Alsea Steelhead Yet?

MuleyBuck · 11-25-2003, 12:39 PM

Just wanting to know if anyone has fished on the lower Alsea for Steelhead yet. Last year I caught a few in mid November down low, but have not had the opportunity to get out that early this year. Let's here some reports.......

buckgtr · 11-25-2003, 12:50 PM

12 for 18 shhhhhhhhhhhhh!

sparkleboy · 11-25-2003, 12:56 PM

Saw a picture of one at The Fisherman's Corner that was caught near the slide area on Monday.
They're in the system!

Fish_N_Russ · 11-25-2003, 02:29 PM

I was fishing for chinook yesterday there and saw a few caught in boats :smile: . I have never fished for steelhead in the Alsea but I would think after this rain they should be around in good numbers.

River · 11-25-2003, 04:10 PM

MuleyBuck-or whoever...

What are considered good river levels for driftboats in the Alsea?

Thanks.

Twitchs_Tackle · 11-25-2003, 07:57 PM

I heard there's not going to be a run of Steelies on the Alsea this year

There coming...ooooh they're coming!

Salmonator · 11-25-2003, 08:22 PM

I have also heard that this years return will be the first of a broodstock program. If it is similar to the Siletz' first run then be prepared for a river full of 6-8lb silver rockets

Oregonh2o · 11-25-2003, 11:05 PM

I was reading about the Alsea 2nd year brood return in STS and F&HN the other night. It said they released 60,000 smolts and they expect them to be a later return than the "normal" run, Feb-March. I know that buckgtr and I ran across a small one last year in mid Feb. (clipped maxillary). It also said to contact the hatchery if you wanted to participate in a brood stock retention program. Does anyone know about this?

-Blade

ssteelheadsteve · 11-26-2003, 12:51 AM

60,000 Smolts released.Then you might plan on about 1,200 returning adults.That not much over a 3 month period.

Salmonator · 11-26-2003, 07:45 AM

OR you might plan on 2,400 to 3000 returning which I think is a closer percentage for broodstock fish.

fish stalker · 11-26-2003, 07:52 AM

I'm trying to plan an early morning outing on the Alsea for Saturday. I've never fished this river and do not have a boat. I'm taking my brother with me and really want him to hook up on a fish. I've got killer eggs and know if we find fish they will bite but I'm pretty much at a loss as to were we should go and have the best chances. Bank access only and we plan to drift or bobber and eggs as well as jigs. Any help or advice would be extremely welcomed. I've got the Jones for Chrome... really hands shaking (or is it a hook setting jerk?)... Very restless sleep always fishing... Yes, Saturday is a must to help my addiction but I really need assistance to assure a hook up.

Drakeblake · 11-26-2003, 08:22 AM

I went on a drive up the the hatchery yesterday and they havent even opened the trap yet.

So they must not expect to many fish to be up that high. Last year they opened the trap on the 27th of Nov. Thats tomorrow! Post some reports guys let me know how it is.

-blake

nitrobass · 11-26-2003, 10:25 AM

Seems like last year there were only a couple thousand that made it to the hatchery. Quite a dropoff over the year before, and the year before that. The odd part was that there were WAY more people fishing that river last year than in the few years prior.
Fishon44 the river is at 4.5 which is pretty high to fish down low, and is pretty low to fish up high. Try fishing between campbell to 5 rivers. Should be loads of dark salmon in there when you go.

Oregonh2o · 11-26-2003, 10:54 AM

I'm not sure on the number expected to return. Remember, it is just second year fish returning this year. This is also in addition to the existing run as well. While 1200 seems like a small number, even this would be a great boost to the few thousand a year that we normally get.

At 1200 this would still mean 120 each for buckgetr, muleybuck, and myself.

-Blade

topcd098 · 11-26-2003, 02:32 PM

I think I know why the amount of people fishing the Alsea went up. Hunting and Fishing News posted an article two years ago (maybe 3. I believe it was 3yrs because it was right about the time the river bounced back, and was producing numbers. Anyway, they published a front page article saying it was the most under fished winter steelhead river on the coast.

As usual, people started showing up by the truck load. Now you have to get there with a flash light to fish on the North Fork if you want a decent hole.

Oregonh2o · 11-26-2003, 03:01 PM

The NF hatchery pens were filled this afternoon. As for the number of fish released, evidently they did not go up at all. In talking with the hatchery personnel it appears that they released 60,000 smolts from hatchery stock (adipose clip) and 60,000 smolts from "wild" stock (adipose and right maxillary clip). The hatchery stock numbers were brought down to make up for the additional broodstock fish. The overall release was 120,000 smolts, the same as past years.

-Blade

Oregonh2o · 11-26-2003, 03:03 PM

When I say filled, I mean filled with water. They filled them up at around 2:30.

-Blade

Twitchs_Tackle · 11-26-2003, 04:02 PM

I swung through there about 11 and nobody was around, I was going to ask the same questions it sounds like you did. Thanks for the updated post :smile: , I didn't stop on my way back, thinking they would still be dry.

As for the crowds, the Gazette Times' report "Fishing Free For All on the Alsea" last winter didn't help any either

. Of course they show up on a day when it was on fire.

Mike Bauer hole plunkers didn't have anything all day. Rolled up to the Fall Creek hatchery and video taped the spawning nookies, it was pretty neat, lots of fish up there! Still don't personally know anyone who has caught a steelie though...

MuleyBuck · 11-26-2003, 11:25 PM

Actually Blade, it will be about 450 for me, and 60 for you......