I can't seem to find accurate info on the ODFW website. Can someone tell me where they dump the smolts in? As near as I can tell they are acclimated in the tank near Josie's but not sure where they get put in.
roost4u
- Status
Wow....don't get me started... You just did.
Ever notice how the lower river, including tidewater, produces so many fish ready to spawn and not fit for the table?
Back in the stone age, when the entire river was utilized, a person could expect to catch bright, good for the table fish almost all the way to Lee's Camp or higher. When they, ODFW, developed a fear of hatchery fish mixing with wild (completely delusional) the upriver stocking came to an end as did the fabulous upriver fishing.
There's a lot "they" don't understand (or choose to ignore) about hatchery fish and their ability to dilute the wild population, it's almost zero. Steelhead most likely imprint on the spot where they were released into the system. If this spot isn't an established spawning bed for wild fish, no mixing will occur. Even if the location had the correct bottom structure etc. for spawning, the hatchery fish don't have a clue how to utilize it because their initial imprinting was the plastic tray they were born in. This includes fish originating from the brood stock program. Imprinting begins in the egg and if this is disrupted through artificial means, the whole system breaks down. I've seen examples of this in the river its self, this isn't coming out of the blue.
Ever notice how the lower river, including tidewater, produces so many fish ready to spawn and not fit for the table?
Back in the stone age, when the entire river was utilized, a person could expect to catch bright, good for the table fish almost all the way to Lee's Camp or higher. When they, ODFW, developed a fear of hatchery fish mixing with wild (completely delusional) the upriver stocking came to an end as did the fabulous upriver fishing.
There's a lot "they" don't understand (or choose to ignore) about hatchery fish and their ability to dilute the wild population, it's almost zero. Steelhead most likely imprint on the spot where they were released into the system. If this spot isn't an established spawning bed for wild fish, no mixing will occur. Even if the location had the correct bottom structure etc. for spawning, the hatchery fish don't have a clue how to utilize it because their initial imprinting was the plastic tray they were born in. This includes fish originating from the brood stock program. Imprinting begins in the egg and if this is disrupted through artificial means, the whole system breaks down. I've seen examples of this in the river its self, this isn't coming out of the blue.
Well then my assumption is that if I want to catch a keeper on the Wilson I'll need to use my drift boat. What are the odds that the majority would go higher than Mills bridge?
Winter Steelhead:
40,000 into the South fork
Wilson River (121F) stock:
Rear 47,000 fingerlings to a size of 60 fpp for transfer to the Tuffy Creek facility in midSeptember
for final rearing; release 40,000 smolts at 6 fpp into the South Fork Wilson
River in mid-April.
Rear 15,000 smolts to a size of 6 fpp for transfer to the Hughey Creek facility in mid-April
for two-week acclimation; release into the Wilson River.
Rear 15,000 smolts to a size of 6 fpp for transfer to the Hughey Creek facility in late April
for two-week acclimation; release into the Wilson River.
Rear 50,000 smolts to a size of 6 fpp for release (non-acclimated) into the Wilson River in
April.
Rear 80,000 smolts to a size of 6 fpp for release into the Wilson River in April.
All fish are fin-clipped prior to release.
40,000 into the South fork
Wilson River (121F) stock:
Rear 47,000 fingerlings to a size of 60 fpp for transfer to the Tuffy Creek facility in midSeptember
for final rearing; release 40,000 smolts at 6 fpp into the South Fork Wilson
River in mid-April.
Rear 15,000 smolts to a size of 6 fpp for transfer to the Hughey Creek facility in mid-April
for two-week acclimation; release into the Wilson River.
Rear 15,000 smolts to a size of 6 fpp for transfer to the Hughey Creek facility in late April
for two-week acclimation; release into the Wilson River.
Rear 50,000 smolts to a size of 6 fpp for release (non-acclimated) into the Wilson River in
April.
Rear 80,000 smolts to a size of 6 fpp for release into the Wilson River in April.
All fish are fin-clipped prior to release.
