I was thinking last night about how were can fix the decline of steelies and salmon. A though came across my mind. I have heard about there being steelies and salmon in the
Great lakes region and I was wondering if they are havig the same decline as the fish are having here?
Thanks
Ct

No. As a matter of fact, our fishing continues to get better. A lot of it has to do with how much rain we get. Less rain, and the fish trickle in, lots of rain, and watch out. For sheer numbers, I don't think you can beat the Great Lakes. For size, your native Winter fish average heavier than ours. Hope this helps.

From what I've heard, the large numbers of steelhead in the Great Lakes tributaries are the result of aggressive hatchery programs. With the typically low spawning success rates of hatchery strains (and most of these fish are the descendants of Skamania hatchery stock from Washington) that's the only thing that keeps them going. I don't think this represents an argument for augmentation of hatchery programs in this state, where many rivers still have healthy numbers of wild fish. Remember, the Fish and Game Commission is going to decide, early next year, whether or not to make steelhead catch-and-release year round in all the waters of the state, so write, e-mail or phone them and register your support.

[This message has been edited by Preston Singletary (edited 10-25-2000).]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there isn't one net deployed in the great lakes for salmon, is there? Here in lies a big part of the answer for the increase vs decline.

Steve

No, to my knowledge, there are no nets for salmon or steelhead in the Great Lakes. I think an issue of equal value is the aggressive stocking programs. There are many streams in Michigan, Ontario, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania that have a percent of their fish being created by natural production. However, alot of the numbers come form stocking programs. Wisconsin for instance has basically no natural reproduction. Many of these rivers are playgrounds for carp, bluegills, and other warm water fish immediately after the spring steelhead run. To handle the fishing pressure, there are rivers that receive plants in excess of 100,000 fish. Couple that with return rates that can be up to 12 or 14%, and three miles of fishable river, and it's fairly easy to see why these fish are so thick. If these smolts don't get munched by a laker or chinook, they basically have it made. They just blew out a dam on the Menominee River in Milwaukee, and now there is 27 miles of river that these fish can go up before they hit a barrier. To my knowledge, that is one of the longest stretches of river that fish have to go up in Wisconsin. The PM, Grand, St Joe, etc, in Michigan are fairly lengthy, and that's probably the reason they have a more "year round" fishery than Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The Michigan rivers on the west side have lots of wooded areas that help keep the water cool, and more favorable to the fish. All in all, the steelhead fishing in the area I fish, is a "Put and Take" fishery. I don't keep very many fish at all. A fresh one for the grill a couple of times a year is enough. However, I am totally aware that the fish I am letting go, will spawn, and their eggs will never even hatch. Hope this helps.

No decline in Lake Ontario other than the DEC reducing the number of planted smolts. The great lakes fishery is a model that the NW should adopt. The fishing in the Great Lakes specifically Lake Ontario is for the sport fishing and is phenomenal. There is no gill netting, tribal netting, no drift nets, no issues with dams, no seals or sealions. The only predator to their salmon and steelhead are the sport fishermen. They have startling returns compared to our 1 – 3% returns for steelhead or salmon smolts.

New York state started their stocking program back in the early 70’s. They spent millions of dollars for their hatchery systems. But the monetary rewards were almost immediate. They reap billions of dollars per year off this fishery. Because the fishery is truly world class, people will travel to experience it. What this means to the local economies is JOBS. These people need to eat, sleep. They will spend their monies by staying at hotels, restaurants, tackle shops, gas, food, licensing etc. You get the picture here, as a fishery becomes more popular , you will need more hotels, restaurants etc which means construction jobs and so forth.

Our legislature here must be in cahoots with the commercial fishery because how could these educated people not see the big picture. Instead of a one time catch and plate fishery which I believe is the case today., we should develop a sport fishery where trophies can be caught more than once. If the commercial fisheries net steelhead, they never get the chance to go back in the sea to develop another year. It’s a one way ticket, the dead fish can never yield anymore pleasure or dollars then just the one time of having it wind up on someone’s plate.

If our local government would put the sport fisherman at the top of the totem pole, we would see a true economic boom. How many out of state (other than NW ) license plates have you seen when you go fishing. NADA! That’s because better fishing can be had elsewhere. Too bad our government caters to the commercial fisheries. New York state is a working model that truly works. I have lived there and go back often to fish their amazing fishery. With all the rivers that the northwest has been blessed with, It’s a shame that we don’t have a better fishery. Make your vote count , and vote for the right person that is truly sincere about changing our fisheries.