Brood Stock on the Sandy?

[Steelie Ben]

I have heard that they started a broodstock system on the Sandy, is this true? When did they start this? I don't really fish the Sandy all that much, maybe five times a year. I would consider giving it a shot if there is gonna be some nice fat brood stock fish around in february. I have hooked a few nice natives out of a drift at dabney in February in years past, can I expect a fin clip on some of these fish now? Thanks for any information you can give me, Tight lines.

[FishinFinatic]

Sandy fishery has done me real nice this year. First time i've fished it was for the silvers this last run. What a kick. But for steelhead i've caught quite a few hatchery fish this year. I'm not quite sure what this brood stock program is that your talkin about though.

[Bryan]

Broodstock steelhead next year. Reoprts in the ODFW website are wrong.

[wiser]

Despite the release of some information to the contrary, I believe Bryan is correct. The Sandy River should be getting returns this winter from the following releases in 1999 and 2000
The release of 143,244 Eagle Creek Stock Reared at Bonneville and released in April of 1999 into the Sandy River between Dabney and Lewis & Clark Parks should be the source of some 3 salt fish(larger than 10 lb. fish).
The release of 48,107 Eagle Creek Stock Reared at Bonneville and released at the Marmot Acclimation Pond in April of 1999 should be another source of more 3 salt fish.
The release of 39,732 Big Creek Stock reared at the Sandy hatchery and released from the Sandy Hatchery in March of 1999 would be the third source of 3 salt fish that should be expected back.
The release of 104,292 Big Creek Stock reared at Bonneville and released between Dabney and Lewis & Clark Parks in April of 2000 is one source of two salt fish(generally less than 10 lbs) back this winter.
The release of 49,111 Big Creek Stock reared at Bonneville and released from the Marmot Acclimation ponds in April of 2000 is another source of 2 salt fish.
The release of 40,678 Big Creek Stock reared at the Sandy hatchery and released from the Sandy Hatchery in March of 2000 is the third source for two salt returners to the Sandy River.
Native Sandy River Broodstock collection began in the winter of 2000 and will replace Big Creek and Eagle Creek Stock supplementation.
This is information I have gathered and is only as good as my sources, but I believe it to be accurate.All hatchery winter steelhead released into the Sandy River in 99 and 00 were both right maxillary and adipose clipped. Steelhead in the Sandy that are adipose only clipped are summer stock fish. Either that or strays??

[ 01-29-2002: Message edited by: Wiser? ]</p>

[ssteelheadsteve]

WISER Where did you come up with those numbers please ? All Sandy anglers be advised that plants will be severly reduced next year partly because not enough " Native " (I use that term loosely) stock fish can be taken from the river to meet production of past years.
Also the " Sandy Plan " (always in flux it seems) calls for reduction in plants of non-native fish so as to achive the desired native-hatchery ratio of spawners within federal guidelines.PGE has successfully argued the late componet spawning below Marmot is a Native/Wild run and needs protection.I think they are full of
.... These winter steelhead this year are the weakest fish I have ever caught.90+% of the time I can tellin the first 30 seconds if I have a native or hatchery fish.I wish I could blame the poor performance on water temps but that does not hold any hope as the temps have been up above average most this winter season.Early clack fish are weak as well.