Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing-related Issues & News => Topic started by: Bently on September 09, 2010, 08:23:37 PM
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I've been reading a lot on here lately about the worries of coho mortality { flossed, poached, commercial by-catch etc. } and was wondering if anyone is having the same worries of our Thompson Steelhead fishery. I personally have witnessed 4 rather large steelhead in the " take home fish totes " on local gillnetters in Steveston where I live. If you know Thompson steelhead, you know these are generally large fish compared to a lot of runs in the province. The four fish I've seen have been all does in the 12 to 14 lb range with big as your calf, meaty tail sections, which I believe IMO are Thompson fish. Some might think it is too early yet , I myself, do not, by the look of the fish I saw. Any thoughts ???
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Likely Chilcotin steelhead. They're the first up the river.
Bison's message and data can be found at http://www.gofishbc.com/docs/status4.pdf?LanguageID=EN-US (http://www.gofishbc.com/docs/status4.pdf?LanguageID=EN-US)
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One steelhead taken in the Albion Chum fishery today.
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Hey quill,
Very well could be , and thanks for the link. I'm still thinking Thompson though. Those are some sad numbers :(
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Chilcoltin steelhead are in even more trouble than Thompson fish :'(
As for too early, a good friend of mine caught one a few years ago on sept 3rd.
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And there is a requirement in commercial fisheries that all steelhead and coho be released back into the water.
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I know the requirements, I've been a commercial fisherman myself for 30 plus years { recently retired } and I don't know many guys out there that throw back half dead steelhead if they like eating fish. As for the Coho, this thread is about Steelhead although the Coho are just as important. I guess I'm just partial to the steel.
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Mid September was always when we started catching Thompson's in Laidlaw and Herrling Island back in the days when there were lots of em and we could barfish the river, it absolutely stands to reason those could be Thompson fish.