I'm trying to make some sense of the fish counts based on the smolt release reports and coming up with a big zero.

My curiosity really was piqued when I saw that the counts for Sunset Falls on the Sky have risen continuously but the Reiter counts are virtually stagnent (partially with help from no new reports, but returns are pathetic regardless).

I couldn't find any data that differentiates where the Sky smolts are planted, so I don't know if these are smolts planted above the falls returning, or strays, or what.

I would expect them to have been planted above the falls, but if that's the case, why are they coming back in such large (comparitively) numbers? Or am I missing an important component of the big picture? Do they release a higher number of fish above the falls than at the hatchery proper, or something?

Skywalker,

I haven't checked, but I don't believe WDFW stocks any hatchery salmon or steelhead upstream of Sunset Falls. That doesn't mean some hatchery fish don't stray there, however. I recall that some hatchery fish do migrate above the falls, and then drop back downstream in the fall.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Wow! The Falls count increased 153 in one week, and the Reiter count increased by 3 in the same time frame.

If they don't plant above the falls (or somewhere else on the SF above the hatchery, then the difference is only attributable to straying, from what you're saying.

Is it possible that the low returns at the hatchery are attributable to high water temps, then? They're blowing by the hatchery looking for some O2?

The hatchery outlet water is probably a lot warmer than the river. It is diverted from a small creek, then sits in the rearing ponds warming up, then is discharged back to the river in a not-so-appealing condition. Fish could very well give a pass to Reiter and move into the upper river, either N or S fork, in search of cooler water more than higher O2 concentration, altho cooler water does hold more O2 at saturation.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Thanks for your comments, Salmo g.

It's always nice to be able to apply a little science (even if only on a hypothetical level) to gather some insight.

Skywalker -
Salmo is correct in that there are not any steelhead or salmon planted anywhere in the South Fork Skykomish. Coho, chinook and steelhead were planted above the falls in the past and at least some the ancestors of the returning wild steelhead adn salmon were hatchery fish. The pinks, chum, sockeye and bull trout are the result of colonization by non-hatchery fish.

The steelhead passed upstream at Sunset are a mixture of both wild and hatchery fish. The ratio of hatchery to wild varies from year to year with typcially about 1/2 of the fish being wild. This year only a little over 20% are wild. While it is tempting to call the hatchery fish strays it probably be more correct to view them as fish on a sight-seeing tour. Tagging studies have found that many (most?) of the hatchery trucked upstream drop back downstream after the fall rains begin or in the winter just prior to spawning.

The hatchery summer steelhead returning during the summer will not spawn until after the first of year so they are not in any hurry to return "home" - that is the hatchery. Instead they seem to be seeking out cool, comfortable holding water and find themselves in the headwaters (both the South and North Forks.

Hope that helps you make sense out of the reports.

Tight lines
Smalma