01/28/08

SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:

Schooner Trap Report: No fish. Water was down about a foot and the trap was clear. We do need to clear some of the overhanging brush on the main road in and the switch back road going down. No point scratching paint anymore than necessary. Also need to WD-40 the locks, they are getting sticky. Otherwise it was another gorgeous day, with snow on everything and a little sun.

Brian

01/25/08

SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:

Today the Schooner Creek trap was clean and clear. No fish, and no debris. There was snow on the road from the six mile marker up to the trap. It was slick and everything at the trap was frozen but very pretty. As I was heading back down the creek I stopped at my usual
locations to look for redds and any fish holding. In two different locations I saw a pair each of Steelhead. One pair was actively building a redd and the other were just holding in a current break. Hopefully with the next rain more fish will move up the creek.

Mike

01/25/08

SILETZ FISH TRAP:

I visited the Palmer and Siletz traps today with Roger Wilson. It was cold and slick nearly everywhere. No fish at Palmer but we loaded some water for transport. The Siletz trap had 3 wild Steelhead from Wednesday. They were put in the truck to transport to the Alsea Hatchery for brood stock. Roger worked on the lifting mechanism of the inner gate. Some parts need replacement and he got most of it off. The metal ladders and deck got very slippery as we worked as the water froze as soon as it hit any metal. You had to watch your step and use hand supports to get around. Log trucks having a tough day but there were not too many. No critters of note. Roger was going to hit Bohannen after the hatchery.

Wayde

01/23/08

SILETZ FISH TRAP:

WE CHECKED THREE TRAPS TODAY, BOHANNON AND PALMER TRAPS HAD NO FISH IN THEM. THE PALMER IS NOT ACCESSIBLE DUE TO THE LOW WATER ON THE SILETZ AND THE FISH DON'T SEEM TO BE MOVING DUE TO THE LOW AND COLDER WATER THEN THE LAST TIME WE WERE AT BOHANNON. THERE WERE SIX FISH IN THE SILETZ TRAP, THREE HATCHERY FISH THAT WE ESTIMATED TO BE TWELVE TO FIFTEEN POUNDS, TWO MALES AND ONE FEMALE. THE NATIVE FISH ONE MALE AND TWO FEMALES WE LEFT IN THE TRAP FOR TRANSPORTATION TO A FISH HATCHERY IN THE ALSEA BASIN ON FRIDAY ALONG WITH ANY OTHER NATIVE FISH THAT MAY FIND THEIR WAY INTO THE TRAP THE NEXT TWO DAYS. WE EXPERIENCED SOME TROUBLE WITH THE JACK SCREW WHICH RAISES AND LOWER THE INLET GATE AS THE BRASS NUT IS WORN OUT AND BECAME UNCONNECTED FROM THE SHAFT, WE WERE ABLE TO RECONNECT AND THE TRAP IS OPERATING AGAIN BUT REPAIRS ARE DEFINITELY NEEDED.

HANK

01/21/08

SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:

From Big Fish:

John Spangler, Wayne Hill, and Bob Abbott were led by Team Leader Bill Furgason to the Schooner Creek Trap. It was cold and frosty in the canyon but there was no fish in the trap. Bill had Bob initiate his new waders by getting Bob down into the trap. The trap was cleaned and is open for business.

01/18/08

SILETZ FISH TRAP:

Went up to the three traps today, Siletz, Palmer and Bohannon and all of them had NO fish inside so we had a pleasant drive and conversation. Today I went with Derek who was filling in for Casey, confusing isn't it, anyway the water in the rivers have really dropped and all seem to be crystal clear and cold. The biologist said that the cold water pretty much keeps them from moving on up the river so get your rod and gear ready and go out and catch a cold and wet Steelhead!

Hank

01/16/08

SILETZ FISH TRAP:

To let you all know Casey is back from his saltwater ventures (Tuna) and was driving the truck today for checking the three traps. Tracy will drive again on Friday and Roger will be back for Wednesday and Friday trips starting next week and will end his work at ODF&W on March first. The Siletz trap had three steelhead, one male native, two females, one native and one hatchery. One of the natïve fish was on it's second visit to the trap as the tail had been punched, it now has two punches in it's tail and all the native fish were sent back down the fish ladder. No fish to report at Palmer Creek as the water on the Siletz is lower and prevents them from getting to the trap. Bohannon also had no fish today. The Siletz looks real good for fishing now due to the lower water, we saw a lot of drift boats fishing the river.

Hank

01/14/08

SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:

Tom Roederer and I, under the direct supervision of Wayne Hill, went up to the trap today where we also met up with Mike Samples. Things have picked up a little bit on Schooner Creek as we had 5 steelhead in the trap today. They were all hens. We had 3 wild and 2 hatchery. The hatchery were dispatched downstream and the 3 wild had their tummies rubbed and sent on upstream with a little love pat. Butch Minich and Brian Hudson installed new base bolts to secure the downstream winch and then took measurements and were preparing plans to repair the ladder. They were also designing an improved method to secure the trap lid.

