Due to budget cuts and hatchery closures we are faced with the dilemma of what to do with at least 50 pair of native fish retained for the native broodstock program for the Nestucca and Wilson rivers here in Oregon. These fish are close to their time to spawn and real soon at that! There are a group of volunteers who have offered to take control of this program and thanks go to them for that.However I am worried though about whether the state will allow them to see these eggs through all the way until release.
Does anyone have an answer to this or an opinion? It would be a shame for those fish to drop their eggs in the hatchery holding ponds while politics is being played.
Whether you folks in Washington realize it or not we are in a major fishery crisis on the north coast of Oregon! The time for panic is long passed and it's time for action. Hopefully you in Washington will not suffer the same fate but I'm afraid it may be just around the corner for you too!
Please get active in saving your fisheries. To quote Princess Leia from Star Wars "this is our darkest hour" A motivated group of sports anglers represent a hell of a lot of votes and that's where lawmakers are hit the hardest.
Stew

stew

this is one proposal I received today:

from?

I would like to offer the following proposal as a follow up to our
conversation yesterday pertaining to the Nestucca River wild winter
steelhead broodstock. I have learned that a dozen or so wild fish have
already been spawned with an untold number within days of being "ripe".
It would be a win/win situation if we were to utilize the fry from these
fish in a manner consistent with the STEP statutes (which I would argue
require projects to restore indigenous populations).

As you know, the "chute" on the uppermost reach of the Nestucca will likely
be modified to improve fish passage. We might thus consider putting fry
into Walker Creek which parallels the McGuire dam location, as well as the
old Meadow Lake reach. Both locations have been partially blocked to fish
passage and have suitable rearing habitat according to the best available
information. Other locations where culverts are blocking passage and will
be removed would also make suitable release locations (our watershed
council tech. team is currently working with federal, state and county
agencies to identify fish passage problem areas).

This proposal would provide some hands on volunteer opportunities for
anyone who chooses to participate and would not cost the Department a dime.
Some of us could resurrect our old hatchboxes but it would be best for the
fish if they were hatched at the existing facility. We could then use "bait
buckets" to transport and release fry.

I would also suggest that volunteers immediately transport and release
"unripe" later spawning (the rodeo fish) adults in similar locations. We
could make a significant contribution to the resource while providing a
hands on volunteer opportunity for those who wish to contribute. I suspect
our local school district may wish to be involved, as well.

Please let me know what you think of this proposal.

Regards,

It's too bad we're being forced all of a sudden to make decisions about these issues. The changes on the North Coast are likely to mean altered ways of life for a lot of people and anyone who is happy to see an end to hatchery planting in these rivers needs to be sensative and diplomatic about the situation. There's a lot of fellow fishermen and women and their families scared and or hurting right now. I for one would be happy to see more wild fish returning on the coast, but the number currently retained for the broodstock programs is not that big, so to argue for their release when others are trying desperately to save the broodstock programs is salt on a fresh wound. Personally, I think the north coast is one of the healthier areas in terms of hatchery and wild fish co-mingling. Some rivers receive no plants and have excellent wild populations. There's no room for greed on the part of wild fish advocates right now. (I never thought I'd utter those words) If the hatcheries close as appears to be happening, the wild fish will win either way. If wild fish advocates want to get active right now, try figuring out how to prevent the increase in poaching that is likely to result from the hatchery closure.

Good point WC! If these fish are allowed to spawn naturally then it is a win/win situation BUT if they can continue with the wild broodstock program until the smolt can be released then I'm for that.
If these fish are wasted and not allowed to spawn while we wait for the other shoe to drop then that would be a crime!
I would just like assurances that the volunteer efforts will be enough.
To my way of thinking hatcheries have become a necessary "evil" so to speak to try to suppliment our shortsightedness of the past. POS is right is saying we need to rethink how we do things and quickly too. Alot sooner than most of us thought.
For me personally I can live with C&R because after all it's the fun of it right? However there are a lot of people that depend on those December/January hatchery runs for their very livelihood. I personally know a guide on the north coast that has a deep passion for wild fish but he makes a big percentage of living guiding for hatchery fish. Another friend in tillamook makes her living selling bait. I'm sure she will take a big hit too.
So therein lies the dilema. Tillamook county is going to be hit real hard! No if's ands or buts about it.It should be noted that the Fall chinook runs will be affected too.
If we are going to be fishing in the future for natives only then we better damn well get our [Bleeeeep!] together and do all we can to protect them.
This is no time for selfish agendas.

I wish the Washougal had 50 pairs of wild steelhead. I say release them from where they came and let them spawn in th wild...

Wild Chrome,

Didn't somebody once say; "Once you have sleep in your bed, now you must make it"?

Please don't take any offence Stew! With the to "2 mind sets" that are now being promoted (hatchery vs Wild), what else would you expect?

Remember the old saying; "be careful what you are asking for, because you may get your wish"?

Good luck guys, and I hope that you can correct your problem!

P.S. Wild Chrome, How our your shorts fitting you now?

Cowlitzfisherman
Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????

Cowlitzfisherman,

So nice of you to ask about the comfort level of my tush!!! Not everyone here is so sensative! As you know, wild steelhead are my thing and I think they're going to do fine on the N. Coast. I just feel bad for how some people may be affected by all this. Some of the people who have helped me learn those rivers may be out of a job. Jobs aren't exactly easy to come by in Tilamook, I'm gonna guess. I think people who support wild fish and have opposed hatcheries need to show some class right now.

It appears that the wild broodstock programs for the Nestucca and Wilson rivers is going to continue. Thanks go to the many volunteers that will be doing the work to make that happen.
What is needed now is a comprehensive plan for the native fish. Instead of fighting each other the groups like Trout Unlimited and NW Steelheaders need to work together on ways to improve wild fish habitat. I know for a fact that the Steelheaders are doing just that in the upper spawning tribs of the Wilson. Ben Smith Creek has become our project and there are some hard core volunteers that spend a lot of their free time working in that area (Thanks Dick H., Alan F., and many others)with such things as tree planting, carcass drops etc. This isn't a time for posing and making sure your name get's mentioned it is a time for action. I know I will spend time helping at the hatcheries and challenge anyone else to do likewise. Hey even you guys over in Vancouver can come over and help! We would appreciate it.

Good thread Stew. This is a real dilema. I wish I knew the right way to go with it.

Thanks for helping to get the NW Steelheaders and others involved in saving these fish - one way or the other, soon (hatching them or releasing them back).

Steve