Monday April 26, 2010
Wayde & Barb checked the Schooner trap this morning. Low, clear water & no fish. Nice drive but nothing to report.
Wayde
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
04/23/2010
SILETZ TRAP RUN:
Trap Report for Friday, 4/23
Bill & Wayde left the Pig House just after 8, gassed up and headed south. We arrived at the Bohanan trap at 9:17. Good flow of very clear water which was 43 degrees. No fish in the trap and we left at 9:22.
Reached the Palmer trap at 10:40. Just a trickle of clear water and no fish in the trap so on up the Gorge to the Siletz Falls trap and arrived at 10:40.
There were 17 Steelhead of which 5 were holdover's from Wednesday. The water was clear and 41 degrees. The count:
Wild 2 m 4 f
Hatchery 8 m 3 f
The wild fish were put back down the ladder. The hatchery fish were loaded up and taken across the river to the truck. We took the 11 Steelhead to Olalla reservoir and released them at the bottom of the boat ramp. A few interested anglers came over to watch and ask a few questions. The Olalla water was 57 degrees at the ramp. Left Olalla at 1:44 and got back to the Pig House at 2:02.
Bill was a bit antsy all day as this was his last day before departing on a 2 week motorcycle trip south and east of Newport (warmer clime). The Gorge was very busy today with the most vehicles I have encountered yet.
Wayde
04/23/2010
SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:
Greetings
Team Chinook had a very nice drive today up to Schooner trap. The trap was empty the water low,and clear. I saw a red tail hawk on the way in and that was the extent of the wild life. We were back to base in under 2 hours. Larry couldn't make it today so we had Ben Davi ride up with us. It is always good to get out and just enjoy the beautiful outdoors. This was team Chinook's final trip to the trap for the season. The trap will close down next week.
Team Chinook
John, Bud, Ben, Bill
Team Chinook had a very nice drive today up to Schooner trap. The trap was empty the water low,and clear. I saw a red tail hawk on the way in and that was the extent of the wild life. We were back to base in under 2 hours. Larry couldn't make it today so we had Ben Davi ride up with us. It is always good to get out and just enjoy the beautiful outdoors. This was team Chinook's final trip to the trap for the season. The trap will close down next week.
Team Chinook
John, Bud, Ben, Bill
04/21/2010
SILETZ TRAP RUN:
Bill is leaving for a 2 week motorcycle adventure on Saturday so after our run I bid him a bon voyage and forgot to write down the results of our day. Therefore the following results are from memory and not necessarily accurate. We made a brief stop at Palmer Creek but it was down to just a trickle and only a few inches of water in the trap. We then proceeded to Siletz Falls where there were approximately 18 fish in the trap. Approximately 8 of those were holdovers from Monday in preparation for a brood stock run to Alsea. We collected 5 pair of wild for the brood stock run and sent another 3 males back downstream. The other 5 were left in the trap for a run to Ollala on Friday. We proceeded to the Alsea Hatchery via Valsetz and after assisting with the spawning process we brought 9 back for release at Ilahee Park in Siletz. Back in town at 3:30. Nice day. Frank
04/21/2010
SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:
Morning,
No fish today. The water was clear and running about 12" deep. No wildlife today either. Down river around the six mile marker I did see one Steelhead casually swimming in an area I normally see fish throughout the season.
enjoy.
Morning,
No fish today. The water was clear and running about 12" deep. No wildlife today either. Down river around the six mile marker I did see one Steelhead casually swimming in an area I normally see fish throughout the season.
enjoy.
Mike
04/19/2010
SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:
Hello
Bud, and I had fish trap duty today, there were no critters to be seen anywhere going into the trap. We enjoyed the beautiful drive down into the trap, and when we got there the trap was bare. The water running through the trap was crystal clear and about 1.5 ft deep. We buttoned up and headed out. When we got through the gate we decided to turn right instead of left. The drive was beautiful as we went up and looped back the Drift creek road. We didn't see so much as a chipmunk on the whole trip, but it w a nice ride. Our team will give it another try on Friday!
