Hatch Boxes

[Hammer Bob]

I seem to remember that Oregon had a hatch box program on a number of streams and rivers. The details are very hazy and I was wondering if anyone was familiar with the practice? It seems that this type of augmentation of the existing runs may work...if native stock was used as an egg source.

[chuck 'n' duck]

I think I have seen one of these boxes before. I was fishing the Wilson with one of my buddies on private property. My buddy was friends with the owner, and he showed me one of these such boxes that contained thousands of incubating chinook eggs. Fresh river water was piped into the box, and run over the eggs. It was really a pretty neat system. Unfortunately, I don't know any of the details of the program.

[Fishin Magician]

My uncle has a hatch box on the wilson across from lil'richies store.chuck who is you're friend ? I might know him

[PeterMac]

We have had hatch boxes for a number of years on the North Fork of the Nehalem. They are part of ODFW's S.T.E.P ( Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program). It has been a lot of fun in the past, and we have seen some increase returns on a couple little streams that we have planted the fry in. We have not done if for the past few years.

I am sure that any hatchery, or the ODFW main office could tell you more about the STEP program (if it still exists). Feel free to fire any questions at mee too

Good Luck

PeterMac

[wak'm&stak'm]

Yes they do still exsist, many schools use them in biology classes. They were original for public relations, but they did work. They are not as common as in the past and I am not sure a person can get eggs as easy, but if I had a creek in my yard I would build a hatchery. Maybe some day.