Small Skykomish Steelhead

[ridgefire]

I have caught 4 steelhead in the last 2 floats that are in the 16-20” range. They have been clipped and unclipped fish. I have never caught them this size in the past. Usually they are 8-12” or adult sized. Any idea why they are so small? Also, yesterday I caught an adult hatchery hen that was spawned out. I’m assuming this fish has never made it to the hatchery and spawned in the river or they let it out of the hatchery. Not sure what our state is doing with the fish is the Skykomish but it’s definitely different than it was. See picture for size reference.

[Platensek-po]

I don’t know about the sky but on other rivers fish that make it to the hatchery are sent back out have a hole punched in the gill plate. I’ve caught them with 2-3 holes before. As to those small one I’m not sure. Could be they are returning earlier or didn’t get enough to eat?

[ASHQUACK]

Most likely small enough to slip through net mesh meant to kill bigger fish. State run hatcheries are kill hatcheries. Very few if any kelts are released to venture back to salt.

[Platensek-po]

Most likely small enough to slip through net mesh meant to kill bigger fish. State run hatcheries are kill hatcheries. Very few if any kelts are released to venture back to salt.

Why would they kill steelhead tho? They can go back to the salt and come back again the next year. Female steelhead have been known to spawn 2-3 times.

[Jake Dogfish]

Most likely small enough to slip through net mesh meant to kill bigger fish. State run hatcheries are kill hatcheries. Very few if any kelts are released to venture back to salt.

Why would they kill steelhead tho? They can go back to the salt and come back again the next year. Female steelhead have been known to spawn 2-3 times.

They spawn them to meet egg take goals.  Hatchery spawning is usually fatal.

[HntnFsh]

Most likely small enough to slip through net mesh meant to kill bigger fish. State run hatcheries are kill hatcheries. Very few if any kelts are released to venture back to salt.

All kelts captured on the Cowlitz system are released at Mision launch to try to make another run.

[metlhead]

I don't belive the Cowlitz hatchery releases kelts. Those released fish are fresh and have returned long before the hatchery is ready for them. Small steelhead are common there in August. The males may be similar to salmon jacks.

[Smokeploe]

Yes they recycle many times.  I was talking to the truck driver who drives the fish truck, they recycle 2-3 times per week.  They release either at mission launch or the ramp under I5.  During the summer months they release jacks, small returning steelhead into Riffe Lake 3-4 times per week. 

Smokeploe

[ridgefire]

I’m pretty sure they do not recycle the fish on the Sky anymore.

[metlhead]

Recycle fish yes, but technically not kelts. All hatchery fish are killed. No kelts created.

[HntnFsh]

I don't belive the Cowlitz hatchery releases kelts. Those released fish are fresh and have returned long before the hatchery is ready for them. Small steelhead are common there in August. The males may be similar to salmon jacks.

The Kelts are captured at Cowlitz falls and trucked to Mission bar.

[HntnFsh]

Yes they recycle many times.  I was talking to the truck driver who drives the fish truck, they recycle 2-3 times per week.  They release either at mission launch or the ramp under I5.  During the summer months they release jacks, small returning steelhead into Riffe Lake 3-4 times per week. 

Smokeploe

All recycled steelhead go to I5.

The mini jacks do go to Riffe.

[metlhead]

Oh, hadn't thought of upper basin wild fish.

[nanum]

Rumor circulating around the Sky and tribs is it was during the plandemic. They released all hatchery fish in the pens because they were scared of getting the vid or something like that.

[jackelope]

I caught 14” rainbows in the upper Sky drainage thin blue lines this past year with almost regularity. A 16” fish(rainbow) on the main river seems totally conceivable without any other thoughts coming to mind. There are definitely at least some resident fish in the main stem.