2004 Rogue Spring Chinook Forecast

Nofish · 01-31-2004, 04:38 AM

Has ODFW released an estimate for the 2004 springer run on the Rogue? Are they predicting a decent run? Just curious. Cheers...Bob

Applegate · 01-31-2004, 08:37 AM

Well, lack of water should not be a factor.

Straydog · 01-31-2004, 09:43 AM

I haven't seen any specific forcasts however I believe this would have been the returning year for some of the estimated 200,000+ smolt that were killed when someone forgot to keep the water running adequately during the outmigration a few years back.

This is more than a little concerning given this is the year we go the "1 and 3" regulation for wild fish.......

As Clown Corkie notes, lack of water should not be a valid excuse.

[ 01-31-2004, 10:44 AM: Message edited by: Straydog ]

Nofish · 01-31-2004, 02:51 PM

If memory serves me correctly, last year would have been the year those fish returned as 3 year olds. It was a pretty darn good year as I recall, however there were many of the larger 4 year old fish. Thanks for the reply. Bob

David Johnson · 01-31-2004, 03:04 PM

Quote:

however there were many of the larger 4 year old fish.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I beleive most springers come back as four year olds. At least they do up here on the Willamette.

Usually if there's a poor return of 3 yr chinook than the next year the 4 yr fish will be poor too.

Skipper · 01-31-2004, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Straydog:
... given this is the year we go the "1 and 3" regulation for wild fish...

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">What is the 1 and 3 regulation? I don't know and I'm sure a lot of others are curious also.

Cheerio'
Skipper

TH · 01-31-2004, 04:46 PM

yes,

unfortunately we lost of 200,000+ smolts a few years ago which will affect this years return of four year old fish!
we did see a few wild three year old fish last year but not nearly as many hatchery fish so there should be a decent/ok return of 4 year old wild fish!

The Rogue was full of hatchery four year old fish last year

lots of fish between 22# and 28# pounds!

As far as the 1 and 3 restriction.. you are allowed to retain one wild fish per day, 3 per year.

I'm excited now.. how about some pics from the 2003 season?

Grandpa with a wild four year old

A hatchery 4 year old

Grandpa and Tanner with a hatchery 3 year old

Another hatchery three year old

And grandpa again with a CHROMER

wow only a couple short months away!

anyone else fish the Rogue for springers? show your pics!

[ 01-31-2004, 05:49 PM: Message edited by: TH ]

Nofish · 01-31-2004, 05:16 PM

I was hoping last year was going to be the not so good year, but it could be this year's run. Bummer.

Regarding the 1/3 limit this year, there was an article a couple of weeks ago in the Medford Mail Tribune. Basically, it says that ODFW forgot to include a way to record wild springers on your punch card - which in the opinion of ODFW biologists, makes the regulation unenforceable. Here is the link to the article:
http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2...es/02sport.htm

Personally, I doubt that I will be a serious threat to wild rogue springers. I do love fishing for them however. Cheers...Bob

TH · 01-31-2004, 05:43 PM

oh yes
that had all of us down here talking several months ago!

however, he bottom line is that we didn't see a hugh number of wild fish last spring.
In my boat we ened up the 6 or 9 I cant remeber out of 48+ springers....
I heard similar reports coming from fisherman that I spoke to this summer.

It will have an impact, but not much, at least we can still retain the wild fish not like the Big C fishery! How you guys relese a 26# spinger :shocked: is beyond me.. don't you know there is no beter meal on the face of the earth! :shocked:

I guess we need to continue to support the Lost creek hctachery program..

they do an excellent job!

willametteriveroutlaw · 01-31-2004, 06:37 PM

Is that on fall fish too?

TH · 01-31-2004, 06:54 PM

nope...
just the springers at least for now....

Nofish · 01-31-2004, 07:06 PM

As far as our wild to hatchery breakdown last year, we were about 50-50 (but we had a much smaller sample size than you TH). I'd say about 2/3rds were 4 year olds last year - but that isn't always the case. We also begin fishing usually the end of March and normally switch to the Klamath in early May. I wonder if there are proportionately more wild fish early in the run? I guess now that all of the hatchery releases have been marked, we'll find out. Cheers...Bob

TH · 01-31-2004, 07:30 PM

we also started fishiing early.. March 16th (March 3rd is the Howard family record!)
was our first springer catch last year.
It going to be in Feb this year

We caught nothing but hatchery fish (maybe one or two) in April... and then the push of wild fish in May and ealry June...
I think June 19 or 20th was our last date down there anchoring up...

I think we'll be fine....

Straydog · 01-31-2004, 08:44 PM

Thanks nofish, I had missed that article concerning the tag foul up. Interesting.

As far as the fall fish ever going to a restricted harvest, I would be very suprised. In fact, I don't believe there is any hatchery supplementation of that run at all.

While it hurt the Springers, Lost Creek Dam helped the fall fish tremendously.

Point-of-Sale Clerk · 01-31-2004, 09:26 PM

The tag will not need changed only the Stream Location Code Card.

How Stupid, all ODFW has to do is tell us *** Agents to write the new code on the code card until new cards are ready.
Right now we retailers are required to cross out the last 10 slots on the back of a Hatchery harvest card. There should be no trouble in penning the additional code on the code card.

Hey, maybe they could ink stamp the additional code on the card?

Regards

*** Clerk

Nofish · 02-01-2004, 05:54 AM

*** Clerk - It makes perfect sense just changing the stream location card.

TH - we usually get our first fish around the 20th or so of March - though we didn't fish that early last season. I know the steelhead plunkers usually come up with one towards the end of February. Judging from your pictures, you fish a few miles (to several miles)upstream from tidewater? Thanks for the response everyone...Bob

CARTMAN · 02-01-2004, 07:39 AM

This 1 and 3 deal is that for the rogue only or other rivers I have such a hard time understanding and keeping up with this stuff. thanks.

Cartman

TH · 02-01-2004, 08:32 AM

the 1 and 3 rule is just on the Rogue...

yes
we fish from Elephant rock up past Lobster creek, Q. Creek Hayes Eddy etc.
Lots of fun!

TheRogue · 02-01-2004, 08:35 AM

Nofish...

the last few February fish were found to have wire tags in their noses indicating lost Elk river hatchery fish. That's probably been what most all the February "springers" have been over the years.

Growing up in Gold Beach, it was historically Spring Break week before anyone got serious about running anything other than steelie gear of the gravel bars or out of the boats.

Lost Creek Reservoir destroyed most of the springer spawning grounds on the upper Rogue, hence the very small native component to the run. This is one of those "dam" tradeoffs which is perfectly justified, IMHO.

And, no supplemental fall chinook, except. for STEP program on the lower river.

TR

[ 02-01-2004, 09:37 AM: Message edited by: TheRogue ]

CARTMAN · 02-01-2004, 08:36 AM

TH thanks for the info. Have yet to fish the rogue but now i see what i have been missing.

Cartman