Last weekend I was fishing the Calawah when I caught what appeared to be a down river spawned out hen hatchery summer steelhead. The fish was quite bright (just a little pink on the gill plates) and probably weighed seven or eight pounds, although it had some fungus on the tail and anal fin. Skinny too, so I put it back.

I'm guessing that it was heading back to the ocean. Wild fish I would expect that, but a hatchery fish? Curious as to how common this may be...assuming this hatchery fish spawned in the wild. Maybe it was an early winter fish?

I have seen a down river spawned out hatchery summer steelhead on the Sky.

They look like snakes they are so skinny.

I have only seen this once.

fish monger,

My guess…fish with that degree of fungus will most likely never "clear" up, and "that fish" will most likely become bio for all the other fish now. Most spawned-out hens are "bright". It's the "nature" of steelhead to try to head back to sea, if they can do it! Unfortunately most of the adults do not make it (at best, about 10% do make it) back to sea.

Cowlitzfisherman

Fish Monger,

A few days after completing spawning, female steelhead begin migrating back downstream. They brighten up a lot after spawning also. The fungus would eventually kill the fish, or lead to other complications that will kill it. But if it reaches salt water soon enough, the fungus doesn't survive in the salt, and if the fish survives the readjustment to salt water, it will regain its health quite rapidly. Assuming, of course, that a seal doesn't grab it in its weakened condition. More females survive to spawn a second or third time because a male after spawning just goes looking for another female so that no female goes unspawned for lack of a mate. Males are so worn out when they finally head back downstream that far fewer of them survive compared to females.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

the same thing happend to me out on the green i cought a summer stealhead that was
farly bright but it still had eggs in it when i drug
it up to shore it leaked a few eggs out but
not much


fish on!

steelheadfisher

Hatchery fish spawn in the wild all the time - generally not too successfully, and particularly not on the Penninsula, where winter rains typically wipe out redds - most natives spawn April - June for this reason.

I caught and released one of those today on the 'Nooch - adipose clipped spawned out summer hen about 30" long - fun while it lasted.