Recently I caught a couple of nice, bright hatchery hen steelhead, and when I cleaned them I found really small undeveloped egg skeins containing tiny white eggs that looked as if they were dead. I was wondering if anyone else has had anything like this happen to them?

You might have found some very early summer runs. In some rivers they will start showing in March.

I'll second that motion FJ15.

I believe that some steelhead may have next year's eggs starting even as they're carrying this year's.

Depending on where you were fishing, I'd say it's more likely that you're catching downstreamers that have already spawned. It's pretty darn early for summer runs no matter where you're fishing.

That being said, it would be very hard to mistake a summer run for a downstream winter run...the kelt would be pretty snakey.

Fish on...

Todd

definately downriver hens. i've been catching quite a few in the puyallup and carbon recently, and have been releasing them. an easy way to tell besides them looking a little thin is the healing marks on their tail fins, quite a bit early for s-runs.

Hey Maverick, I tried fishing the Puyallup and the Carbon quite a bit, but have never managed to hook up. I was wondering if you could give me some starting places that have worked for you? Are you using corkies/yarn, eggs, hardware, or other methods?

Thanks a lot!!

Spawner!!! I was told one time by a fish biologist that when the hatchery fish dose'nt spawn ( somtimes they don't) They start re-absorbing the eggs to keep them going. They will brighten up and loose their dark color also.

I got a rebrite brat hen in late april once in the Duc. It was crome and in perfect shape, transparent fins erodecents on the tail near the center like a fresh fish should have, no indication it had spawned. Yet slender it had plumped up from feeding a bit and was no more slender than any other fresh Skamania.

Anyways I bonked it thinking I had caught a yummy treat. I opened it up and found what was described above small white and orange looking eggs spread out in loose skein. I started thinking then I had a down river fish but I cooked it up anyways. It tasted like crap.