11/17/08

SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:

This in from Frank Stout............The work party for Schooner Creek is still on for tomorrow (Tuesday).
A special THANK YOU to Mike Samples for his work in making the trap operational after the big flood last week.

Hank, Butch, Brian and I went up to the Schooner Creek trap today. You could tell that Mike Samples did a lot of work because it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought that it would be. There was quite a build up of sand in both chambers of the trap. The water inside the trap was only about ankle deep so I was surprised to discover a wild coho male. He was pretty red with a well pronounced hook. He must have liked the trap because as soon as Brian released him upstream he made a U turn and swam right back down into the upper chamber of the trap. Brian had a fun time trying to net him by reaching through the upper bars. Brian was successful and he finally decided to head on upstream. Hank and Butch were able to install a new cable on the upper winch. ODFW has provided new locks and they did have some difficulty in getting the new padlock to fit through the hole of the metal rod securing the trap top lid but they got it to work.

The water level has dropped quite a bit but still a little brisk at mid stream. We placed a ladder in the stream and with someone holding the ladder steady from up on top of the bridge I don't think there will be any problem for tomorrow.

Take care, Frank

11/10/08

SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:

SCHOONER FISH TRAP REPORT >>>>>> TEAM CHINOOK on 10 Nov. 2008 (4 Men & Round Trip Mileage of … 54 Miles)

What a Great Day we had at the Trap >><<>

4 Native Coho >>> (3 Male & 1 Female)

2 Native Steelhead >>> (1 Dead Male & 1 Female on her last legs ??)

Trap conditions required some work to clear considerable debris, but stream flow was clear & never critically restricted.

**** You All will notice a NEW TRAP BAR LOCK provided, compliments of Surveyor DUDLEY !!!! It works SO MUCH BETTER than the Chain & Boys Howdy, is it ever handy to use down in the trap to clear debris off of the gates…….. Great Job Wayde & Special Thanks from all of the Trappers (No more “Skinned Knuckles” hooking up the Chain) ……….. ELECTRIC BILL

From: James Ray [mailto:James.Ray@state.or.us]
Sent: Monday, November 10, 2008 1:47 PM
To: John Spangler; BILL FURGASON
Subject: RE: SCHOONER TRAP REPORT ........ (11/10/08)

Great news about the fish in the trap today, I was really hoping we would get some.

I was wondering if there were any holes on the gill plates of the coho and to use this as an opportunity to remind everyone to remember to check. Also I am a little intrigued and concerned about the native steelhead. This is very early to see wild winter steelhead, and wild summer steelhead typically would not use a small system like South Fork Schooner. Bill, could you give me your opinion of the condition of these fish. I am worried about the fact that the male was dead. Did he seem healthy and fresh or was he beaten up like he’d been in the system for a long time. I’d appreciate your insight.

Thanks again and good job getting wild coho up in the system!

James

11/07/08

SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:


Good afternoon,

I went to the trap today and found no fish! The trap was full of leaves and had almost stopped the water flow. There was about 6" of water in the trap. I cleaned all leaves out from both gates and the front of the trap and everything is now running well. Hopefully you will find some fish on Monday. the creek was up significantly.

Mike

11/03/08

Wayde, Barb and Wayne visited the Schooner trap Monday morning. We left LVH at 0800, stopped at Hail Mary's for a "road coffee" and reached the trap about 0845. There were no fish in the trap. We cleaned a fair amount of leaves and sticks out of the gates.

The clip board with the data sheets was not in the shed. Not sure where that is. Light showers but still a pleasant day. We were back at LVH by 1000. A few pics of the trap area.

10/31/08

SILETZ FISH TRAP:

This in from Hank Bryson...............

Without a prompting from Mr. Wayde Dudley I am putting out a report on the trap! There were eight Hatchery fish in the trap and one nice Native that went on up over the falls, two of the hatchery fish were tagged fish. Fall has been relentless in putting lots of leaves into the river which had the trap water backed up and quite high. Casey still thinks a good run of summer steelhead will be in the trap after this weeks rains and he said the first winter steelhead was reported caught last week. Wildlife seen was one nice white headed bald eagle and one small deer that was the same color as the steelhead--DARK. we also opened up the Bohannon trap, the river is very low and Casey wanted to have the trap ready as the Coho are showing up in large numbers down low in the river and with the rains flushing out the river they will be able to get a better count of the fish this year.

Hank