Can anyone tell me why the state quit planting hatchery steelhead on the Hump?

I am pretty sure they quit planting steelhead because they didn't have the funds to keep supplying the river with hatchery steelhead. But Im not positive though.

Hey guys:

Just call the WDF office is Monty, they'll let you know about the winter run steelhead program. Probably on the web site:

http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/fishcorn.htm

This site has lot's of information, check it out!!!

"Worse day sport fishing, still better than the best day working"

They did't stop planting the Hump. In spring/99 it got a shot of 130,000-plus smolts that will be coming back as adults this season.

Hey Salomonbelly, where did you get your info? The sports writer for fishing in our local paper wrote in September and again last week that there wasn't any steelies planted for return this season and he also made the statement that from now on the Hump is going to be just a salmon fishery river. It is common talk down here. There has been a few caught here and there but no significant numbers. If there was 130,000 planted even I should have fried one up by now. I will be calling WDFW to find out what I can. If they did quit planting them what are they doing with the ones that are returning, selling them for cat food?

salmonbelly

The 99 plant numbers posted on the wdfw site correspond to last year winters numbers. The current plant numbers for the rivers haven't been posted yet.

The only reasoning I can think of not posting plant numbers is to ensure license sales, so some fishermen don't get frustrated with decreasing plant numbers and decide they don't want purchase a license. or With the current methods and quality of workforce in the WDFW, it takes two years to tally plant sizes and put that public data in a spreadsheet.

Guys, Guys, Guys,,,...
For all of your information, WDFW has stopped planting SUMMER RUN STEELHEAD in the Humptulips. Due to budget cuts in 1999.... The winter run program is still in effect. The numbers have been reduced to 75,000 smolt plants, in the current brood document, But a study program is going on, and all 130,000 winters are still being planted. Befor people start taking the words of those not in the know.. I suggest you check with fish management at the Montesano ofice of WDFW. There are those of us who work continually for the betterment of our recreation fisheries.. If you are really concerned for the future of sport fishing, Get involved with a sports group, and do something for fish besides killing them..
I,m sure all of you know there is a strong push out there to eliminate the retention of any unmarked steelhead in WA. state waters. And in the same voice, are pushing for catch and release. I feel this is simply a licenses to kill wild fish. With the hooking mortality associated with hooking, 15%, to continue fishing after 2, two, wild fish have been released, is usless killing of the wild stocks. If there is a concern, and scientific reason to protect wild steelhead, how come so many fishermen brag of the large numbers of fish they catch and release in a day. At least one in seven will be dead, probably more if handled for photos, and other reasons.. Wild fish release state wide is not the answer to rebuilding wild runs. That program has been run up the flag pole for years on several rivers, and the numbers continue to decline on those same rivers.. If a river has harvestable steelhead, the rule as it has been for the past few years, should be the norm. Enough of my high horse attitude. I do love to see wild fish released, it was my norm, long befor it was fashionable, but if I ever catch that 25 pound plus steelhead. I would love place it on my wall..
I as well as a few others will continue working for your opportunity to pursue your sport..
Keep the bottoms down, and watch for the rocks ahead.....

One in seven?

Dude, if you're going to post figures like that, you're going to get some deserved grief.

Hooking mortality at 15% is about 300-500% higher than the figures I've seen. Do you have any evidence to back up that claim?

I fished there last saturday and got 2 fish within an hour using jigs. Went back on monday and put in 5 hours and did not touch a fish. I guess you just have to time it right.

The Indians netting 6 days a week does not help. http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/fish/regions/reg6/tribalsked.htm

Well Guys I'M back with a little more information for you about the Hump. steelhead issue. Last night, 12/18. I attended our usual monthly meeting about issues within the Chehalis Basin. I asked region 6 hatchery complex manager for the plant numbers for the Hump.. In 1998 there were budget cuts that reduced or cut hatchery productions state wide. Summers were cut from the Hump. G. H. T. U. put up the funding to retain the production of summers for one year, the Quinaults put up the funds for winters for one year to get the programs through to the next biannium.. Still the programs were cut due to lack of WDFW funds.. Summers are gone from the Hump. This will be the last year of plant returns and will be the 3 year fish, since the last plant was in 99. With funding source from organizations and or private funders, summers can again swim the Hump. Winters were cut to 75,000 with the 99 brood year, plus 40,000 that were added for a scientific study. totaling, since 99, to 115,000 winters planted. 2002 will be the end of the study, with the 01 brood, and the total plant will be 75,000 release in 2003.. The hatchery at Humptulips has the facilities to rear the total 150,000 steelhead to smolt, But budget cuts reduced the numbers to the 75k. If a co-op. program, and funder can be found to pay for the remaining desired plant, the program will be available.. This will run in the range of several thousand dollars. With some help in funding. I am sure we could get numbers up to 150,000 if the money can be found.. Know where we can find such money? Please advise me of your concerns by email, or through this page........

