I have seen tails cut off fish in three different rivers now. Who does these things? Just thursday on the wynoochee I am crossing a creek with my car look down and see fish laying on the bottom. I stop to check it out and see that every one of them has there tails cut off. What is this crap? Any one know?

River Rookie,
It's called carcuss distribution!
They cut the top jaw or tail off so they now where it came from. There are alot of groups that collct carcuss from the state and distribut them in different water sheds, but you CAN'T take a carcuss from one system and put it in another system it has to be the same river system.

I think when WDFW or the Tribes do spawning surveys and they find a dead fish, they cut off the tails so that they don't get counted twice.

eddie

Thanks I forgot to say that!

The real problem however is the Apathy of Salmon and Steelhead fishing organizations toward this worthwhile program. Much to my dismay, I found out that the carcass distribution in the Wynoochee watershed is primarily being carried out by a BASS Fishing Club from Aberdeen. What's to become of this generation that lets BASS fishers carry the load?
And what's with the kids these days who consider a Honda to be a muscle car?

I have already given my wife instructions that upon my death, my carcass is to be stuffed under a log at a river of her choice so as to feed the next generation. Of course, that time may come sooner than anticipated if I don't get off this puter and get some work done!
G

Hey thanks for the info. Sure glad its not some sick joke.

grumpyr

Skagit system Fidalgo Fly Fishers
Stillaguamish system Everygreen Fly Fishing Club

These two clubs do alot of work for there home waters!

Thanks for the question and the explanations. I saw the same thing on Thursday. My head conjured up some very strange things.

This year the Northshore Chapter of Trout Unlimited (#220) initiated a salmon carcass distribution project in conjunction with the WDFW. The project goal is to enhance three tributaries (Trout Creek, Lost Creek, and Troublesome Creek) of the NF Skykomish with salmon carcasses for added nutrients. Historically, adult salmon returned on their own and completed the life cycle by reproducing and dying in the same stream where they were born. Now, with fewer adult salmon returning to their native streams, most Pacific Northwest streams do not have the nutrients needed to sustain juvenile salmonids. Fish carcass distribution programs help reintroduce some of those essential nutrients back into the food web. The enrichment project is intended to bolster ocean-derived nutrients in areas of the basin with adult salmon. Research studies in other areas of the Northwest, Canada, and Alaska have shown positive benefits to the aquatic environment through this type of nutrient enhancement. Nutrients of marine origin play a critical role in the ecological processes found in anadromous watersheds in Washington. Salmonids transport nutrients from the marine environment to the freshwater systems of our state. Salmon carcasses provide a significant amount of the nutrients, which feed stream life. The process is especially important for young juvenile salmon and steelhead. By using hatchery carcasses, the Northshore chapter will directly benefit wild populations of stream-rearing salmon, steelhead and resident fish, as well as provide increased benefits to wildlife inhabiting the area. The chapter has added over 1000 Coho carcasses this fall; the carcasses were donated by the Wallace River salmon hatchery in Sultan Washington. The chapter plans to continue this program for the next five years. For more information, or to volunteer to help contact Chris Tompkins : ctompkins84@hotmail.com.

http://www.northshoretu.org


.

And some people think that hatchery fish don't help wild fish recovery

Now if they could swim freely to the places that nature wanted them to die at, think of all the good that could do to maximum the nutrient affects.

Seems like there is always to sides to every coin.

Hatcherys do have a good side and this is one of them. Its great that we can make good use of these excess fish to help out the wild stocks, its much better than when in the past they were turned into fertilizer for gardens.

Sounds like the North Sound Guys are getting with the program. Hooooyaaaa!! Now what about the OP and other rivers to the south.
For the record, I just thought it was a little ironic that (by all appearance) a BASS club cared enough to put in hours on habitat projects that would not necessarily enhance thier own brand of fishing experience, but not a word was being spoken about the good deeds done by fishers of the andronomous persuasion.
How bout it OP guys, what are you up too lately?
G

AuntyM

Thanks I needed that!

There is also a OLY pennsula group doing a carcass program on the upper Calawa, Solduc and Boggie, they have use of a helicopter and are putting in TONS of coho carcasses.
Other groups:
puyallup tribe: puyallup system
Everett Steelhead club: pilchuck system
Trout Unlimited (southsound): Green river system

its happening: get involved!!
http://www.northshoretu.org

The Grays Harbor Poggie club has been putting the carcasses in the Wynoochee tributaries for two years now. They haul salmon carcasses from October tol the end of the run and steelhead into the spring. They also put carcasses into Willipa bay streams.

Dang, too late, thought I'd be able to convince you all that aliens did that - they lay them out in cryptic symbols you know, so they can identify our zipperlip spots from outer space It's a plot I tell ya