Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing-related Issues & News => Topic started by: quill on October 05, 2011, 02:56:34 PM
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October 5, 2011
To: Distribution
From September 1 to date, 8 steelhead have been caught in the Albion test fisheries, 4 of which have been caught in the chum test fishery and 4 of which have been caught in the chinook test fishery (Figure 1).
Presently, the test fishing data suggest that there is a 40% chance of exceeding the abundance reference point of 1250 Thompson and Chilcotin steelhead. This reference abundance is identified in the 2011 Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for the management of Fraser River commercial chum fisheries. For the Thompson watershed alone, there is presently a 40% chance of exceeding the abundance reference point of 850, the reference point used to open or close the catch-and-release sport fishery.
More at http://thompsonfisheries.blogspot.com/2011/10/thompsonchilcotin-rivers-status-1.html (http://thompsonfisheries.blogspot.com/2011/10/thompsonchilcotin-rivers-status-1.html)
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It's kind of hard to figure if this is good or bad because the info is full of statistical terms.
I took a quick look at steelhead numbers for the last couple of years in the Albion and it has been close to zero, so it sounds good.
A 40% chance of exceeding abundance points sounds relatively good (almost 50/50 chance).
But the total numbers of fish reaching the spawning areas is pretty dismal.
600 in the Thompson and 290 in the Chilcotin.
Is this a hatchery supported fishery?
I was wondering if they shut down steelhead fishing for a year or two (or a full life cycle), would these numbers rise drastically?
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It is not a hatchery enhanced run.Until they stop the commies from netting in the fraser from late summer into fall for salmon and improve the habitat conditions in the tributarys,this run of fish will never recover.I think it should be closed to sportfishing with these low numbers returning.We need each and everyone of these fish to spawn unharrased by us the sports angler. :'(
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It is not a hatchery enhanced run.Until they stop the commies from netting in the fraser from late summer into fall for salmon and improve the habitat conditions in the tributarys,this run of fish will never recover.I think it should be closed to sportfishing with these low numbers returning.We need each and everyone of these fish to spawn unharrased by us the sports angler. :'(
Gotta agree with all of the above. I also would like to see some studies of the whys/wherefores of steelhead juvenile residualisation ... perhaps the T, with it's great invertebrate populations and warmer water is a more acceptable place to live, as opposed to smolting and heading to the salt. :-\
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Dave
A study ? No money for technicians or anything else in the ministry. We can't get anyone to count adult steelhead on the Vedder other than you and me.
Welcome back.
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Thanks Buck - good to be back ( 60 days in a motorhome is probably enough!) You are of course right; no money for much of anything Fisheries wise. Oh wait, I forgot that Cohen thing happening ...
Leave a few for us midriverguys ;)
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Dave
A study ? No money for technicians or anything else in the ministry. We can't get anyone to count adult steelhead on the Vedder other than you and me.
Welcome back.
x2...sad but true
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As I take in all this intriguing dialog I remember an article I read about a doctor working for the railroad at the turn of the century in the Kamloops area. He mentioned day trips he would take from Kamloops to the Thompson River and talked at length about the huge rainbows he would hook and lose as he was fishing for smaller resident rainbow. He worked in the area for a number of years and noticed the large fish would show up in the early spring and be gone in early summer. In his day the large black rainbows would be an annoyance. Now in little more than a century we go from a river full of large black rainbows to a Trophy steelhead river world renowned to a river we will soon only be able to dream what it would be like to hook one of those large black rainbows.
We need to start putting the ministry responsible to task so we can hopefully keep this gene pool which is on the very edge of colapse a viable functioning self sustaining piece of the ecosystem puzzle.
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As I take in all this intriguing dialog I remember an article I read about a doctor working for the railroad at the turn of the century in the Kamloops area. He mentioned day trips he would take from Kamloops to the Thompson River and talked at length about the huge rainbows he would hook and lose as he was fishing for smaller resident rainbow. He worked in the area for a number of years and noticed the large fish would show up in the early spring and be gone in early summer. In his day the large black rainbows would be an annoyance. Now in little more than a century we go from a river full of large black rainbows to a Trophy steelhead river world renowned to a river we will soon only be able to dream what it would be like to hook one of those large black rainbows.
We need to start putting the ministry responsible to task so we can hopefully keep this gene pool which is on the very edge of colapse a viable functioning self sustaining piece of the ecosystem puzzle.