Team Chinook
Bill,@ Bud
Bud, and I had fish trap duty today, there were no critters to be seen anywhere going into the trap. We enjoyed the beautiful drive down into the trap, and when we got there the trap was bare. The water running through the trap was crystal clear and about 1.5 ft deep. We buttoned up and headed out. When we got through the gate we decided to turn right instead of left. The drive was beautiful as we went up and looped back the Drift creek road. We didn't see so much as a chipmunk on the whole trip, but it w a nice ride. Our team will give it another try on Friday!
Team Chinook
Bill,@ Bud
04/16/2010
SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:
Great day outside. No fish in the trap, but it was clear and running well with about 1.5' of water. The highlight was an eagle taking off from the trap just as we came down the hill - They really look BIG down in our little canyon. Did the Fish ID, etc with about 40 kids from Taft Elementary the rest of the day. Warmed up to T-shirt weather at the end.
Brian
Brian
04/14/2010
SILETZ TRAP RUN:
Wednesday, April 14
Trap Report
Today was a day of events. It seems like we just went from one event to another. The plan was to check the Siletz Falls trap and the Palmer trap. Derek was going to check Bohanan. Bill and I left the Pig House at 8:10 and headed south to get oxygen for the fish tank.
THE OSPREY- Going over the Yaquina Bay bridge Bill noticed that a pair of Osprey had begun piling up sticks to begin a nest. The problem was that their site was atop a river navigation aid. Homeland Security (U.S. Coast Guard) is charged with keeping all navigation aids clean and working so they will have to remove the beginning nest. The Osprey nest is a protected item under somebody's body of rules so this will pit one government agency against another. I wonder if they flip a coin or what.
OXYGEN - We continued south to the welding shop near the Litehouse Deli. Bill unfastened the empty tank and I packed it over to the loading dock. Bill went inside to do the paperwork. The attendant did not recognize us, the truck, ODF&W and generally acted like it was his first day. Since we were not in a position to pay for the oxygen, Bill had to talk long and hard to get the clerk to write it up and hold it till Derek came by.
We went back across the bridge, gassed up and headed for Siletz Falls. but.........
CAR WRECK - At milepost 2 on the Logsden Road a van had sheared off a power pole and the lines were sagging across the road. Apparently there were no serious injuries, the van was on it's side and they had one-way traffic under the power lines.
Bill had to do a stream survey on Buck Creek which crosses the Gorge Road near milepost 5. I dropped him off near the Siletz River and went back to the Gorge Road to wait for him. The water in Buck Creek was 44 degrees.
REDDS - Bill set the new Guinness record for redds found in that stretch or creek. He found 9 new sites and it took an hour for the survey which in the past has been a half hour.
WATER OOZLE - While I was waiting for Bill at the road I watched a water oozle hunting for insects in the stream. These unique birds "fly" under water and hunt for food.
BALD EAGLE - Bill startled a bald eagle which had been eating on an old steelhead carcass and it flew upstream and right over me. Majestic birds.
We reached the Siletz Falls trap at 11:30. Bill had brought some tools and we tightened the trolley cable so the car would not bump on the concrete pad on the south side of the river. There were 29 Steelhead in the trap.
Wild 8 male 6 female (3 were repeats)
Hatchery 9 male 6 female
The wild fish were released back down the ladder after getting a hole punched in their tail. The hatchery fish were transported back over the river and into the truck tank. The water was 42 degrees. We left at 12:28 and headed downriver, loaded.
We checked the Palmer trap. It had 1 male and 1 female hatchery Steelhead. We added them to the truck tank.
Bill pulled nearly all of the remaining boards for the smolt ponds and the majority of the remaining fish headed downstream. The water in Palmer Creek was 51 degrees. We left there at 1:30.
OLALLA RESERVOIR - We went to Olalla Reservoir and happily put 17 large Steelhead into the lake. Many people at the lake today so we had a good audience. The water was 51 degrees.
We wound our way back to Newport and arrived at the Pig House at 3:00 pm. As you can see it was a day of "events"
Wayde
04/14/2010
SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:
Good morning,
We are still continuing to see fish at the trap. Today I had one fish, a wild male which I released up at the bridge. The trap is running free of debris with plenty of water for fish passage, at least at this point. No wildlife today just lots of sun.
