Methow/Columbia Steelhead, Last weekend of October?

Ah ... you beat me to it.  I saw that Rufus report which is why I brought it  up.   And he's talking about the dam, not way  up by the net pens, right?  I've never fished Rufus either, but I've read a lot about it.  Looks like we have some options then!

BTW, did you notice that one of those "trout" in the Chelan picture that is with the report online is actually one of the landlocked chinooks?

-Allen

I was kind of surprised to see that they're doing well near the dam- usually I hear more about the net pens. There are a lot of options around here- more than I've actually fished!! 

Didn't notice the chinook- good eye! I guess they're not so common, anymore.

Well, it looks like at least the Columbia river is opening over there.  This is the right area, correct?

-Allen


Mainstem Upper Columbia River will
open Saturday (Oct. 21) for steelhead fishing

OLYMPIA - Fishing for hatchery steelhead is scheduled to open Saturday (Oct. 21) in the mainstem of the Upper Columbia River, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) announced today.

The hatchery-steelhead fishery will be open from the Rocky Reach Dam to 400 feet below the Chief Joseph Dam.

Anglers will have a daily limit of two adipose-fin-clipped hatchery steelhead. All steelhead with an intact adipose fin - and those bearing an anchor tag - must not be removed from the water and must be immediately released unharmed. Statewide freshwater fishing rules apply, except night fishing will be prohibited.

Upper Columbia River steelhead are listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The fishery for hatchery steelhead, consistent with the ESA permit issued by NOAA Fisheries in 2003, will target hatchery fish that exceed the number needed for spawning, said WDFW Director Jeff Koenings.

"This fishery will aid wild fish recovery objectives by removing some hatchery-origin fish, thus increasing the proportion of wild steelhead on the spawning grounds," said Koenings. "Besides offering a fall fishing opportunity, this fishery also provides a tremendous economic boost to a number of communities along the Columbia River."

Steelhead fisheries are carefully managed to assure that natural-origin steelhead  returning to the Wenatchee, Methow and Okanogan basins survive to spawn.  The natural-origin steelhead run to the Methow this year falls well below run sizes of the past five years and is not large enough to allow fishing in that river.

Biologists with both agencies say they expect that not more than three natural-origin steelhead would be accidentally killed during the hatchery-fish-targeted season. WDFW and NOAA Fisheries will closely monitor the fishery to ensure protection of wild steelhead. If impacts reach three wild fish, the fishery will be closed.

NOAA Fisheries biologists say that as the number of natural-origin steelhead returning to each tributary basin increases, the opportunities to open fisheries on hatchery steelhead also increases.  As improvements in hydroelectric dams, harvest, hatcheries and habitat bear fruit, the likelihood of tributary fisheries occurring in the future becomes brighter, the federal agency said.

Yep, but weird, weird, weird.

There's been lot's of politicking going on...

I heard on a local radio station, yesterday, that the Columbia was going to be opened on Friday. Then, today, the station reported that Dennis Beich (sp?), Regional WDFW director, called them back this morning, saying that the announcement was being retracted.

The state has been getting a lot of pressure from locals for an opener.

There was an article this week, in the  local Methow Valley News, about thow (un)likely it is that there will be a steelhead season on the Methow.


The Weirdnesses:

      *The numbers of wild fish returning don't look like they'll meet NOAA's threshold for a season (Supposed to need 500; yet only ~450 are expected. ~5000-7000 hatchery fish are expected.)

      *The Columbia, but not the tribs, will be open, because Columbia anglers tend to keep their caught fish, while Methow anglers tend towards C&R....

       * The season will end with 3 (!!!) wild fish mortality. Funny, if their using the 5% mortality rate that the state has talked about, fishing should be closing after 60 hatchery fish catches.


In short, I don't know what to make of this one.

Oh and here's the regs for this season... https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=449

I'm wondering who all is showing up, so that I can plan well for this. Sounds like Allen is pretty sure, anyone else?

Oct 28th is my wedding anniversary (spelling) so  I won't  be making it. An the 29th we have "association road maint.. day" so I guess where I will be that day. Maybe I will just take the boy out to Rock island. Or try for steelies down here. I have to ask my buddy who works for the state wdfw where at down here are the good spots.

I'm 50/50 right now.  Got a little hitch in my GAF.

-Allen

Sorry guys.  I officially can't make this weekend.  My job has requested I spend more time in San Jose for the next month, and if I have to do that then I can't spend whole weekends away from the girlfriend or there will be serious trouble on the homefront.  I'll probably fish somewhere locally for a half day this weekend.

-Allen

Looks like I'll be fishing solo, as usual. Does look like Sat. will be our nicest weather, for a while.

I'll probably not hit it til 9:00 am; the mornings have been cool, recently.

Well, I ended up working on Sat., and got a little window on Sunday morning. Was 32F, when I left Twisp, cloudy but dry, and no wind. Arrived at the ramp ~8:00, and the water in the res. was down a couple of feet. As I was walking down the ramp with my wherry over my head, I slipped on the greasy mud on the ramp-   ended up flat on my back, under the boat. No damage to me (whew), but the seat in the boat popped out.

Recovered and finished loading the boat. Rowed out around the corner, and the first guy in a boat, that I see, has a fish on! Turned out there was at least 5 other boats anchored up just outside the railway bridge, and another 6-7 folks fishing off the docks. Floated around for about 1 1/2 hours and saw 4-5 more fish boated, plus one by a dock angler. Best spot (also most crowded) seemed to be right under the RR bridge. I'm going to have to refine my technique. I left my anchors(mistake) at home, and was using a flyrod. A little different than when I had been down there years before, when the Methow had been open, too. Couldn't fish the estuary, but had to stay out in the main river (lake) .It was calm, with very slight breeze, and warmed up to 45F. After loading gear back up (without incident), went over to the bakery for some treats to take home.

It cleared up, on the way home, but an hour later, as I was picking up stuff in the yard (getting ready for winter), some dark clouds moved back in, and THEN the wind hit! We had gusts pushing 40, and in the next half hour the temperature dropped 12 degrees, and it started snowing! Didn't last long, but winter is definitly on the way.

So Bill where those guys that where catching drowning shrimp. Got really cold here yesterday too. I know when I got up this morning the temp was 13 degrees at 8:00 am.  No snow yet but I can see it on the mountains.
Took the kids and my sons friend over for more cuts, why, cause they smoke up so nice. Yum

FC, can you post up some decent brines for smoking and other helpful hints for smoking.  In the Recipes forum please, please, please!  I tried to smoke some salmon last week, but it turned out too salty.

-Allen

I didn't get that close, Matt! But I know from experience that both shrimp and eggs work. I tried with just scent, but that wasn't enough.