So 160,000 at mills bridge and 40,000 on the south fork? At a 2% return rate that's 800 fish in the upper section. After catch rates in the lower river, sea lions, varied ocean conditions and ones that just dont make it your looking at maybe a couple hundred fish in the upper river. How many bank spots open to the public below mills bridge? How many bank spots open to the public above mills bridge? It's basically a driftboat fishery for the guides now. (Nothi g against guides just stating facts). Rarely do people catch hatchery fish in the upper reaches anymore. That's why on any given day in the winter there could be 50 drift boats crammed into a 2 mile float. Miles and miles of beautiful water with no fish. That fishery is bogus now a days.
Why do you say "drift boat fishery for guides", why not anyone with a drift boat?? Just curious
I avoid the Wilson like I do the flu...so far so good.
I avoid the Wilson like I do the flu...so far so good.
Most of those upper river fish are harvested before they get to Kansas Cr. The pressure on the lower river is such it's a wonder anything gets through.
I had previously read a Wilson river hatchery report that stated when they used to release a higher percentage of the smolts upriver, the boaters complained that the fish were shooting upriver passed them but the upriver bankies with public access caught plenty of fish. So now its a short driftboat combat zone - damn the bankies.
It’s a mess. Most of the guides fish the Wilson most of the time.
It’s so crowded, that most of us with Drift Boats quit fishing it, even on weekdays. Gone are the days when the guides and everyyone else were spread between the Wilson, Trask, Nestucca, Clack, Sandy, and maybe even into SW Washington. I pretty much try to fill my freezer with Salmon and then wait for the Native Runs in March and April when many of the Guides and others are onto Springers.
It’s so crowded, that most of us with Drift Boats quit fishing it, even on weekdays. Gone are the days when the guides and everyyone else were spread between the Wilson, Trask, Nestucca, Clack, Sandy, and maybe even into SW Washington. I pretty much try to fill my freezer with Salmon and then wait for the Native Runs in March and April when many of the Guides and others are onto Springers.
ASK THE NATIVE FISH FOLKS IN PORTLAND, why. No more spring Ch in the Wilson, ask them the same thing. How about the Miami, Kilches and Tillamook. When I first moved to Tillamook, 1976, I could fish them all and catch fish in all of them. I could fish and catch and keep fish all year long in all of them. ????
In the "olden days" (50's - 60's). All the winter fish were Alsea stock planted all over with fish from eggs taken early so the fish showed up (and ripened) early. ODFW doesn't want Alsea fish spawning with wilds but very few wilds are ready to spawn before February -- and those are probably crosses from the old days. I cannot believe that Alsea-wild and Alsea-broodstock happen so signifigantly that it's an issue to be concerned with as it seems to be with the wild fish *****. I just want to hook and play MORE steelhead! I'll wait for a good spring chinook for tablefare.
Seems to be a great recipe for hot fish stew brewing. I agree with the anti NFS crowd.
As soon as they started threatening the state with funds by tax payers and special interest fly guys, I have watched the entire thing take a downhill slide.:flowered:
I wonder what the commercials are doing to stay afloat, jobs at McDonalds, 7-Eleven???
As soon as they started threatening the state with funds by tax payers and special interest fly guys, I have watched the entire thing take a downhill slide.:flowered:
I wonder what the commercials are doing to stay afloat, jobs at McDonalds, 7-Eleven???
Way back in the stone age I used to fish Josi's a lot if the time/water was right. Could have some great late in the day fishing after the crowds had left just by fishing the tide. Get down there around high tide and you could catch the next batch of fish coming in. One day I thought, why wait for high tide, bet a person could catch 'em farther down during low water. Dang!!! That was some great fishing! There was a few locals who fished below Sollie Smith but I was fishing below them, had the place to myself. Eventually others and the guides moved in, started parking their sleds and drift boats where I wanted to fish. Guides like David Johnson made a living down there, dunno if he still fishes it?
Shane, the number of wild fish being taken for breeding is relatively low to make up the 150k smolts.
A few things to help us all get along:
When discussing things we don't agree with, please try to avoid personal attacks.
Also, when posting a "fact", always provide data or a resource of where you got your facts.
Thanks,
When discussing things we don't agree with, please try to avoid personal attacks.
Also, when posting a "fact", always provide data or a resource of where you got your facts.
Thanks,
Your attempt to discredit me is amusing. I've noted biop and nmfs organization but your love of NFS organization is cutting off your nose in spite of your face. We have a hatchery manager siding with me and Im misguided and I'll informed. U sir need to stop drinking.
Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk
- Status
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
