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[Rodney]

GoFishBC has spent the last three days releasing juvenile steelhead into the Chilliwack/Vedder River. It's a three day operation as fish have to be trucked from the Chilliwack hatchery down to various releasing locations in the lower river below the Vedder Crossing. Here are some photos of today's release.

[Dave]

Rod, what was the average weight of the juveniles?

[clarki]

And for those little suckers that don't migrate out of the system, I'll be seeing you in July with some young anglers, bobbers and woms!    

[Rodney]

Rod, what was the average weight of the juveniles?

Dave, we were betting on how fast you were going to ask me that after I posted it!

I might be wrong, but I was told average weight was 70g. I'll get a confirmation later on once today's release is done.

[Dave]

   

[buck]

Dave , if in fact the average release size was 70 grams there should be a lot of residual trout in the system this summer.  Missed target release size by 10 grams. What a waste of wild steelhead if juveniles are being released undersized. You can bet that sections 5 and 6 were a lot smaller than 70 grams. Did you notice last week that no one seem to know the size of fish when we asked.

[Dave]

Dave, we were betting on how fast you were going to ask me that after I posted it!

I might be wrong, but I was told average weight was 70g. I'll get a confirmation later on once today's release is done.

Tell whoever won the bet they owe me a beer   Looking forward to confirmation of the weight and numbers released.

buck, you know how I feel about this oh so casual use of wild steelhead for a hatchery program that could be so much better.
 

[Rodney]

Total number of fish released was 115,239, average weight was 70g (size range 61.6g to 74.2g).

[zap brannigan]

saw lots of people i the last week targeting the juveniles.

[fisharoo]

What spots did they release them this year?

[Dave]

Total number of fish released was 115,239, average weight was 70g (size range 61.6g to 74.2g).

Thanks Rod, we got the same info today while at the Chwk R hatchery; perhaps, maybe, someday, enough funding will be allocated to this program to reach the mandated size of 80g.

[Rodney]

Dave, is funding constraint the only factor which results in the smaller release size? If that's the case, perhaps external funding from groups such as the Fraser Valley Salmon Society and BC Federation of Drift Fishers should be considered? Last year, both groups jointly paid FFSBC $750 to have these Stave River juvenile steelhead clipped due to a lack of funding so they would not have to be destroyed. I don't see why the same can't be done in this scenario unless the federal institution has a policy that prohibits it.

[Dave]

Dave, is funding constraint the only factor which results in the smaller release size? If that's the case, perhaps external funding from groups such as the Fraser Valley Salmon Society and BC Federation of Drift Fishers should be considered? Last year, both groups jointly paid FFSBC $750 to have these Stave River juvenile steelhead clipped due to a lack of funding so they would not have to be destroyed. I don't see why the same can't be done in this scenario unless the federal institution has a policy that prohibits it.

Well, it seems like no brainer doesn't it ... a few years ago the FVSS tried to give DFO 2k to feed chum fry, which would have greatly increased survival to adults.  Guess what, DFO turned the money down
Perhaps more astute managers are at the helm today and it may be worth another try.  The issue is pumping warmer well water for a longer period of time, then feeding the fish accordingly. Another problem is it's not just steelhead juveniles that need this boost of warmer water for growth.  Perhaps buck can chime in here as he has far more knowledge of this situation.

[Ian Forbes]

Who, but a hatchery officer has an actual clue what length a 70 gram rainbow is? My guess is about 7 to 8 inches. I think they are what we have been hooking in The Cowichan recently. At one time I thought they were resident rainbows, but now think they are steelhead parr migrating down river towards the ocean. There is always a few that become residents, but the bulk go to the ocean to be eaten by mackerel and seals. The seals move up to the traffic bridge in the Puntledge River and use the highway lights to pick off the migrating smolts.