What many of you do not understand; is that YOU will NOT be seeing large future runs of returning Cowlitz River "early run" winter steelhead (November-February).

For those of you that do not KNOW the history, or historical timing of the "original native" Cowlitz winter run steelhead, these are the facts; about 50% of the historical run of Winter run steelhead originally returned from about mid November to mid February. The other 50% of the run (late Cowlitz natives) retuned from about late February to Mid April.

As many of you recall, Thanksgiving weekend "used to be the big kick-off" to the Cowlitz winter run steelhead fishing season. Apparently some of you still believe that this is, and will be the case in the future. Well, dream on guys!

Remember, NMFS, Tacoma Power, and WDFW have all determined that that the November-February stocks of Cowlitz winter run steelhead are NOT the true pure genetic stock or "native stock" of Cowlitz steelhead. That also means that there will be NO emphasis to enhance or prioritize the recovery of that run of Cowlitz steelhead. Because of this, these agencies have all agreed to prioritize the recovery of only the "late winter run Cowlitz stock of steelhead" (March -April). The August 2000 Settlement Agreement WILL CHANGE the timing and the amount of hatchery production of winter steelhead on the Cowlitz for the next 35 years!

In the past, low water conditions had made it ideal to fish in the "lower" Cowlitz River because the steelhead would "hold" and were not "forced to be sucked up to the Blue Creek" area due to the heavy influences of raising flows (i.e. 8000-9000 cfs compared to 2950 cfs now). If you fishermen would just take a few minutes of your time and read what's stated below in 6.1.1- 6.1.7 of the "Settlement Agreement", you will understand that it not the "low water conditions" that are stopping your "expected" large runs of early Cowlitz winter run steelhead…It's that dam agreement people!

Most likely, the first high water event will once again bring on the usual stacking up of whatever few fish may already be in the system around the Blue Creek area, but once that is over, (about one week usually) the "normal heavy fishing pressure" will most likely wipe out what had arrived, and that will be the end of it until sometime in mid March for the most part of it!

After you have read 6.1.1- 6.1.7 of the "Agreement", and you still choose to believe that it's just the "low water conditions" that are affecting the return of our early Cowlitz winter run steelhead, then I have some beach front property in Arizona that I would like to sell to you for almost nothing!!

If you still need to ask me any questions about this thread, please feel free to ask me, and I will attempt to give you an this board a factual answer.


6.1.1 The emphasis of this Agreement is ecosystem integrity and the restoration and recovery of wild, indigenous salmonid runs, including ESA-listed and unlisted stocks, to harvestable levels.

6.1.2 Fisheries obligations will be met through a combination of effective upstream and downstream passage, habitat restoration and improvement, an adaptive management program to restore natural production coupled with continued artificial production to compensate for unavoidable impacts at levels consistent with ESA recovery, and providing fish production for sustainable fisheries.

6.1.3 Collection and passage of juvenile fish migrating from the upper basin above Mossyrock Dam is the joint responsibility of the Bonneville Power Administration ("BPA"), Lewis County Public Utility District ("LCPUD") and Tacoma.

6.1.4 ESA constraints will be a factor in determining the upper bound of production at the remodeled hatchery complex. Hatchery production numbers are expected to be adjusted downward as wild stocks recover.

6.1.5 Fisheries management and hatchery production will be consistent with the overall goal of restoring and recovering wild stocks in the Cowlitz River basin. The hatchery complex will be designed with flexibility so managers can employ innovative rearing practices, low densities, and replication of historic fish out-migration size and timing. At a minimum, WDFW will be the primary contractor for the operation of the hatchery complex through the year 2008 and could continue as such through the term of the license, based upon the results of the annual reviews. Annual reviews of contract operations will include criteria for success including, but not limited to, fish health, operational efficiency, collaborative relationships, mutual expectations, effective implementation of the Fisheries and Hatcheries Management Plan, and public relations. At any time after 2008, WDFW may be contracted to operate the fish counting and fish separation activities in connection with the operation of the hatchery separator facility.

6.1.6 Maintenance of a recreational fishery is important. Implementation of wild salmonid recovery measures shall allow for the continued support of a recreational fishery on the Cowlitz River, including the production of non-indigenous stocks, provided this is consistent with the priority objective to maximize the recovery of wild, indigenous salmonid stocks.

6.1.7 If hatchery production is decreased in conjunction with wild stock recovery, there will be excess capacity over time at the hatchery. Uses for this excess capacity will be, in order of priority: 1) to reduce rearing densities of listed indigenous stocks which have not yet recovered; 2) to reduce rearing densities of indigenous stocks which have not yet recovered; 3) to provide space for increasing the production of listed indigenous stocks which have not yet recovered; 4) to provide space for increasing the production of indigenous stocks which have not yet recovered; and 5) to produce fish unrelated to Tacoma's protection, mitigation and enhancement responsibilities for the Project, pursuant to future agreements.

Good luck fishing for those early winter steelhead…I believe you will need all that you can get!!

Cowlitzfisherman

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