X2
I really feel like DFO and the people that actually count are subjected to a world of corruption and politics, or are simply going after 'fish 'that are "too big to fry". If only there was something I could do, I would in a heartbeat. As im sure many others on here feel the same.
Is there anything we can do guys? maybe it's about time we organized something
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Spread the word. Get organized. find politicians who are like minded.
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The SSBC has been active in attempting to protect wild Fraser/Thompson steelhead. http://thompsonfisheries.blogspot.com/p/letters.html (http://thompsonfisheries.blogspot.com/p/letters.html) (I see DFO is set to open another 41 hour Johnstone Strait gill net fishery on the 12th, hence the "attempting" reference. DFO is either not listening, blissfully unaware of how serious the situation is, or simply doesn't care.)
From earlier in the year: http://www.steelheadsociety.org/news/letter-ms-sue-farlinger-regional-director-general-fisheries-and-oceans-canada (http://www.steelheadsociety.org/news/letter-ms-sue-farlinger-regional-director-general-fisheries-and-oceans-canada) From the SSBC's Northern Branch: http://www.steelheadsociety.org/news/northern-branch-letter-dfos-sue-farlinger (http://www.steelheadsociety.org/news/northern-branch-letter-dfos-sue-farlinger)
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Well I see that 12 steelhead have been caught in the Chinook/Chum test fisheries at albion. Why havent they granted an opening??
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Doubt an opening will happen. Not enough so far unless something changes in a hurry. :-[
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Doubt an opening will happen. Not enough so far unless something changes in a hurry. :-[
Well they opened it in 2009 with only 9 fish in the test nets so I dont understand the reasoning this season.
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Best to leave the whats left of this run to spawn unimpeded by us. Keep it Closed.
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Best to leave the whats left of this run to spawn unimpeded by us. Keep it Closed.
I totally agree 100%, there's other places to fish steelhead besides the "T" . I say give it 5 yrs or so and then have a look see.
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Best to leave the whats left of this run to spawn unimpeded by us. Keep it Closed.
Not sure if tou missed it but a lot of poaching golng on that has to be curtailed if there is any hope of saving this once mighty run of fish. :(
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Well they opened it in 2009 with only 9 fish in the test nets so I dont understand the reasoning this season.
They've made an adjustment in how the Albion data is applied, more conservative.
Do you think poaching is that much of a factor Chris? I spent about 20 years running up and down the tracks and don't recall seeing too many people I would consider to have been "poaching". Saw some I believe were ignorant of the closure, a couple obviously poaching (turned in), some who didn't appear to be aboriginals but (I later learned) were... but for the most part it didn't seem to be huge problem. I believe there's a Guardian program.
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Status 2 => http://thompsonfisheries.blogspot.com/2011/10/thompsonchilcotin-steelhead-status-2.html (http://thompsonfisheries.blogspot.com/2011/10/thompsonchilcotin-steelhead-status-2.html)
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They've made an adjustment in how the Albion data is applied, more conservative.
Do you think poaching is that much of a factor Chris? I spent about 20 years running up and down the tracks and don't recall seeing too many people I would consider to have been "poaching". Saw some I believe were ignorant of the closure, a couple obviously poaching (turned in), some who didn't appear to be aboriginals but (I later learned) were... but for the most part it didn't seem to be huge problem. I believe there's a Guardian program.
Was told it is a problem and one person apparently took 30 last season, for the smoker :o but I can not verify that but the source wrote to me and said it was a fact. That person may wish to post more details here.
That is one reason for having an opening in my mind as ot puts eyes and ears on the river and I feel that makes up for any mort's caused by and catch and release opening. A meeting is supposed to take place to try and address this problem this month, have not heard back from Steve if this has happened yet.
I kinow being on the Vedder a lot over 30 years I have seen very few dead steelhead. Also the telemetry study I was involved in a few years bago shows most tagged fish that were not taken after being tagged passed the station in the Lower Vedder after spawning. I have the paper that gives all the stat's.
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I agree that the sport fisting mortality rate is minimal, but any sport opening is tied to the Integrated Fisheries Management Plan which means that there would probably be a non selective chum opening(s) on the Fraser (if chum escapement permits). The question then becomes can the resource absorb the exploitation from both fisheries?
