Hunting Washington Forum

Other Activities => Fishing => Topic started by: Pete112288 on May 18, 2020, 12:18:17 PM

Title: Steelhead time from release to return?
Post by: Pete112288 on May 18, 2020, 12:18:17 PM: I tried doing a search in several places but could not come up with any regular responses.
How long would you say it takes for steelhead to return to the river as adults after they are stocked.
I know its not overall age of the fish because they dont release them the day they hatch. I am thinking from the time they are released.
Some sources say they will be 2 years in freshwater then 2-3 in salt. Others say that most return after just 1 year in the ocean, but dont say how long they would be in the river before that.
So does anyone have an answer? Was curious as I was looking at the last 4 years or so of stocking reports and trying to gauge which year's stocking would roughly show up on which year's adult return.
Title: Re: Steelhead time from release to return?
Post by: O. Nerka on May 18, 2020, 01:09:26 PM: Inland Columbia summer runs something like 99% spend either 1 or 2 years in the ocean. The ratio of 1 salt:2 salt varies yearly depending on ocean conditions.
Title: Re: Steelhead time from release to return?
Post by: Bullkllr on May 18, 2020, 01:31:24 PM: You're talking about hatchery fish.
They are raised to "smolt size", meaning they head for salt water very soon after they're released. So really, the time they spend in the stream is negligible.
Most (say~ 90%) steelhead in these parts come back as "2-salt" fish, meaning about 2 years in the salt-water phase . These are your average ~5-8 pounders. Some stay an extra year (3-salt) and are ~12-15 pounds. Longer than that probably has happened, but not often enough to worry about.

Wild fish have considerably more complex life histories.
Most may be 2 years fresh/2 years salt, but it varies from 1-4 years in fresh to 1-4 years in salt.

If you look at the WDFW stocking reports, note this:
"release year 2018. The majority of the adult returns from these releases are expected during the 2019-2020 winter and 2020 summer seasons."
Title: Re: Steelhead time from release to return?
Post by: Parasite on May 18, 2020, 05:17:32 PM: It varies with each strain. That's why the Great Lakes region use the Little Manistee strain. 8# fish after 2 years.
Title: Re: Steelhead time from release to return?
Post by: huntnnw on May 18, 2020, 10:31:06 PM: IDFG just posted travel times from smolts down river to ocean and the same returning fish as adults and where they ended up. Pretty cool piece they wrote up. It was some fish that returned to the furthest area they know of near Stanley,ID on a creek with a PIT tag scanner some 800 river miles.
Title: Re: Steelhead time from release to return?
Post by: Knocker of rocks on May 19, 2020, 03:56:39 AM: Quote from: huntnnw on May 18, 2020, 10:31:06 PM
IDFG just posted travel times from smolts down river to ocean and the same returning fish as adults and where they ended up. Pretty cool piece they wrote up. It was some fish that returned to the furthest area they know of near Stanley,ID on a creek with a PIT tag scanner some 800 river miles.

Link?
Title: Re: Steelhead time from release to return?
Post by: huntnnw on May 19, 2020, 04:42:12 AM: https://idfg.idaho.gov/blog/2020/04/wild-adult-steelhead-returns-detections-new-tributary-pit-array
Title: Re: Steelhead time from release to return?
Post by: nwwanderer on May 19, 2020, 05:29:32 AM: Thanks for the info and to IDFG for sharing, appreciated
Title: Re: Steelhead time from release to return?
Post by: Knocker of rocks on May 19, 2020, 08:20:09 AM: Quote from: nwwanderer on May 19, 2020, 05:29:32 AM
Thanks for the info and to IDFG for sharing, appreciated

Ditto