I came across some interesting statistics regarding this years spring Chinook catch on the Wind River from the WDFW. As of May 31, sport anglers caught 6537 spring Chinooks and the Tribes caught 825.

825? Is that all!? Maybe next time the Tribes should consider using hook and line. Heck, they have a terrific boating launch/fishing access site right on the lower Wind River. You'd think they could manage to land a few more. Maybe alot more. Now, the Carson National Fish Hatchery is going to be swamped with more spring Chinook than they can possibly handle. Next stop might be the landfill. Either that or they'll be planting alot of unspawned spring Chinook carcasses. Either way, I'd rather see the Tribes or the sport anglers get alot more.

The tribes get all or most of the surplus fish from the hatchery. Don't quote me on this, but I'm sure that they have received well over 5,000 fish from the hatchery so far. Spoke with one of the workers at the hatchery and he said that they had given 3,000 fish to the tribes already and that was a couple weeks ago. They have more fish then they know what to do with at that hatchery and it's good to know that the tribes are getting fish that sporties have already had a chance at catching. I'd rather see the tribes get surplus fish at the hatcheries than from the mouth of the river with a gillnet. Peace

Right on Justin!!!

----------

RT

I wonder if that 825 includes both the fish they netted below the mouth and the ones they got in the lower river from their platforms, etc.

Justin hits it spot on. I don't understand where they get their numbers, though. I was never checked anywhere on the Wind this year, and only twice in all my years down there. Where do the numbers come from?
Anyway, it's too bad the state has a successful hatchery program, a river loaded with fish, and still no enforcement to keep the animals in check. Thankfully there is a lot of river down there, I can't stand the zoo anymore at 'the canyon'.

BTW-- Count me in for Saturday as long as my schedule stays clear. I've never left a thing in that canyon, but I'm willing to lend a hand cleaning up after the slothsnaggers.....

Right on Justin and it's something I've *****ed about before. I guess the eggs are of greater value still in skeins to the Japanese. Or, just let them sell the fish to the catfood companies instead of the state. Anything if it'll keep the gillnets away from our "paid for" fish...and from the native fish. Damn cancerous nets. razzin' frazzin....

backlash2, I think they get those numbers from an "on average formula". Kinda like how they do a poll on stuff when they call you in the middle of dinner when you are sitting down to a nice, warm oppossum casserole.

Is the canyon still producing fish? Thinking about going there this weekend. Would it be worth it? i was was to go, what colors and where? help! Is it worth a 3 hr trip? inguiring minds want to know.
steve

825 Fish? BULL$HIT!

Here's the deal on the numbers, They keep pretty close tabs on that river, they have several fish checkers working it everyday in all the popular locations. Of corse they are not going to count every fish caught, but supposedly they have some kind of formula for figuring out the numbers, I heard they use the same formula as the indians

Any ways all the extra fish at the hatchery are surplused to the indians, which I think is great because at least the sportsman and even the snaggers have gotten a shot at them and it keeps the gillnets out of the river.
Peace Superfly