Posted this in another thread but thought it would help here. As SB posted the WDFW numbers do not include the NT net mortality. As they apply a 45% mortality and this was one drift by one boat out of the 13 we observed, well you do the math. If they do say 10 drifts in the 12 hrs and encountered the same that would be 1300 Chum released and at 45% it is 585 dead on the bottom. Chinook the same process would get you 117 Chinook as mortality. Add up the total NT net time and the number of Chinook & Chum sacrificed in the commercial harvest of Coho is rather large.



Went down and took about 3 hours to video the NT nets in action. They were catching fish to be sure so here is what we got by going right with one boat who did a SHORT drift at the PGH.

9 Coho retained. Hard to get who is a Chum or Coho but they keep Coho so simple enough.

10 Chum back in the water of which 3 or 4 were seriously dead.

2 Chinook overboard and went straight from the net to the water without going into the recovery boxes.

By the ocean pollock "whitefish" and hake Trawls. Then the gillnets take an additional toll.

One would believe the commercial take out on the ocean would satisfy the directive to provide for commercial take and reserve the rest for escapement and sports opportunity?

Finally saw my first hatchery coho yesterday. Beautiful hen of about 12 lbs. Because she was a hen, I was ready to release her, but when I noted the lack of an adipose fin, I dispatched her for the greater good. Turned out to be the firmest, best-eating coho I've pulled from the rivers this year... Go figure.

I was surprised how few fish were around where I was fishing for this late in the season, but the fish I caught was obviously very fresh, so there's likely more on the way.

It is all about the tides and where you right now but yesterday was the smallest movement I have seen in two weeks. Probably slow down a bit up stream but the fish are moving steadily. Of the three hens that hit the boat this week they were at a minimum three weeks from spawning so biology is not pushing them, water is dropping, so they will move through upper tide water and somewhere in the trib's or mainstream they will slow way down or hold. You little water guys should have your best shot yet for the next week or so.

And today 10 boats in 2 miles of tide water and not a hit or one in the boat. One guy did claim he saw one roll but ....................... Whatever has changed in the last couple of days is rather severe so weekend chore time with a couple of days off the river.

Cabelas "Guide Wear", rain gear got a real workout today.....lot's of people in my area of the river. Not many "nets" in the air but a few. After losing many fish the past few days, felt nice to have 1 stick and get netted.

Water color was GREAT but could be changing quickly........

Could be a short day in the morning.....Seahawks play(???????) at 10:00...

WOW.....Satsop.....mud, mud, mud........sure raised heck on the Chehalis BELOW Fuller Bridge. Lot's of tow rigs and trailers, in parking lot at Fuller must be "something happening"??????

Rivers dropping all day Sunday, but it won't be sustained. Light rain all day has just picked up the pace..... significantly.

Comin' down like a mutha at the house.... skylights are getting absolutely bombarded right now.

Chehalis report: gear up for steelhead.

Not quite ready to "give up the salmon fishing".......another year of "wanting rain".....and now the rivers are showing the results of all the rain dances...up, up, up, and away.

Is there a "un-rain dance"???????????

"They're just late"

Fish on...

Todd

OK, this weekend was gonna' be perfect for river cohoing, but now it's a little too wet.

Hit the frog water I showed you.

The river should be perfect for it this weekend.

Aha! Now that's an idea. You busy? My boat's all gassed up and ready.

My Chehalis report: there are about 20 silvers spawning within a 1.5 miles of the south end of Black Lake. It doesn't seem to be a yearly occurence unfortunately.