We didn't see any wild animals but it appears that they are shooting some type of movie at the Tidal Raves Restaurant in Depoe Bay. There is some traffic congestion going through that area and according to Brian Hudson there was a nice looking blonde creating a traffic hazard. Take care, Frank

01/11/08

SILETZ FISH TRAP:

Siletz river water was up high enough that it was going over the rocks and the top of the trap today, so we could not do anything except turn around and go to the Palmer trap. We had fourteen Steelhead in the trap, all Steelhead and hatchery fish, nine males and five females that we put into the water tank on the truck and put them back into the Siletz at Mill Creek Park. The trap at Bohanan had seven fish in it, five winter Steelhead two males and one female, one summer Steelhead which was a female and three Coho's, one male and two females. All the fish except for the summer Steelhead were sent up river to spawn. Animal along the way were all in the Alsea basin and we saw two deer and Fourteen Elk, The Elk were in the same area as we saw them on Wednesday! Everybody have a great weekend!

Hank

01/11/08

SCHOONER CREEK TRAP:

Good morning everyone,

We had a nice morning at the trap today. There were three (3) Steelhead in the trap. We had one wild male Steelhead, one wild female Steelhead, and one stray male summer hatchery Steelhead. The two wild fish were released upstream and the hatchery fish is providing nutrients to whatever might be downstream from the dam. The creek was running high but pretty good color. There was quite a bit of debris in the trap and the beaver activity was very apparent. We cleaned the trap and should remain in good shape for the Monday crew next week.

Mike

01/09/08

SILETZ FISH TRAP:

A busy day at the traps with some pleasant surprises included. Sieltz River, no fish in the trap, probably because there was a lot of silt and rocks inside the trap which raised the water level quite high over the inlet grate and the fish were able to get back out. We cleaned out most of the debris and will finish the job on Friday, the trap is up and running again. The Palmer Creek trap had sixteen fish in it, one jack salmon which we returned to the stream, fifteen Steelhead, four females and eleven males which were all hatchery fish so we tagged marked them and put them in the truck tank and released them at Mill Park on the Sieltz, giving a second try for the fisherman. The Bohannon trap had one Steelhead female and three Coho's, two males and one female which were all released to the river. The pleasant surprises for the day where three deer and fourteen elk at different places along the road way. I'll have more to report on Friday!

Hank Bryson

01/09/08

SCHOONER CREEK:

This in from Mike Samples

I just received an email from the Wednesday Schooner Creek group.

They released a wild male Steelhead today. Slowly but surely, here they come.

MIke

1/7/08

SCHOONER TRAP:

Butch, Wayde and I went to Schooner this morning. Light snow on everything and the creek valley looked like one of those Currier and Ives Christmas cards. The creek was up but green and running well through the trap. Thought sure we'd see something in there, but was not to be. We put the board in front to drop the level about a foot, then did some cleaning and closed it all up. Home by noon.

Brian

PS: Trivia - The phrase "the whole nine yards" comes from the length of the 50 cal ammo belts used on B-17's and 24's in WWII.

01/04/08

SCHOONER CREEK:

Following is the Schooner Creek trap report for Friday, Jan. 4th. First of all a big thank you to John Spangler and Frank Stout for agreeing to accompany me to the trap today. My partner had an emergency and both he and his wife left for Northern Washington early this morning. Since I am still having some issues with my back, their presence was invaluable and their help was certainly appreciated. Prior to heading up to the trap there was some question as to whether we should go based on the latest weather reports. Luckily, mother nature cooperated and we had pleasant conditions this morning. The creek was high and the trap was running strong and clean. So clean in fact that it wasn't necessary to do any debris removal at all. I think this is the first time I have seen it so clean. We had success !!!!! There was only one but she was beautiful. We found a native hen Steelhead in the trap. This fish must have just recently shot up the creek because as we Steelhead fishermen say, "it was a chromer", "mint bright". It was a great feeling to see another hen since there has already been a couple of native male Steelhead released from the trap this year. John, Frank and I also placed a link of chain on the downriver side of the ladder to use as a handle when entering and exiting the trap. The handle on that side of the ladder was destroyed by the tree that fell on the trap during the last big storm. This is only a temporary fix but at least it gives a person another hand hold. Well, thats' the whole story for today. Have a great weekend.

MIke Samples

01/04/08

SILETZ TRAP:

Three fish traps checked today. Siletz trap had five steelhead, all good looking fish so they had been moving upriver pretty fast, one native male, three hatchery females and one hatchery male. We transported the native fish to Sunshine Creek and released it, and transported the hatchery fish back into the Sieltz river at Mill park. Bohannon and Palmer creek had no fish but the rivers are flowing quite high and are hoping to have some fish in them next week.

Hank Bryson

12/31/07

SCHOONER CREEK TRAP REPORT (31 DEC. 2007)

Hello You All >><<>

There where patches of Black Ice on the hard road into the trap & we found a Sprinkling of Snow on the trees/ground at the trap. Yes, it was very cold, but the sun made it a fun & beautiful day.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU TRAPPERS !!!!!!!!!

THE HOOK

P>S>> Hank Bryson reported a Big Stump Slide on the trap entrance road & it sure did slide down on the road. However, there is still enough room to safely pass the slide. The Forest Service may want to bring a Back Hoe in to push it down over the bank. This can probably wait until spring, at which time, they may want to add some dirt to the soft curve area that has also slid a bit.