They've been mean and lucky so far ... but not today!

Our turn at the springers is coming! Here's our first of the year that didn't get away!

I think Roger is still half asleep, and he's definitely a little wet from some boat-side tail slaps ... but he'll be eating good now!



We'll be hangin' a little later than normal this year and will be running a fw more springer trips before we head north, so if anyone wants some dates in the latter part of the month or the first two weeks of May, drop us a line After that date, you can also email us and we'll give you some names of fellas to call that will be running trips all summer for both springers and the summer kings

Well maybe I will have a chance too land one on Saturday Bob!

She's a purdy, all right!

two questions...fin clip? ventral fin other side, maybe?
what kind of line is that?

Looks like Maxima Fiber Glow. The hi-viz pink line. I really like that line, but I've noticed that after a couple uses the color washes out.

Nice Springer! I was also wondering about the fin though.

Given your recent post on your board ( http://www.gamefishin.com/gfboard/forum_posts.asp?TID=6048&PN=1 ), I know you are just salivating to attack...

...but no worries, they are all hatchery fish!

Did you notice Sparkey that I said "what appears to be wild salmon" Never the less my question in the thread that you pointed out still stands.

So they don't clip salmon wherever Bob caught that fish?

Nice try Bruce. You should know better!

SA

It is a legit question! If I posted a picture of a dead wild steelhead here you guys would be all over me.

Sparky -
Actualy I beleive that a fair number of the hatchery spring chinook returning to the Sol Duc don't return to the hatchery and spawn in the wild so how do we know whether hatchery or wild?

Best release them all don't you think? (tic).

Tight lines
S malma

a wild fish shouldnt be caught just once.

Smalma-
I think Bob would be the better source then myself regarding what percentage of Sol Duc springers actually spawn in the wild and thus what percentage of the returning fish are wild.

But given the chewed up dorsal and ventral fin, I would say hatchery fish all the way!

...plus from what I've heard, a certain number of the Sol Duc springers are marked but not 100% (again, Bob would be the more accurate source for that information).

But given the fish are there purely for tribal and sport catch (Rogue River stock I believe), I do not forsee anything wrong with harvesting them. I would look at them like I look at the vast majority of lakes that are managed under put and take regulations. The fish are there strictly for the reason to be caught and killed...if the fish is killed then no problems. If the fish is released, great, someone else will get a chance to catch and probably kill it.

...but then again, this is whole 'nother can of worms!

Sparky -
Then it is OK to kill some wild fish?

Would you support allowing the retention of wild summer steelhead above Sunset Falls on the South Fork Skykomish? - much the same

As you say another can of worms

Tight lines
S malma

Jeeeese Smalma, I know you all too well. I knew the second I posted that last post, you were going to bring up the SF Sky. So I've had extra time to think of a proper response.

I believe we must look at what the intended goal of that fishery is. Some hatchery programs are designed strictly around harvest, some are designed strictly around rehabilitation and some are a little both.

From what I understand, the Sol Duc fish are there strictly for harvest. However, was the WDFW's intent with the SF Sky to create a harvestable fishery up there?...to supplement a current population?...or to create a somewhat self-sustaining stock of wild summer steelhead. Also, from what I've heard, the SF Sky fishery was developed to create a playground of sorts for WDFW employees (but thats just a rumor).

I guess I would be being hypocritical in asking the WDFW to continue the no-kill fishery on the wild steelhead of the SF Sky but at the same time, having no issues with the kill of wild Sol Duc springers.

Given that the SF Sky has show the ability to sustain a good population of wild summer steelhead (via trucking), I would ask that we continue the no-kill management on these wild fish. Plus the addition of the wild summer steelhead to the watershed (along with salmon) has helped the resident rainbow population in the SF and its tributaries flourish.

And last but not least, you have contended that in a few generations, the SF Sky wild summer steelhead have quickly developed attributes typical of Puget Sound native summer steelhead. This evolution of sorts would not only provide for great research but I think it would provide a great backup stock (as a very last resort) just in case disaster struck on other Puget Sound native summer steelhead populations

Smalma,

Were there any native summer runs below Sunset Falls prior to the trucking program?

Would it make a difference if there were?

Fish on...

Todd

Todd -
There were no summer fish below Sunset on the South Fork however there were (and still are a few some really rainbows above the falls.
The only summer fish were in the upper North Fork Skykomish.

There probably is some wild rainbow genes floating around in those SF summers. Does that make a difference? - you tell me.

Sparky -
Another example just for fun.
Some of the hatchery summer steelhead have successfully spawned in the Green River (King County) and there are now some wild summer steelhead returning to the Green. Prior to the moratorium folks were allowed to harvest those fish - much like your Sol Duc springs. Is it right to protect those fish.

The point of course is that fisheries management is rarely black and white issues and a one size fits all management has the potential to bite one in the rear.

Tight lines
S malma

Nice fish!

(stop yer b!tchin)

Yeah, nice fish.

Yea what Dogfish said!

Smalma-
I am not totally familiar with the situation on the Green but I am guessing they do not have the potential for the self-sustaining population that the SF Sky does...or maybe they do. But anyways...

Most importantly, I understand just where you are coming from and just where you are headed. But at this time, given the overly large number of threads dedicated to the subject, I would rather it not begin again in this thread as well.

Nice fish.

Onto clipping, I doubt there is anywhere near a decent percentage clipped. And the deformed fins don't always cut it. I know before the big "wild fish release" push in recent years, I've had checkers scan some very nice king and silvers that were perfect in everyway including all fins intact and perfectly shapped. Plus big to boot. Almost all had chips. Watched the snout cut and off they went. So, think only real viable way to know is to have one of those wands on board and scan the fish in the water. LOL. How do we get one of those wands anyways?? LOL