Tagged Native??

I had a guy come into the store yesterday and said he caught about a 30lb tagged native. He said it had a a red and white, wire tag going through the dorsal fin. He wanted some information on why and how they tag this fish, and I didnt have the answers. I was wondering if anyone has any information that could help me out. Im having a hard time getting through to the fisheries dept.
Thanks,
Sandra

My guess would be that it either was a hatchery fish that didnt get clipped. I dont think they are clipping fall chinook on a regular basis yet in wash or Oregon.Some are but not anywhere near all Or it was tagged down at the fish wier on the Kalama. I am assuming it was caught on the kalama. I would lean towards being tagged at the wier.

[ 09-05-2001: Message edited by: Firedog ]

Sandra - I assume the fish is a fall Chinook. The WDFW doesn't clip all their hatchery Chinook. In fact, very few are clipped. The angler probably caught a fall Chinook that was trapped at the wier just downstream of Modrow Bridge, tagged, and released right back into the river. WDFW is trying to estimate the catch rate of Chinooks that are trapped and released. So, the fish is very important to the WDFW. My suggestion is to check with the fish technican at the fish trap and ask what to do with the tag. The tech can tell you where to take it. The trap site is open to the public as long as the gate is open.

While you're there, you might want to ask the fish tech about the run and how the fish are doing on the Kalama River as compared to past years. I have found the fish tech to be quite knowledgable and willing to share information about the river. Hope this helps.

Thanks for all your help fellas.
I will learn all this yet...

Check with the University of Idaho. They have lots of Phd. and Masters students in Fisheries and Wildlife doing studies on the Columbia system.

No, no , no..... talk to Chris the bio/fish checker on the kalama. If you haven't met chris you will soon. Hes a great guy and VERY on top of whats going on in the bama. When he drunk his nickname is christine, cause he always *****in' about how the bama could be better. Basically from what I know the bama has 6 different runs on steelhead. You have kalama native summer fish, brood stock summer fish and your typical cement or pond raised skamania. Same deal with the winter fish only I'm not sure what they use for there straight hatchery fish. So the reason for all this crazyness is the kalama is one big labratory for other rivers state wide. They get an idea of survival rates for smolts and released adults. Any data they can collect they do. And let me tell you from experience the tag colors change. I've caught the RAINBOW on "spegetti" tags. Anyways this is all relayed info from an extremely late and blury night under modrow with chris and the boys after a good day of fishin' and drinkin'. Somewhat similiar to today/night/morning.......and the cycle continues.

Howdy Sandra.

I spoke with Paul yesterday and ran it by him, but my younger brother has Tues. off and he's looking for a fishing partner. He wants to learn the Kalama, and I know you love the Kalama and fishing, so let me know something so I can get y'all acquainted and then y'all can get acquainted with some silvers. He has access to my cat, but don't you also have access to a Willie driftboat

howdy back hey yall!
LTNS! There is no way we are gonna be able to take the willie down this river. It is LOW! We need some dog gone rain, and quick. I hit the river yesterday and I got skunked. The silvers are everywhere, they just seem to have lock jaw. I will be glad to take bro fishing. I myself am still learning the river, but I know of a few good holes.
I got a phone call from good ol' Osprey yesterday and he said he will be in today. I cant wait, maybe I can take a break and do a little more fishing today, woo hoo!!!