We are still continuing to see fish at the trap. Today I had one fish, a wild male which I released up at the bridge. The trap is running free of debris with plenty of water for fish passage, at least at this point. No wildlife today just lots of sun.
Mike
03/31/2010
SILETZ TRAP RUN:
Derek Wilson had a busy day planned for Bill Siegler and I today but it didn't really turn out that way. On our way up to the Siletz Falls trap we stopped at Buck Creek while Bill did a survey. Even though the water was high, it appeared to be clear enough so that Bill could complete his survey but it turned out to be a waste of time because the water was so deep and swift that he could not identify the reds. Our intent was to collect any hatchery fish and bring them back down and plant them in Lake Ollala. However, the Siletz trap only contained 2 fish ( a hatchery pair) which Bill decided to hold over until Friday. Palmer Creek had 2 fish as well. Casey needed 2 fish for a class presentation so one of the fish was dispatched and brought back. We also found a dead wild male steelhead adjacent to the entrance into the trap. Bill decided to bring it back as the second fish for Casey's presentation and the other fish was also held over until Friday. We then proceed to Bohannan but the trap was empty. On our way back to town we spotted a class of students exploring the North Beaver Creek. Got back into town about 2:30 and was able to see Casey for the first time in a while. It was great to see him back but it will be quite some time with a lot of physical therapy before he can play football again. Frank
03/31/2010
SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:
Mike
Hi everyone,
I am sure happy that I took Hank up on his reasonably priced lessons on how to locate fish in Schooner Creek trap. It was money well spent. Today I found three Steelhead in the trap(2 males and 1 female all native). I don't think the female will make it as she was exhausted when I first saw her in the trap. Either the males chased her out of the calmer water or the trip up the ladder was to much for her. She is ripe and ready to spawn. I spent about 30 minutes trying to revive her up by the bridge but I am not holding out much hope. The two males were healthy and strong. I found about two feet of water in the trap but there was quite a bit of debris blocking in the upper chamber. Once I cleared everything out the water was running over three feet high. No wildlife to report and no one had stepped on the trap cover so it was easy to open.
Brian may well find fish in the trap on Friday with the elementary school kids up there.
Mike
PS: Thanks again Hank AND
Also, don't step on the grate after it has been closed. I think someone must have been up at the trap to have pushed it down so hard. I have found it hard to pull up on several occasions but never in the manner that Team Chinook reported. I never step on it and as Wayde mentioned, let it down easy or it will stick.I am sure happy that I took Hank up on his reasonably priced lessons on how to locate fish in Schooner Creek trap. It was money well spent. Today I found three Steelhead in the trap(2 males and 1 female all native). I don't think the female will make it as she was exhausted when I first saw her in the trap. Either the males chased her out of the calmer water or the trip up the ladder was to much for her. She is ripe and ready to spawn. I spent about 30 minutes trying to revive her up by the bridge but I am not holding out much hope. The two males were healthy and strong. I found about two feet of water in the trap but there was quite a bit of debris blocking in the upper chamber. Once I cleared everything out the water was running over three feet high. No wildlife to report and no one had stepped on the trap cover so it was easy to open.
Brian may well find fish in the trap on Friday with the elementary school kids up there.
Mike
PS: Thanks again Hank AND
Mike
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
04/12/2010
SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:
Good afternoon,
And it was supposed to rain all day today. What a beautiful shirt sleeve day up in Schooner Creek canyon. This morning I got to the trap around 8:00 am and found 3 native Steelhead (2 hens, and 1 buck). I released all three up by the bridge. The water was clear and flowing well. I did raise the gates and clean some debris but the it wasn't bad. No wildlife today.
After Schooner Creek I met other volunteers and teachers further up on Schooner Creek road and spent the day with 38 5/6 graders again from Taft Elementary School teaching fish biology. Very rewarding day and the kids get really involved.
Thanks again Hank, for showing me how to locate those fish.
