What has happened is the spawning of hatchery fish in the rivers. This is
fairly common. They spawn at an earlier time frame than native fish, but
some hatchery fish do spawn later in Mar. and it is those fish that comprise
the "wild" fish that we presently have in the river systems. The waters are
warmer at this time and provide food in the system for survival that the
bulk of the hatchery fish do not have when they spawn in Jan. Summer-run,
for some reason(summer hatchery fish) are more successful at successfully
spawning in the river and they spawn at about the same time as winter
hatchery fish. I'm close to the numbers on this, but can't remember
exactly. It has been demonstrated that if you harvest 70% of the run for 5
consecutive years, you effectively eliminate a native run of fish. We did
that in the late 70's and '80's. Commercial netting combined with sport
fishing effectively eliminated the possibility of true, native fish.
However, a hatchery fish that successfully spawns and returns as a wild fish
is a full fledged wild fish as far as I am concerned. I have caught many of
them in the Sky and the Snoqualmie and they are incredibly fine fish and
great fighters. Remember, any wild fish would have to adapt to the
conditions as they are today anyway. We once thought that there was a good
run of big, native fish in Nov. and Dec. and that these were over-harvested.
Once the game dept. began their fin-clip of hatchery fish, the natives
disappeared. It was discovered these were 3 salt hatchery fish. The river
where they thought the best opportunity to observe problems in genetics was
on the Elochomen(sp?)
It is a small river and at one time had a large population of both hatchery
and wild. There proved to be little problem.
The philosophical question is "Are there native fish in our rivers that are
progeny of steelhead that were here 500 yrs ago, or longer?" Probably not,
but it is academic to me. Do what we can to improve habitat and spawning
conditions, let native fish go and implement good regulations during their
spawning time and promote sport fishing! Hatchery fish were planted to
harvest. Use good judgement and don't feel bad about keeping some. Jere
----- Original Message -----
From: Justin Teegarden <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2000 5:21 PM
Subject: Re: Re:Native vs Hatchery Fish
> Hmm, Jere I'd have to find it again, but I am sure I read a few articles
in "Salmon, Trout, Steelhead" about the problems of intermingling wild and
Hatchery fish and how Wild fish are more of a thing of the past since most
all fish now are from A: Hatcheries, or B: Wild fish intermingling and
spawing with Hatchery fish. If this is not a good source, Ok. I thought
that was one of the main reasons they wanted to make the Sandy river a
"wild" only run and stop the hatchery and the fishing there altogether
(Crazy, Agreed). You do bring up a good point. If they are both of the
same stream/river originally, Then Genetics will stay the same if they do
intermingle. I will have to look that up again.
>
>
> Justin
>
> On Wed, 1 Nov 2000 16:50:23 -0800 jcrosby <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >Most all of the studies done in recent years, much to the chagrin of
those
> >wanting to turn back the clock 1000 yrs or so, conclude that there is
very
> >little cross spawning and danger to the integrity of the wild fish
> >(steelhead). The last major study done for the Columbia River and it's
> >tributaries and somewhat north, concluded that it would take a very small
> >river and a considerable population of hatchery/native fish to cause any
> >measurable danger to the genetic integrity of wild steelhead.
> >It is commendable on the fly fisherman's part to take the lead in
> >re-establishing wild runs of salmon and steelhead. Hatchery fish,
however,
> >make up a significant part of our fisheries. Sit down and list all the
> >hatchery fish that provide sport for yourself. They make up the bulk of
the
> >fish that I pursue. There are those that use the endangered species act
to
> >shutdown sportfishing. There are also those that enlist the support of
> >flyfishermen to give themselves credibility to eliminate, or reduce
> >sportfishing and they are succeeding! I am finding more and more "lure"
> >fisherman who are willing to release wild fish and even release hatchery
> >fish that they do not want to eat, but they are interested in using
common
> >sense. Where there are no fish runs, or very weak runs, it makes sense
to
> >plant fish. The largest steelhead runs in the world, at this present
time,
> >are those that go up the Snake and the Clearwater River, a result of a
> >hatchery program. They go over every dam on the Columbia!
> >I, personally, release virtually all salmon and steelhead. I just do not
> >like to eat them. I have kept sockeye from the Lake WA. fishery. The
other
> >conclusion that I have come to is that water temp makes a great deal of
> >difference in the fight of steelhead. The water temp., when hatchery
fish
> >return,(Dec.,Jan. Feb.) is colder than in Mar./Apr. when native fish
return
> >and the fish fight much more in warmer water. Hatchery summer runs can
be
> >awesome fighters and it is due to the water temp. Jere
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: Justin Teegarden <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2000 2:04 PM
> >Subject: Re:Native vs Hatchery Fish
> >
> >
> >> You can't ask for viewpoints on this subject without getting a
difference
> >of opinion. Wild fish I'll always let go if you can keep them or not
> >(anadronamous). Hatchery fish, well that depends. To much to put down
here
> >on this viewpoint. I will keep Hatchery steelhead, Especially if they
are
> >trucking them back down to swim up 2 and 3 times. I don't think there
are
> >much "wild" fish left. I think the Hatchery and Wild Have
> >intermingled for quit some time and to have a 100% pure wild fish is a
bit
> >on the fantasy side, but one thing is for sure, the color and fight, 9
times
> >out of 10, is twice as good as a hatchery fish. I also Keep Hatchery
fish,
> >because of my wife. IF I Bring home something she feels I'm not wasting
my
> >time. Go Figure. It is also nice to eat fresh fish every now and again.
> >>
> >> I think I could go on and on here, but I'll stop and let others spill
> >their viewpoints all over the board.
> >>
> >> Justin
> >>
> >>
> >> On Wed, 01 Nov 2000 12:28:33 -0800 Sean Ransom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
> >> >Since I have started fly fishing I have not kept one fish I have
caught.
> >> >My main reason for this has been to do my part to preserve the
dwindling
> >> >supply of fish. I would never keep a wild fish of any species under
any
> >> >circumstances (even though I would like to sometimes).
> >> >
> >> >However I have recently read a few different viewpoints on hatchery
> >> >fish. I am mainly talking about steelhead but salmon as well. I have
> >> >heard that these fish are for the most part unable to spawn and
> >> >fisherman are doing a service by removing them from the streams so
they
> >> >do not intermingle with the natives. I have also heard the viewpoint
> >> >that all fish should be released whether they are native or not.
> >> >
> >> >I have no problem with folks who do keep fish and would like to
justify
> >> >keeping fish myself. I am interested in hearing some of the people on
> >> >this boards viewpoints (without starting big debate or anything). When
> >> >it comes down to it it is a personal decision but am interested in
your
> >> >viewpoints. Also if anyone could recommend some reading material on
the
> >> >subject I would appreciate it.
> >> >
> >> >-sean
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >> Have you gotten your free email at fishing.com or flyfishing.com? I
got
> >mine, come get yours! Visit www.fishing.com or www.flyfishing.com to
sign
> >up!
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
> Have you gotten your free email at fishing.com or flyfishing.com? I got
mine, come get yours! Visit www.fishing.com or www.flyfishing.com to sign
up!
>
>
