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<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Hatchery</span></u></b><b><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> steelhead returns
back on the rise, and local rivers could fish next week<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Eureka
Times-Standard-2/11/10<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>By
Kenny Priest</span></b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>After
a couple of sub-par seasons, steelhead are once again finding their way back to
our North Coast rivers and hatcheries in good numbers. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
2009-10 season is not going to break any records by any means. Most of the
rivers are getting just an average return, but after scratching and scraping
for bites the last two years, average sounds pretty darn good. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>If
you've been reading any reports over the last couple months, you're aware the
anglers and guides are having a much higher catch rate this year on the Chetco,
Smith, Trinity and Mad rivers than in the past two seasons. Reports from the
Eel -- which has been at unfishable levels for the majority of the season --
said the steelhead were there during the few days when the river had dropped
into shape. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>In
talking with a few of the local fish hatchery managers, they all pointed to
favorable ocean conditions as the main reason for this year's solid return. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Here's
a look into how are local hatcheries are doing this year: <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Mad
River Hatchery <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>This
year's return looks good so far and we're on pace to meet our 300,000 egg take
goal, according to Jerry Ayers, manager of the Mad River Hatchery. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>”Last
year only 150 adult and 183 half-pounders returned. This year 1,059 adults and
307 half-pounders have come back,” Ayers said. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
also points out that this year fish are bigger, averaging between 9-12 pounds
compared to 6-10 pounds in previous years. Good river water conditions --
getting rain at the right time and favorable ocean conditions played a big part
in this year's run, according to Ayers. Also, a lot of the steelhead didn't
come back to spawn last year, mostly due to low flows and higher-than-normal
water temperatures. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>”A
good amount of steelhead stayed in the estuary and eventually went back out to the
ocean last year due to the conditions. This year those fish are definitely
coming back,” Ayers said. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>To
get 300,000 eggs, it takes approximately 50 females who carry anywhere from
6,000 to 8,000 eggs each. In March, 150,000 yearlings will be released. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Rowdy
Creek Hatchery, Smith River <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
steelhead return to the hatchery is running just a little above average this
year, according to hatchery manager Andrew Van Scoyk. As of Tuesday, 820 adult
steelhead have been trapped at the hatchery, 85 percent have been hatchery and
15 percent are wild fish. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>”Last
year was a real down year, only 271 steelhead made it back to the hatchery.
Over the last 10 years, we've averaged about 800 fish per season,” said
Van Scoyk. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Each
year the hatchery takes 200,000 eggs from 55-60 females, with the yearlings
being released the following March. According to Van Scoyk, no one knows for
sure why more fish are coming back this year, but he points out that favorable
ocean conditions is probably a big reason. Though more fish have returned this
year, the average size is smaller than years past. The average adult steelhead
we're seeing is about seven pounds, normally they average 9-to-10 pounds,
according to Van Scoyk. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Trinity
River Hatchery, Lewiston <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>So
far, we're having a pretty decent year, according to Wade Sinnen, Associate
Biologist for the Trinity River Project. To date, we've trapped 3,458 adult
fall-run steelhead compared to 1,918 last year during the same time period. Of
these trapped fish, more than 95 percent were hatchery-born steelhead. The
run-size estimate for 2009-10 is between 22,000 and 28,000, while the average
run-size over the last 10 years has been right around 23,000, but last year's
estimate was just above 15,000. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>”Improved
ocean conditions, timely rain, and simply more water are all factors in this year's
larger return,” said Sinnen. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
egg-take goal for the hatchery is two million eggs, which takes roughly 571
female steelhead to achieve. Each female will produce right around 3,500 eggs.
Eight-hundred-thousand yearlings are then released back into the river the
following March. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
Rivers -- <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Chetco
River <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>After
two to three days of really hot steelhead action, the Chetco could use a nice
shot of rain. And if the predictions hold true, they'll get it Thursday night.
On Wednesday it was flowing around 2,300 cfs but is predicted to peak at around
5,000 cfs on Friday night and start dropping just in time for the weekend.
Guide Alan Borges of Alan's Guide Service has been on the Chetco the last few
days and reports the bite was hot on Sunday, but has gotten tougher each day.
Sunday his customers landed seven steelhead of the eight they hooked, Monday he
was four for four and Tuesday he went one for two. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>”The
bite was real spotty on Tuesday, but there were fish around. It was real cold
and the sun was out all day, which may have had something to do with the lack
of bites. The good news is we're still seeing quite a few hatchery fish in the
mix and very few downers, which indicates the run is still going strong. Once
we start to see only wild fish, the peak of the run will be over,” Borges
said. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Smith
River <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Steelhead
action continues to be steady on the Smith. Guides are reporting three to six hookups
a day while side-drifting roe and a Fish Pill. Much needed rain is in the
forecast for Thursday and the river is expected to crest at just under 11 ft.
Friday night on the Jed Park gauge. If the forecast is right, conditions for
the weekend should be just about perfect. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Upper
Trinity River <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Guide
Steve Huber of Huber's Guide Service had a great day last Saturday when he
landed six steelhead, but the bite has slowed since. Sunday he landed two,
Monday he landed one, which tipped the scales at 9 pounds, and Tuesday all he
could muster was a German Brown. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>”It
looks like the run is tapering off, there just isn't a lot of fish around right
now -- even the downers are gone. The few fish that are here are all wild. The
river is starting to clear, we'll need rain to bring in some new fish,”
Huber said. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Mad
River <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>If
we don't get much rain on Thursday, we could be fishing the Mad by Sunday with
bait, according to Justin Kelly of Eureka's Redwood Marine. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>”The
river had about a foot of visibility on Wednesday and I heard of a few fish
hooked. With the higher water, a size 10 Spin-N-Glow and a bigger piece of roe
will be more effective,” Kelly said. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Eel
River <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
main stem was just starting to get a green tint, but the river is still really
big according to Paul Grundman of Grundman's Sporting Goods in Rio Dell. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>”We're
forecasted to get up to a quarter inch of rain Thursday night, but I don't
think it will hurt the river that much. We're still a week to 10 days away from
fishing this section of the river. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>On
the south fork, the river has a couple feet of visibility in the Leggett area
according to Darren Brown of Brown's Sporting Goods in Garberville. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>”I
talked to a couple people who landed nine on Tuesday in the Richardson Grove
area. Down below, the river is just beginning to turn green all the way down to
Sylvandale. It's currently at 9.2 ft with about a foot of visibility at the
bridge, and it will be fishable at eight ft. You'll want to keep an eye on how
much rain hits the area,” said Brown.</span></b><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>Byron
Leydecker, JcT</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>Chair, Friends
of Trinity River</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>PO Box 2327</span></i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>Mill Valley, CA
94942-2327</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>415 383 4810
land/fax (call first to fax)</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>415 519 4810
mobile</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'><a
href="mailto:bwl3@comcast.net"><span style='color:blue'>bwl3@comcast.net</span></a></span></i></b><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'><a
href="mailto:bleydecker@stanfordalumni.org"><span style='color:blue'>bleydecker@stanfordalumni.org</span></a>
</span></i></b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>(secondary)</span></i><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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href="http://fotr.org/"><span style='color:blue'>http://www.fotr.org</span></a>
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