And it was supposed to rain all day today. What a beautiful shirt sleeve day up in Schooner Creek canyon. This morning I got to the trap around 8:00 am and found 3 native Steelhead (2 hens, and 1 buck). I released all three up by the bridge. The water was clear and flowing well. I did raise the gates and clean some debris but the it wasn't bad. No wildlife today.
After Schooner Creek I met other volunteers and teachers further up on Schooner Creek road and spent the day with 38 5/6 graders again from Taft Elementary School teaching fish biology. Very rewarding day and the kids get really involved.
Thanks again Hank, for showing me how to locate those fish.
Mike
04/09/2010
SILETZ TRAP RUN:
4/9/10 Trap Run
Bill and Wayde discussed various fish related issues in the office with Derek and Casey. We left, gassed up and headed south on Hwy 101 at 8:20. We arrived at the Bohanan trap about 9:50. The water was lower and very clear, 48 degrees, but no fish. We left and headed for Palmer via the 1000 Line road.
Frank and Larry were still at Palmer Creek. The trailer was hooked up and ready to go. The campsite was policed up and looked good. No fish in the Palmer trap. Water was clear and 47 degrees. Bill and I left at 11:30 and headed east up the gorge.
We reached the Siletz Falls at 12:10. There were 9 Steelhead in the trap.
Wild 2 male 3 female
Hatchery 3 male 1 female
The 2 wild males were punched and put back down the ladder. The 3 wild females were left in the trap to be taken to Alsea Hatchery for Brood stock. Water was 40 degrees.
The 4 hatchery fish were transported across the river to the truck and taken to Olalla Reservoir and released. I would love to see somebody hook into one of those fish.
We got back to the Pig House at 2:55 pm. Did not see any wildlife except squirrels.
Wayde
04/09/2010
SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:
Good afternoon,
Today was a busy day up at Schooner Creek. We had a class of 40 students from Taft Elementary School (split 5th/6th grade) along with one member of the Mid Coast Watershed Council and other volunteers. When I arrived early this morning I checked the trap right away and found one small native hen. I left her in the trap at that point to be released later when the kids were all there. I also had one very large hatchery male Steelhead that I had dispatched on Wednesday, put on ice and used him today for a dissection exercise. It turned out to be a good day. I think the children learned a lot and enjoyed themselves. They had numerous stations to visit including water quality, riparian care, entomology, and water flow. Everyone whooped and hollered when I came out of the trap with the Steelhead and all followed me up to the bridge where she was released to cheers from everyone. I will be back up there on Monday for another class although we will be on the North Fork of Schooner Creek and not at the trap. I will take care of the trap before the class begins.
Have a good weekend,
Today was a busy day up at Schooner Creek. We had a class of 40 students from Taft Elementary School (split 5th/6th grade) along with one member of the Mid Coast Watershed Council and other volunteers. When I arrived early this morning I checked the trap right away and found one small native hen. I left her in the trap at that point to be released later when the kids were all there. I also had one very large hatchery male Steelhead that I had dispatched on Wednesday, put on ice and used him today for a dissection exercise. It turned out to be a good day. I think the children learned a lot and enjoyed themselves. They had numerous stations to visit including water quality, riparian care, entomology, and water flow. Everyone whooped and hollered when I came out of the trap with the Steelhead and all followed me up to the bridge where she was released to cheers from everyone. I will be back up there on Monday for another class although we will be on the North Fork of Schooner Creek and not at the trap. I will take care of the trap before the class begins.
Have a good weekend,
Mike
04/07/2010
SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:
Greetings,
Another great day up at Schooner Creek. On the way up I saw the herd of Elk in the big meadow just West of the 2 mile marker. Once I opened the trap I saw a fish immediately. I had three fish today. Two very bright females (both native) which were released up by the bridge and one hatchery male (that wasn't released up by the bridge). This was the first hatchery fish I have had this year. With the upcoming rain the next couple of days I might have a fish or two for the Taft Elementary class on Friday. That's all for today.
