Early Arriving Springers

[Navigator]

I am not catching any fish so why not start a new thread. The Fishermans Marine and wild steelhead story triggered a question I have had for years. The Spring Chinook regulations for the lower Willamette allow the taking of early arriving Spring Chinook in the months of January, February and March. What do we know about these early arriving fish? Wild, hatchery?

[WheresMyBobber]

My understanding is that the wild fish are among the early arrivals. This doesn't mean that hatchery fish won't also come early, but I believe the bulk of the wild fish headed over the falls enter the river from Feb. through the middle of April. When I first started fishing for Willamette springers in the late 70's, you had to be out there in Feb. if you wanted a shot at a big one (35-50lbs). There weren't a lot of them, but they were there if you looked hard enough. Now days, you don't see many fish in the river until mid March, and I haven't heard of one over 40lbs being caught in at least 15 years.

I haven't looked at the ODFW page that says that this years run will be 69% hatchery, but if it does say that I have trouble believing it. The Willamette run has been believed to be 10% wild and 90% hatchery for quite some time. If this years run jumps to 31% wild, it would be quite a turn around. I think a more likely scenario is that 69% of the hatchery fish expected to return this year will be adipose clipped, with that % increasing to 100% over the next couple years now that all hatchery salmon planted in the Wilamette system are clipped.

[WaterDog]

OK let me get this straight:
1) The bulk of the steelhead that are coming up the Willamette from Jan - March are wild.
2) We all agree that there are hatchery fish mixed in this group that we can catch and keep.
3) And we all agree that the wilds need to be released.

My question is this: Why is the middle section of the Wilamette above the falls closed until april 1 when you can fish below the falls, you can fish the Santiam system, you can fish the Mckenzie, and you can fish from Harrisburg to Dexter dam?

Maybe it's just me but this make no sense what so ever. It's crap like this that makes me wonder what these so called "experts" are smoking. I guess it's too much to ask to use common sense anymore.

[fishchaser]

If you look in the ODF&W page it says that the run size will be 69% hatchery fish on the Willamette. and that the Wild fin clip fishery does not start until March 12th. But I think that the one to ask or to answer you would be "Fish Cop" He would know the truth.

[fishchaser]

You are right 69% of the returning HATCHERY fish are fin clipped not 69% of the run. My mistake sorry. I know that if I'm going to write something it should at least be somewhat accurate.

We all need to go to the meeting at the Clackamas Community College and out in St. Helens to hear just what exactly will be the regulations for 2001

[bathtub bob]

Wa has a winter commercial fishery going on in the columbia zones 1-5 300 hours of netting. Allowable sales sturgeon and salmon. They say they will get only 50 springers.And 7 winter runs. The season started Jan 8th and ends Feb 2. All i can say 300 hours and 7 steelhead what a bunch of ********

[boater]

makes no sence to have a few commercial netters pad their income. and why should i have to pay full price for a salmon punch card that is good for a year, but is closed to fishin half the year..

[Barnyard]

Years ago when we could fish the Columbia in late march and early April we caught what I'm sure were Willamette Springers. We were fishing out of Cathlamet and all the fish we caught seemed to be 15 - 20lbs and bookends..Anyone know if this is true. While they weren't clipped I'd bet they were hatchery fish....