Tuesday, October 7, 2008

10/03/08

SILETZ FISH TRAP

Finally, back on the river.
Wayde & Casey went to the Siletz trap Friday, 10/3. It was good to be back in the gorge, the river and the fish. The river was 6 inches higher than my last trip in August. The level was even with the top of the flat rocks by the old headgate upstream from the trap. There was good variety today also. The trap suffered a malfunction in the main headgate lifting device. The collar at the top of the stem was broken apparently during the last use. Casey was able to squeeze it with his fingers while I turned the handle and we got the gate closed. They have another collar so it can be repaired.
There were 22 fish in the trap with the following count:
Steelhead
hatchery 7 bucks 4 hens
wild 2 hens
Chinook (wild)
7 bucks
2 jacks
The 7 male steelhead were penned and will be used for brood stock. Casey will take them over next Wednesday. We had 1 large male Chinook that we estimated at 25 lbs. A big, colorful and strong fish.
1 grouse was observed on the way in and 5 deer were seen by the log truck in front of us on the way out. A light drizzle continued throughout the day.
Wayde

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