Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing Reports => Members' Fishing Reports => Topic started by: Koho on August 10, 2004, 06:35:17 PM

Title: Even Year Pinks
Post by: Koho on August 10, 2004, 06:35:17 PM
Been fishing the past few weekends for humpies in the Snohomish River.  Yup, pinks.  They don't normally run in even years, but there has been a small run thats been slowly increasing in strength every year here.  It got strong enough to allow a first time opening of the run this year.  

Limited 2 pinks the first weekend and got another 2 pinks this past Sat.  They're in general smaller than their odd year cousins, and are in the rivers earlier, but they put up a decent fight and many are still chromers.  

Here's a pic of them.


(http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/uploads/UP5809.jpg)
Title: Re:Even Year Pinks
Post by: Koho on August 10, 2004, 08:28:50 PM
This is the states, right?

Yup, just north of Everett
Title: Re:Even Year Pinks
Post by: dead head on August 10, 2004, 09:30:54 PM
cool nice looking fish ;D
Title: Re:Even Year Pinks
Post by: Koho on August 10, 2004, 09:36:04 PM
One other thing.  In odd years when I catch a pink in the river, I can tell right away whether its a buck or a doe.  
When I caught these fish, I figured these were does right away because they didn't have humps.  I was surprised when only one of them had roe.  The other was a buck.

So my question is, can you tell which one is the buck in the pic, and what do you look for ???

I will let you know which one is the buck later.

Koho.  
Title: Re:Even Year Pinks
Post by: stryker 07 on August 10, 2004, 09:40:41 PM
doe on top buck on bottom?
Title: Re:Even Year Pinks
Post by: Bantam_50 on August 10, 2004, 09:49:59 PM
ditto....larger mouth already showing on the buck (bottom fish)...plus a more pronounced back.
Title: Re:Even Year Pinks
Post by: Fish Assassin on August 10, 2004, 10:15:04 PM
Nice fish, What did you caught it on ? I think the bottom one is the male
Title: Re:Even Year Pinks
Post by: fishin_chick on August 10, 2004, 11:06:44 PM
My guess too, is doe on top. so which is it???
Title: Re:Even Year Pinks
Post by: Rodney on August 10, 2004, 11:15:43 PM
My guess too, is doe on top. so which is it???

Excuse me? Come on now... Family site... :)

Nice fish Koho. Usually the one with the broader body is a male. Down here in the Lower Fraser, only some of the males develop a hump when they pass by Steveston. A good feel of the tummy is also a good indicator.
Title: Re:Even Year Pinks
Post by: Fish Assassin on August 11, 2004, 12:48:25 AM

 A good feel of the tummy is also a good indicator.

Thought this is a family site Rodney ? ;D (just joking guys !)
Title: Re:Even Year Pinks
Post by: The Gilly on August 11, 2004, 04:31:08 AM
Doe on top.  Notice the difference in the size of the head.  Males usually have larger, longer heads.
Title: Re:Even Year Pinks
Post by: Koho on August 11, 2004, 07:26:02 AM
You guys are good.  Yup, the buck is on the bottom.  
I caught these on wee Dick Nite spoons-- er, thats D*ck Nite (family site right).  
Title: Re:Even Year Pinks
Post by: pepsitrev on August 11, 2004, 08:12:20 AM
doe on top but nice fish. ;D
Title: Re:Even Year Pinks
Post by: Gooey on August 11, 2004, 08:58:23 AM
I have always found it odd that pinks return every other year and now some pinks are starting to show up out of cycle on 2 different river systems...any ideas why they cycle like that anyhow????
Title: Re:Even Year Pinks
Post by: DragonSpeed on August 11, 2004, 10:11:18 AM
My understanding is that the even year pink run on the Fraser was destroyed one year (natural disaster?)

Title: Re:Even Year Pinks
Post by: Koho on August 11, 2004, 10:31:59 AM
Some folks are wondering about the effects of last falls heavy rain and massive flooding on the odd pink run.  The flooding occured right after the pinks should have spawned.  The eggs and spawning bed may have all be swept downstream since the current was so intense.  It was a pretty strong run too.  We'll see next year of the effects.
 
The even year pinks could be either a wild run getting stronger or were from strays.
More info can be found here if you are interested.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/fishing/2001993903_outn01.html
Title: Re:Even Year Pinks
Post by: Gooey on August 11, 2004, 10:32:56 AM
Doesnt explain odd year runs on the Squamish, Seymour, or indian river.  and on vancouver island, i think it cycles every even year!?!?!?