Wilson River Steelhead

[First Bite]

I took my son out fishing on the Wilson this morning and we got a sea lice covered Steelhead close to the Guide Shop. I took a look at the fins and noticed that the right ventricle and the adipose fins were clipped (RV/AD). I've talked with Tillamook district biologists in the past about fin clipping and if my memory is correct, only summer run fish have the RV/AD fin clip! Hatchery winter Steelhead will only have the AD fin clip. And I believe the broodstock fish have the LV/AD fin clip. Does this sound right?
In the last three trips on the Wilson I've caught six Steelhead. Two had the RV/AD clip, Three had the AD only and one had all its fins. All of these fish were bright and appeared fresh from the ocean. Anyone else run into a mix of finclipped fish?
By the way all of the fish were caught on a pink jig.

Mark

[Mike H]

Here's what I know about the Siletz:

RV/AD: hatchery summer steelhead
AD only: hatchery summer steelhead
LM/AD: broodstock winter steelhead

I'm not sure what the hatchery winter fish are but I suspect they they are AD only. I also don't know why they have two different clips for hatchery summer fish. They don't have a broodstock program during the summer.

Mike H

[Gone Fishin]

Hey Mark,

I know of another guide that caught a non-clipped chrome-brite steelhead just out of tidewater yesterday on the Nestucca. It slammed a K-16 Kwikfish! There are usually a few that show up this time of year, but I think we're going to have a killer steelie season this year!