Another great day up at Schooner Creek. On the way up I saw the herd of Elk in the big meadow just West of the 2 mile marker. Once I opened the trap I saw a fish immediately. I had three fish today. Two very bright females (both native) which were released up by the bridge and one hatchery male (that wasn't released up by the bridge). This was the first hatchery fish I have had this year. With the upcoming rain the next couple of days I might have a fish or two for the Taft Elementary class on Friday. That's all for today.
Mike
04/05/2010
SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:
The Newport Middle School trip to D-Lake for fishing and Schooner for Stream Team activity was cancelled due to foul weather, so Bud and I proceded to the trap. Rain followed by hail, followed by rain, followed by wind, followed by rain, followed by hail, etc, etc. were the order of the day. The creek and trap looked good with moderately strong clear flow.
I jumped into about two feet of water and started shuffling around the bottom and soon felt some fish. Backing up into the right rear corner, a very bright native Steelhead hen popped up and I almost had her by the caudal peduncle, but ended up using the net. While Bud was running her up-river, I checked the area below the baffle board at the head end and found another one, a native buck hiding there, and sent Bud upriver again. Then it started to HAIL!!!! and while doing a final check, something BIG tried to push by. After another 2 or 3 minutes I cornered our third and final native Steelhead - a buck- easily in the 15lb class - getting dark and ready to spawn. Bud did his thing again, and of course the hail and rain slacked off a bit as soon as we were done. All in all, a great day at the trap.
The baffle probably helped the hen, she appeared a little tired and had probably been in the trap for awhile.
Brian
I jumped into about two feet of water and started shuffling around the bottom and soon felt some fish. Backing up into the right rear corner, a very bright native Steelhead hen popped up and I almost had her by the caudal peduncle, but ended up using the net. While Bud was running her up-river, I checked the area below the baffle board at the head end and found another one, a native buck hiding there, and sent Bud upriver again. Then it started to HAIL!!!! and while doing a final check, something BIG tried to push by. After another 2 or 3 minutes I cornered our third and final native Steelhead - a buck- easily in the 15lb class - getting dark and ready to spawn. Bud did his thing again, and of course the hail and rain slacked off a bit as soon as we were done. All in all, a great day at the trap.
The baffle probably helped the hen, she appeared a little tired and had probably been in the trap for awhile.
Brian
04/02/2010
SILETZ TRAP RUN:
BILL AND I LEFT THE PIG, AFTER A SHORT MEETING WITH CASEY AND DEREK. THE WIND WAS BLOWING HARD, AND IT WAS POURING. WE HEADED TO SILETZ TRAP FIRST, WHERE THE WIND HAD DIED DOWN AND THE SUN WAS OUT. WE HAD 2 WILD RETURNS, AND 2 FE WILDS, AND 1 MALE AND 1 FEMALE HATCHERY FISH. WE LEFT THE WILD FISH IN THE TRAP, AND BONKED THE HATCHERY. WE WENT TO PALMER AND DID CLEANUP ON THE TRAP, AND GOT THE PONDS READY FOR MONDAY. WE LEFT PALMER AND HEADED FOR BOHANNAN. THERE WEREN'T ANY FISH IN THE TRAP, WE BUTTONED UP AND HEADED FOR NEWPORT. LARRY
04/02/2010
SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:
No fish today. The water was high but running well. The wind was blowing like a hurricane up in the gorge but not trees down at that time. No wildlife today.
Thanks Derek for putting the board in the upper gate, I felt like it was doing the job.
Thanks Derek for putting the board in the upper gate, I felt like it was doing the job.
Mike
03/29/2010
SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:
Greetings Friends!
Our team went to the trap on Monday. The weather wasn't to cooperative except for when we were at the trap. The stream was running high and fast, looking down in the trap we could not tell if there were any fish or not. We unlocked the trap and I almost strained something trying to lift the cover. Upon closer inspection we were able to see that the cover was wedged down very tightly. In fact it looked as if maybe a couple of big guys might have been jumping up and down on it. For a brief moment we were a little suspicious and thought that our fellow team members from team Steel head might have helped us out a bit. Then we realized that they would never do any thing like that. It took all four of us to break it loose. We used everything we could find in the shack to make it happen. Finally with the lid up I went down into the trap. Did I mention that the water was moving fast, it also was deep. After a through sweep of the trap there were no fish to be found. We thought for sure with the high water that there might be some. We cleaned both gates and got the water flowing even better. Everything was buttoned up and we left the trap just as another front came through including some hail. There was no wild life to be seen going or coming.