May not be popular, but I agree with the ministry in setting minimum targets and their closed 'til open regime. The problem is that *everyone* needs to bear the brunt of conservation, not just Spences, or sport fishers, or Area 29 gills, this needs to extend into the approach fisheries as well. DFO has authorized numerous Johnstone Strait chum fisheries which most certainly had an impact.
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There should be no chum gill net fishery in the Fraser when the Thompson steelhead are in the system absolutely ridiculous in my mind even if the have recovery tanks aboard.
Of course FOC in many people's minds do not look after our fish stocks like they should, remember the East Coast fishery, allowing gravel mining on the Fraser that killed millions of pinks a few cycles back, the fish farm issue, cut backs in all avenues of staff including funding that has moral at a low point. The list grows longer in each passing day. Its not the everyday staff to blame but the government in power that does not give proper leadership to this issue.
When will we get someone in power that really cares about our fish a renewable resource that so many of us including the whole ecosystem depend on, shocking isn't it?
I hate to be so negative but to me that is where we are at the last number of years, maybe someone here will correct me on what I have said if I am in error.
I am sure someone from FOC monitor this site daily, please speak up even though your job could be at stake if you do. That's too bad in a democratic country that seems to be disappearing these days, getting a bit off topic here but management of our Thompson River steelhead are the casualty of what I have mentioned here. :(
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I was up at S. B. yesterday having breakfast at the Packing House and there is still a chance there will be an opening on the Thompson for that world famous fish, we will know by Nov. 1 by the report I got.
I guess the indicator at Albion is near the mark that give us an opening. I believe an opening puts eyes and ears on he river to help curtail the poaching that goes on.
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Sounds like the Thompson will open on Saturday.
Please consult http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish/regulations/ for confirmation.
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I hope it doesnt open
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I hope it doesnt open
It will.
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LOL
Beek, see you on a unknown river near us for steellhead. ;D ;D ;D Have a tube again this year for brood capture will have to tag along with you so you can catch some for the program. :-\
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Stinkyshrimp, if you did 10% of what Chris has done for the resource you might qualify to carry his bags. I've been telling all my buddies that the Thompson is opening so you should have lots of competition. Blab Blab Blab Blab
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--maybe we could come up with a system like on ski hill circle, square, diamond for description of fishing area.. it is not enforced.. ie you can to to black diamond and give it a try but might give some an indication if the area is suitable (fishing wise) for their skill level... this may also reduce the bus load of people flocking to an area that can only be effectively fished by a few people or due to access or type of water will prove frustrating to those with less skill.
--saying the Thompson is open is like saying the east coast of Van Island is open. Yes there are popular spots and I sometimes go there but I have fished many times with no one in site... Often areas where fish move through its hit and miss... by the time the word is out fish are gone and locals are again waiting for next wave.. of both fish and people.
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Stinkyshrimp, if you did 10% of what Chris has done for the resource you might qualify to carry his bags. I've been telling all my buddies that the Thompson is opening so you should have lots of competition. Blab Blab Blab Blab
Nice post!
CG is a gem, but he treats his tackle like shite ;)
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Sounds like the Thompson will open on Saturday.
A VERY SAD Day for The Fish. :'(
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http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/fish/regulations/changes/1113/region3.html
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- wear waders and get IN the water with the fish to land it.
- take only a quick pic and avoid the prolonged photo shoot while a fish suffocates out of water
- use reasonable sized hooks, change out the gaffs on store bought lures like spoons
- give others a wide berth, fishing here is about the experience, make it a good experience for you and others
- if you are fishing gear, avoid those areas where fly fisherman favor, they are very limited to water that they can fish, gear can be fished almost anywhere.
- if you enjoy the serene setting there, keep your success under wraps, it will only make it better for you to enjoy later
This fishery is not about success and numbers, if you are looking for that, this is not the place. This is a place to go to enjoy fishing for Steelhead in one of the greatest settings on the planet. Take time to absorb the surroundings, watch Chukars flying on slopes, big horns walking down the tracks and the large sand and stone hoodoos far above you.
Hopefully all of us as anglers can rally together in the future to improve the plight of this extra special breed of Steelhead.
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This opening is about placating anglers, nothing more. Terrible.
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This opening is about placating anglers, nothing more. Terrible.
Very sad news indeed! Disgusting!
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Just got back from 100 mile and saw lots out fishing the Thompson.