Question/Evaluation of the hatchery run

I'm curious, now that the hatchery run is in the past, as to how it is being described as dismal...

Was it a bad year because of lack of fish? Or, because of poor fishing conditions? (lack of water)

I'm in need of a little therapy for the lack of fish in my boat over the holidays.

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

Personally, I think it's the lack of water. This has been the driest year in Washington since 1976, and the second-driest year since 1945. The Cowlitz River had flows that were about 6000 - 8000 cfs below average for this time of year. This average being for the past 80 years. O's and I talked about it, and we agreed on one thing though (surprise surprise) that if the fish feel the urge to mate, then by all means, they are going to mate. Of course, that was agreed upon without any scientific data or alcohol. I'm still leaning towards little water.

It is hard to understand how the winter steelhead hatchery runs were so bad region wide; with a few exceptions. Especially on the heels of good summer steelhead runs and great coho salmon runs region wide, due to the improved ocean feed conditions in recent years. ....

I think a couple secualtions I've heard are likely ... that the high seas drift netters are taking more of the far ranging w. steelhead. But do they range farther out to sea than the s. steelhead? .... And 'Yall/Os are correct about the effects on the season by this drought! Not only poor fishing conditions, but everyone has seen a lot of seal/sealion marks on the fish that have been caught. Undoubtedly there has been a significant toll there! The fish haven't flown past the seals as in usual water flows. ...

I have another idea that is just speculation. The ODFW & WDF&G are obviously pointing for a future w/o hatchery plants; substituting in brood stock programs. Probably a good idea in the long run for many rivers; but not all of them. I think the NMFS has likely put pressure on to do all of them; starting with high profile fisheries like the Sandy and Cowlitz rivers. Also, there is big budget crunches taking a toll on hatchery programs, thus likely smolt production capacity. My speculation is that these factors have combined so that there were way less plants than before. And they would not want to publicly anounce this because of the huge outcry from all user groups and, very importantly, because that would cause revenue to plumet from much less license and tag sales. If there is a major X factor out there for such a mysterious and unlikely occurance this season, that would be my best guess. - RT

[RichH]

I would have to go with conditions, at least on the Nestucca. The few times I got out and fished there were plenty of fish out there but the biters seemed to be hard to come by. I would see fish rolling frequently throughout the lower river. Also the number that were rerun from the hatchery would indicate decent numbers.

As for other coastal rivers from what I've heard they did not have the numbers that the Nestucca had so you have to wonder about dropping production from the hatchery. My .02

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Rich H

[SteelieSteve]

Has it started yet? Seriously this years return was pretty poor with maybe the exception of the run to 3-rivers and maybe the wilson. I know a bunch of y'all got fish on the wilson. Compared to good fishing years it has really been a disapointment to most of us steelie chasers.

[OneLastCast]

I can understand the lack of water being a factor for upriver fish but as I stated before, I live at the top of tide water and in the past have seen fish keg up down low if the water isn't sufficient for them to move up. This has produced many multiple fish days in the past but not so this year. I do a lot of "spot and stalk" with fish in low water conditions and there have not been many fish to spot this year. Last weekend I talked with just two boats coming down, one had lost a "jack", and one had landed a +/- 4lb hatchery fish. Again...more smaller fish.
I think RT has some good speculations. But I'm still confused.

OneLastCast

[lippee]

The flood's of 1996

Would the '96 flood have any affect on the hatchery run? Seems at that time the fry would still be in the hatchery....

Without saying 'Conspiracy Theory', I might lean on the less hatchery plant idea that RT mentioned. It would make sense with the other NW stocks being in such good shape. The less hatchery plant idea, compounded with the poor water year, could have contributed to horrible hatchery fishing.

All I know is this: In years past, I never really had a clue how to catch steelhead on the N. Coast, but I caught fish. And this last year, I actually did a lot of homework - I made an effort to learn how to get more fish to my boat. I paid a guide to learn tricks in a fun trip, geared up 'correctly', and what was I rewarded with? I didn't catch squat. So much for doing my homework!!!!

Are all indications suggesting that we will have a good native year on the coast?

One more thing!

I agree that the seals/sealion population is having an effect on our runs. This past summer on the Deschutes I caught quite a few fish with seal scars on them. Not so many in July, but in August-September the percentage was increasing.

Last weekend I fished the John Day. Of the fish we landed, 2 out of the three had seal or net scars on them. They were big bright fish (surprisingly), but had some signs of a hard trip to e. Oregon.

[garyk]

Hi Dave,

For Columbia River fish, I had just the opposite impression. Several times viewing the fish at the Bonneville window (Aug. & Sept.) we were impressed by the absence of net marks and bite wounds, compared to other years. And the fish were in so much better condition weight wise. Even the hatchery steelhead had nice girth and shoulders.