A direct expansion creel survey of the early-run Russian River recreational fishery was conducted in 1995 to determine angler effort for and harvest of sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka. Anglers expended 124,076 angler-hours to harvest 23,572 sockeye salmon from the early run (11 June-11 July). The harvest rate was 0.190 sockeye salmon per hour of angler effort. Approximately 69% of the effort and 74% of the harvest were from the confluence area of the fishery. A total of 28,603 sockeye salmon bound for spawning areas within the Russian River system were counted through the weir at the outlet of Lower Russian Lake during the early run. This escapement exceeded the Board of Fisheries mandated escapement goal of 16,000 fish. Estimates of the age composition (harvest plus escapement) indicate that the return primarily comprised age-2.3 and age-2.2 sockeye salmon (55% and 33%, respectively). Both the sport harvest and total return for the early run were greater than the mean historical values for 1976-1994.