With the Snake/Clearwater ESA listed B run Steelehad and hatchery Steelhead returning at a very low rate. 6k hatchery, 2k needed for hatchery operation and just 1100 B run ESA wilds, which have a 2% impact. Translating to just 22 incidental mortalities between all non tribal stake holders. This does not look good for any fisheries between Aug and Oct, when they pass thru the Columbia. Or much, if any fisheries on the Snake or Clearwater rivers.
What do you think?

We spent the most amount of time during the NOF rec discussion on this issue in Vancouver Friday.

That 22 fish impact is for ALL of the NON-treaty side.... rec and commercial combined

To give folks an idea of how dire the circumstances are, imagine if all those impacts were allocated rec. That would mean a TOTAL handle of only 220 wild B-runs. That's pie in the sky because some of those impacts will be spent to allow the commercials to have a season in Zones 4/5.

The best way to deal with the situation is to minimize/prevent encounters with B-runs. The data we have shows that most of them are encountered in the coolwater refugia fisheries at the mouths of tribs where the fish take a little breather to get out of the warm flows of the mainstem CR.

The only problem is... so do all of the other harvestable fish stocks that folks like to target.

Viable options laid on the table include (from worst to best)
1) outright trib mouth closures,
2) no steelhead fishing at trib mouths,
3) one steelhead bag (one and done),
4) one salmonid bag..... this keep folks who have tagged a steelhead from continuing to "fish for my salmon" in the usual 2 fish bag.... also takes into account that there is an impact on B-runs from just salmon fishing alone, and a 1 fish bag gets folks off the water faster.

If fishing is actually allowed, there could be gear/bait restrictions and count on the elimination of any party fishing for a boat limit and a ban on night fishing.

Did not get to hear specifically how the commercials intend to adapt. Sounded like they were going to use BIG mesh gillnet to give the steelhead the best possible chance of swimming thru the gear to eliminate handling, and adjust timing/area to reduce the likelihood of any B-run encounters.

All of that was going on at the other table during the breakout session, and the managers did not convene the two groups back together for a closing Kum Ba Ya discussion.

Not sure if this is the best post for this but it is relevant to be sure.

From: "Hymer, Joe A (DFW)" <Joe.Hymer@dfw.wa.gov>
Date: May 15, 2017 at 3:08:16 PM PDT
To: Undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: Today's FACTOIDs

· The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has downgraded the Columbia adult spring Chinook run to 75k at Bonneville and 83k at the river mouth.

· The pre-season forecast was 160,400 fish to the river mouth.

· Though early, only 21 shad have been counted at Bonneville Dam through May 14.

· It’s the 2nd lowest number of shad counted at the dam since 1986.

· The fewest are the 16 fish counted through May 14, 2012.