the Mad, Eel and Trinity River watersheds. Humboldt Steelhead Days proceeds benefit these 3 non-profit groups: Mad River Alliance (founder of the event) in Blue Lake, CalTrout’s North Coast Region office in Arcata, and Mountain Community & Culture located in Willow Creek. For more information on how to donate, visit the Humboldt Steelhead Days website page.

2016 SPONSORS & PARTNERS:
Humboldt Lodging Alliance, Humboldt County Visitors Bureau, Green Diamond, Mad River Brewing Company, Humboldt Redwood Companies, Thule, GHD, Amerigas, Kokatat, Mad River Plumbing, The Mill Yard, SHN Consulting Engineers and Geologists, Eureka/Fortuna Sport and Cycle, Stillwater Sciences, Bucksport, Les Schwab Tires, Mcklinleyville Ace, Wicked Lures, Briceland Vineyards, California Fish and Wildlife, Mr Fish Seafood, International Fly Film Festival (IF4), Blackberry Bramble BBQ, Fortuna Chamber of Commerce, Willow Creek Chamber of Commerce, California Conservation Corps, Gallaghers in Scotia, the Town of Scotia, Mountain Monument Vineyards, Wiyot Tribe, Fishing the North Coast, Redwood Edventures, Dell Arte International, Eureka Main Street & the Crab Celebration, MackGraphics, Mad River Radio, Bicoastal Media, Lost Coast Communications, Times-Standard, Mad River Union, Trinity Journal, Press Democrat, the North Coast Journal. Volunteer Event Coordinators: Dave Feral, Mary Burke, David Lippman, Tracy Mack, Klark Swan & Don Banducci.