Undersized Steelhead

OneLastCast · 01-26-2001, 06:15 PM

Just a question:

I am still baffled about the lack of fish in the North Fork of the Nehalem. However, at least 50% of the fish that I have seen, I have hooked or seen hooked, or talked with drift boats that have hooked, are less than 5 pounds, less than 22 inches long. Why the large percentage of undersized fish.

RT or anyone; do you know the size of the mesh of a drift net? I am just hypothesizing about where our fish are.
Why the large proportion of smaller fish? Far smaller than the normal average. I have never seen such a distibution of small fish.

OneLastCast

Salmonator · 01-26-2001, 06:23 PM

If the floods of 96/97 did have some kind of effect on hatchery smolts then maybe it would explain a lack of bigger fish. I don't know the details of hatchery smolt release time frames in relation to the flood so it's just a guess. Maybe the floods un-silted some previously prime spawning gravel?

Joe · 01-26-2001, 07:04 PM

On the bright side at least as of Feb. 1 you will be able to keep fin clipped steelhead over 16" from what I understand.

[This message has been edited by Great White hunter (edited 01-31-2001).]

OneLastCast · 01-26-2001, 07:22 PM

Great White Hunter & Salmonator:

Thanks for your response and I would appreciate the info from what ever you learn.
What you bring up about the Nestucca is interesting. Having read this board for some time I have seen that the Nestucca seems to be producing fish. And as you say if drift nets were culpable then why haven't the Nestucca fish been affected? My observations are just that, observations, but I have fished this river for many years, never have caught less fish and have never caught such a large percentage of small ones. Several weeks ago I caught a chrome bright hatchery hen that wasn't tagged and that had already spawned.This fish was all of 4 pounds, if that much.
Can a hatchery release go bad? What about the other North Coast rivers that are short of fish? Is it possible that Nestucca fish migrate somewhere else in the Pacific?
I have no answers, only questions.

OneLastCast

rob · 01-26-2001, 07:40 PM

Great White--how many days had those 180 fish been accumulating in the trap? Is that one day's catch? I'm just wondering how many fish are actually moving up river.

Joe · 01-26-2001, 08:36 PM

[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[ 04-04-2001: Message edited by: Joe ]

01-26-2001, 08:47 PM

Olie, I fished up in Washington with a couple friends yesterday (Thur.) and a higher than normal % of the fish we hooked were very small. And I have heard of this elsewhere, so it could be some sort of feed situation that only the winter steelhead incurred. Whatever it is, it could be part of the reason we have had poor returns region wide this winter? - RT

Gone Fishin · 01-26-2001, 09:05 PM

OLC,

How many fish have you seen that were undersize? You indicated that 50% were small, how many is that? I have also caught several "jack" steelhead this season, both native and hatchery fish. (on the Nestucca)

Great White Hunter,

Welcome to this board, I knew that if anybody at Cedar Creek could type, it would be you! (jk!)

I really don't think it's from nets because the other fish we're seeing don't have any net marks.

It could be they're just genetically challanged inferior Alsea strain stupid hatchery fish! Or, possibly due to the fact that there is hardly a trickle in the rivers these are the little rascals that can get up the creek.

I don't have answers either, we need rain!

OneLastCast · 01-26-2001, 09:29 PM

Geez Gone Fishin,
you are embarassing me, asking me how many fish.
I have to admit that the sample size is roughly 15 fish hooked and approximately 8 fish undersized. That is not including all the drift boats I have talked with.
Granted the sample is extremely small, but, as I stated before never have I had(or seen) such a percentage of undersize fish. I just talked with a buddy tonight who fishes the the Necanicum who also wondered about his small fish vs large fish ratio.
The problem I have is that with this low clear water situation, I normally have fishing conditions similar to the old "fish in a barrel" adage. I live at the top of tidewater and low water or not if the fish are in the river they will stack up behind the house.
There are few fish there. And why does the Nestucca have fish?
Still searching for answers.

OneLastCast

OneLastCast · 01-26-2001, 09:38 PM

Great White Hunter:

When you release your smolts how many years from the date of release do you expect them back?
If (I am assuming here) that the smolts spend one year in the river/estuary and two years in the ocean (on the average) then the '96 flood should have no effect.
What is the turnaround that you have seen or expect? What about Chinook or Silvers?

OneLastCast

Joe · 01-26-2001, 09:51 PM

Hi Marty,

I really can't type but make my kids do it for me. At least I know enough to use proper protection to avoid catching viruses.

If your theory is right maybe I will go set below Cloverdale tomarrow and catch all the big ones that can't climb over the shallows.

[This message has been edited by Great White hunter (edited 02-06-2001).]

Joe · 01-26-2001, 10:37 PM

I apologize for all my edits on this thread but decided to deleate reference's to my job. No big deal just want to seperate work from pleasure.

I hope I didn't cause to much confusion.

[This message has been edited by Great White hunter (edited 02-01-2001).]

Mikie · 01-27-2001, 04:49 AM

Hey OLC, There's quite a few little bitty fishy's on the ALSEA too. Most of the little fish that we have caught have been hen's a couple have been buck's. Those little fish really seem to like worm's so do the big one's , I think these fish just jump the gun one year is all . However the majority of these fish don't have fin clip's, they sure seem to be full of P!$$ and vinegar,just like the big one's. SEE YA MIKIE.

Line_Buster · 01-27-2001, 01:14 PM

Let the lil one go. I was told the other day that the lil jack steelies often are the ones that return as the big 4 salt or bigger. they come in a lil to young as a jack (like a silver or chinookie) the only thing is they don't die. they come back as big ones after spending several years back in the Salt. so if I were you I'd really be thinking of fishing that river in a few more years and see if you catch more big fish than normal. As for the small hens I don't know. got me on that one!

Line Buster

Spooled · 01-27-2001, 01:17 PM

Use bigger bait!

Mikie · 01-27-2001, 06:19 PM

HEY Line buster. I alway's let those little bitty fishy's go never killed one yet, Hey I'm even letting the bigger hatchery fish go. The count at the alsea hatchery today was only 633 fish . THAT SUCK'S ..... Gosh spooled I'm kinda scared of those 6 inch pink plastic worm's , think I'll stick with the 4 inch one's well purple metalflake are OK too. SEE YA MIKIE.