i totally agree and appreciate the fact that riveroper went and got the true facts regarding this issue.i also agree that c&r for the most part is a license to kill.the fact that a person catches a large steelhead,nets it,takes pictures,get the vinyl tape and measures it,then does the 2 minute revival process to release it,or do what a lot of people do,hide it in the brush,can't possibly help the wild steelhead of our state.their is always going to be a mortality rate when attempting c&r also.i fish a lot and have seen fish caught and released a.s.a.p.without being touched, float off knowing that fish has to be wasted because its the law.scott

Scotty and Riverroper,

The data I have read says the following regarding wild winter steelhead:

"Data from BC indicate that wild steelhead release fisheries on winter steelhead stocks exert a minimal influence on the ability of the fish to spawn and refute claims that caught and released steelhead were effectively lost from the population. The following conclusions from the study were drawn:

Hooking mortality of steelhead ranged between 0 and 6 percent in 11 Canadian river basins over a 7 year period with a Province-wide average of 3.6 percent.

Hooking mortality of winter-run steelhead averages between 2 and 3 percent using barbless hooks, regardless of whether bait is used.

Barbed hooks appear to be the largest contributor to hooking mortality.

The great majority of released fish make it to spawning grounds and spawn.

Use of resident salmonid hooking mortality data is not applicable to steelhead in freshwater."

OK, using the above upper average of a 3% hooking mortality I would have to catch and release 100 wild steelhead in a season to kill 3. Honestly, how many wild steelhead will you C&R in a season without BS. I consider myself a skilled and experienced steelheader, but between work and family I'll be lucky to see a fraction of that 100, and the friends I fish with know I fish at every chance I get. Even 20 steelhead C&R'd in a season equals a mortality of 1/2 fish compared to killing 10 in a season it's appearent which ideal has the greater impact on the resource.

If anglers take responsibily and really learn proper C&R techniques that percentage might even be reduced further.

Riverroper there's no justification for killing a 25lb steelhead to get a mount, take a pic and get a reproduction!

I believe that C&R provides the finest return of opportunity and conservation.

river and scott... i have to agree with double on this one the catch and release fish seem to be holding up fine, the key is how do we handle these fish, barbed hooks, wearing a fish out past revival, and proper release! There is no need to kill a native fish for any reason! If you want a mounted fish look at Dave Campbell and Still life taxadermy. There reproductions are twice as good as any skin mount!

does anyone have info on c-n-r summer steelhead mortality?

RR,

I'll assume your data on smolt plants in the Hump are more accurate than your "data" on C&R mortality.

That point aside, I found interesting the indication that the Hump hatchery has capacity to rear twice the number of steelhead smolts as are programmed. I think there is a fair to high likelihood that the supplemental funding could be found. But there's probably a catch.

I understand that the Quinaults schedule 5 days/week netting on the Hump. I generally support treaty fishing rights, but I won't willingly pay to have a commercial fishery cork me. It would likely be a hell of a lot easier to produce that supplemental funding if the Qs agreed to take no more than 50% of the projected harvestable number.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Well Guys I'm back with more information.
First, I agree the hooking mortality could be quite a bit below my originally stated 15%. Sure scientific studies, where all precautions are taken to protect, and fully revive the hooked fish, and held for at least 3 days to insure their survival, have taken place in B. C. as well as other places. When proper handling, and professional care are given, the mortality goes down. Does this happen in the recreation world? You decide..
I have presented a proposal to the region six fish hatchery managers. It is as follows.
Humptulips, Stevens Creek, hatcheries productions are at present...
COHO normal timed, 1,350,000 smolt plants.
lates, 200,000 smolt plants, with every third year being an off year, 0 plants.
CHINOOK, when returns allow, up to 500,000 fed fry plants. Hardly ever reached.
WINTER STEELHEAD, current due to budget cuts in 99, plants of 75,000 smolts.
SUMMER STEELHEAD, 000 due to budget cuts in 1999.....
PROPOSAL, reduce normal time coho to 1,000,000 smolt plants, maintain current late plants at 200,000, maintain chinook at 500,000, when adult returns allow, reinstate winter steelhead to 125,000 smolt plants, reintroduce summer steelhead to 30,000 smolt plants.
The facility has the space for these numbers, with space left over. These numbers would still allow the hatchery to operate within their budget, with some left over. I urge those of you who feel this is a just solution, to contact WDFW fish management, region six, and in Olympia, and urge them to follow up on the proposal. I think this a fix for recreational steelhead fishing on thr Humptulips system. The Quinaults may scream at the Coho reduction, but so what. These are residents of the state's public funds, and the residents should have a say in how they want it spent......
I have been releasing wild fish since befor it was politically correct to do so.
Good fishing...........river roper.........