Silvers in Aberdeen right now?

[Bobber Down]

So these silvers this time of year (Feb.) stick their head in at Aberdeen, and where are they headed? My son saw them in the bottom of a gillnet boat Sun. late afternoon. He said that the fish averaged 12-13 lbs. He also said that this one gillnetter had quite a few fish. Well you can do with this report as you want, but thought some of you might want to know..................Bobber Down

[slabhunter]

Unfortunatly those were steelhead that got netted. Right now I believe the nets are in five days per week.

[Bobber Down]

Thanks Slabhunter for clairifying the info. On the average size that he saw, maybe his eyes are bigger than his stomach. Makes sense that they are steelies. Thanks again.............Bobber Down

[slabhunter]

Size is about right. Those are the broodstock fish from Satsop and 'Nooch.

[corkyking]

Yep - those are the steelhead that the sportsmen can't keep but you can buy them from the gillnetters for about $10 each.

[The Machinist]

Sorry to break you guys bubble, but my bet is that they are indeed Silvers.

There are 300,000 smolts planted in the Chehalis each year. These are the late Satsop strain that are BITERS, the early fish have LOCK JAW. These fish can return anywhere from about Christmas on thru late Feb. With the rain we have had recently & the rivers now back in shape, the timing is about right.

There are 150,000 released from the Satsop. Another 50,000 each from the Sookumchuck, Newaukum, & upper Chehalis each year.

If you look in the 2003/2004 regs (page 27)the season runs thru the end of Feb above the Porter bridge, to allow harvest of these hatchery fish.