FYI

FishinMission · 12-12-2002, 05:05 PM

Please...No bad things here. Just thought I'd clue you all in....contacted ODFW today to inquire when Clack fish "spawn"...here's their reply.....

"If they're a hatchery stocked fish they'd spawn around December, January, February.
Wild winter steelhead spawn around March."

Lori Hansen
Information Specialist
Public Service Representative
Information and Education Department
www.dfw.state.or.us

David Johnson · 12-12-2002, 05:23 PM

I don't think you specified between summer and winter steelhead. What she told you is correct concerning Winter Runs , both hatchery and wild stock.

The summers we caught a few weeks ago on the Clack had smaller skeins of eggs then the sea lice covered winters we have been catching on the coast.

Brine · 12-12-2002, 05:30 PM

So when do the summers spawn or do they? I've been told that they spawned about the same time as the winter fish; thereby competing with them. Do you continue to catch summer fish all winter ? Or is this only a more historically recent development. Doesn't seem like ther use to be as many summers (in fact I think the returns are at historic highs.) Is that enough questions? I think so.

David Johnson · 12-12-2002, 05:42 PM

Most summers spawn February through April (the same time native/wild winter steelhead spawn) That's why it's said they compeat with them.

Summer steelhead are native to "long" river systems, like the Umpqua, Rough, and Columbia Basin. They come in early enough (spring and summer) so that they are to the head water spawning area's by spring.

Those fish in the John Day, Grand Ronde, Snake, Clear water.....that are being caught now and through April- they are the same summer runs that go throughthe lower Columbia in July and August.

Brine · 12-12-2002, 05:57 PM

Thanks David

That's kinda of what I heard. By spawning in the upper reaches moreso than the winters in long systems they would kind of seem to stay out of each others hair so to speak. But with the artificial runs and dams, the competition for resources would seem to be much more intense. I could be wrong, bu i believe the returns of summer fish are at unprecedented levels in such systems as the Clack, santiam, Sandy(?) and since the hatcheries have no inclination to pull these fish out anymore, we are faced with a rather new dilemna. So many fish we don't know what to do with them all. I saw a lot of summer fish harvested this fall, and the harvesters were getting flak for killing skinny snakes, but maybe they should have been paid a bounty. Clearly they are performing a beneficial service.

WheresMyBobber · 12-12-2002, 06:04 PM

[ 12-27-2002, 08:54 PM: Message edited by: WheresMyBobber ]

FishinMission · 12-13-2002, 12:06 PM

Here's a copy of the original document presented to ODFW....

Subj: Question regarding Clackamas Sumer Steelhead
Date: 12/12/02 12:12:06 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: FISHERMAN MARK
To: Odfw.Info@state.or.us

Can you clarify for me when the Clackamas River Summer Steelhead generally spawn?? Would appreciate it...

Thanks...

Mark Zinzer

Chris Nordling · 12-13-2002, 12:23 PM

Just a quick question for David Johnson-

If it's true that summers spawn only in February, etc....

How come I've seen some "downhillers" taken by mistake ( they were pretty "chrome" looking), cut open to find empty bellies(no sex organs),white meat, and egg membrane emptied ?

Clearly fish that had spawned.

This happened in December/January on both the Clackamas and Nestucca rivers, about two or three years ago. Right at the begininng of winter run peaks.

All hatchery fish of course.

And how about those summers we catch at the begining of March? 12 months is a long time to wait to do their "business".

Not trying to argue or disagree, just curious.......

Chris

[ 12-13-2002, 01:26 PM: Message edited by: FWF1 ]

David Johnson · 12-13-2002, 02:48 PM

Those bright, spawned out fish you caught on the coast and Clack (the ones in the Clack were Big Cr/Knat Cr fish) were bright, winter spawners. Since they only have to go a short distance they are adapted to coming in, doing their thing and then heading right back to the ocean.

Those summers we catch in March are going to spend up to a year in fresh water, the Idaho steelhead spawn in April and May-400+ miles up river. That's why they bite better too, they do eat some while in fresh water. I don't if many of those early fish end up making it all the way through a year of river life.

The summers in our local rivers are Skamania strain-Klickatat River I beleive.

Mark-My argument wouldn't be with you, it would be with whoever sent you a reply from ODFW. I'm sure the gal was just someone in an office that looked it up and gave you the wrong info.

David Johnson · 12-13-2002, 02:58 PM

The basis of my info comes from my college years of fisheries and my past work for ODFW out of the Clackamas Office.

Mad Mikey · 12-13-2002, 03:51 PM

""Most summers spawn February through April (the same time native/wild winter steelhead spawn) That's why it's said they compeat with them.""

Thanks David. Now Cookie Boy, where's my $20??? Told ya.......
:tongue: :tongue: :tongue:

FishinMission · 12-13-2002, 04:57 PM

Everyone here...

I sent the request to ODFW to clear up any confusion. If you dis-agree..I suggest you follow the link above in my original post...and contact ODFW...

If you find another answer...feel free to post it here!!

I just felt ODFW could clarify matters regarding this. I'm not the expert here..believe me.

Mark

[ 12-13-2002, 05:58 PM: Message edited by: FishinMission ]

FishinMission · 12-13-2002, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Can you clarify for me when the Clackamas River Summer Steelhead generally spawn?? Would appreciate it...

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Not so fast on that $20 Mikey...BTW..Did you get an ad up??

Mark

Mad Mikey · 12-13-2002, 05:10 PM

The ad, yeah, it's in I-fish classified. "For sale or rent. Newly single fisherman needs love from a supermodel with boat and oars, send picture of boat".

Ahhh, back on subject. Leave them snakes alone Mark...... :grin:

Uglygreen · 12-13-2002, 05:53 PM

Most summer (stream maturing) steelhead migrate upstream between May and October and spawn between April and June of the following year.

Most winter (ocean maturing) steelhead migrate upstream between November and March and spawn between April and June of the same year.

This is accorfing to the National Marine Fisheries Service. The following link shows the migration, spawn, and Peak spawn for every river system on the west coast of North America. For the Clackamas steelies, only Winter fish are shown, if Dave Johnson is right about the strain of summer hatchery stock in the Clackamas river you would look at the Klickatat River listing for the (non-native) introduced Clackamas Summer Fish.

Steelhead Migration and Spawn

Klickatat summer steelhead spawn between March and May

Clackamas winter steelhead (native) spawn between May and July with the peak occuring in June and July.

UG

Mr. Shannon O'Brien · 12-13-2002, 07:32 PM

David Johnson (DJ),

I second that with the spawning deal. I have caught winter steelhead in the clack in Feb. that already had passed eggs, and were still bright, no color.

A few years back I was living in Summerville, Oregon 25 miles North of LaGrande and had fun cruising the Grand Rhonde for steelhead. We used Gama bait hooks and worms with lime/chartreuse corky and really "lite it up." It is amazing how well them long haulers keep a great look.

Shannon