Team chinook, Larry, John, Bud, Bill
Our team went to the trap on Monday. The weather wasn't to cooperative except for when we were at the trap. The stream was running high and fast, looking down in the trap we could not tell if there were any fish or not. We unlocked the trap and I almost strained something trying to lift the cover. Upon closer inspection we were able to see that the cover was wedged down very tightly. In fact it looked as if maybe a couple of big guys might have been jumping up and down on it. For a brief moment we were a little suspicious and thought that our fellow team members from team Steel head might have helped us out a bit. Then we realized that they would never do any thing like that. It took all four of us to break it loose. We used everything we could find in the shack to make it happen. Finally with the lid up I went down into the trap. Did I mention that the water was moving fast, it also was deep. After a through sweep of the trap there were no fish to be found. We thought for sure with the high water that there might be some. We cleaned both gates and got the water flowing even better. Everything was buttoned up and we left the trap just as another front came through including some hail. There was no wild life to be seen going or coming.
Team chinook, Larry, John, Bud, Bill
This in from Wayde...................
When people drop the trap door it wedges very tightly. You need to let it down gently with the rope so it won't edge. I use the pipe from the lock mechanism to pry it up.
Wayde
03/26/2010
SILETZ FISH TRAP RUN:
Good evening,
I left the office this morning around 8:00 am after meeting with Derek and Casey. I met Bill at Hee Hee Ilahee Park in Siletz and we headed up to Siletz Falls trap. We saw a nice herd of Elk (approx. 20-25) just this side of Logsden on the way up. When we got to the trap we found approx. 15 Steelhead, which we left for Bill to make a brood stock run to the Alsea on Monday. After leaving the Siletz trap we headed for Palmer Creek. The beaver hasn't been busy lately because the it hasn't had any water to dam. We finished placing the boards in the second pond and opened the upper dam to fill up the two ponds. There should be plenty of water for the new guests arriving April 5th. We left Palmer and headed for Bill's survey creek which we found to be colored up to much with the recent rains to identify any redds. Better luck when the stream clears. I dropped Bill off at his truck at Hee Hee Ilahee about 2:00 and headed back to the Pig. It was supposed to rain all day. The sun was shining and we were in tee shirts. Go figure.
I left the office this morning around 8:00 am after meeting with Derek and Casey. I met Bill at Hee Hee Ilahee Park in Siletz and we headed up to Siletz Falls trap. We saw a nice herd of Elk (approx. 20-25) just this side of Logsden on the way up. When we got to the trap we found approx. 15 Steelhead, which we left for Bill to make a brood stock run to the Alsea on Monday. After leaving the Siletz trap we headed for Palmer Creek. The beaver hasn't been busy lately because the it hasn't had any water to dam. We finished placing the boards in the second pond and opened the upper dam to fill up the two ponds. There should be plenty of water for the new guests arriving April 5th. We left Palmer and headed for Bill's survey creek which we found to be colored up to much with the recent rains to identify any redds. Better luck when the stream clears. I dropped Bill off at his truck at Hee Hee Ilahee about 2:00 and headed back to the Pig. It was supposed to rain all day. The sun was shining and we were in tee shirts. Go figure.
Mike
03/26/2010
SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:
Hank Bryson and I drove up to the Schooner Trap this morning with periods of brief rain. The water was a little higher and murky compared to recent trips. Personally I can never find any fish in the trap but Hank, being the professional fisherman that his is, was able to locate 5. He netted 4 males and 1 female steelhead. One of the males had an injury to it's left gill plate but otherwise they were all in good shape. I released all 5 upstream and they appeared to be strong and healthy.
Hank asked me to tell Mike Samples that if he wants to learn how to locate fish in the trap to give him a call. He is available for private lessons and his rates are competitive. Take care, Frank
03/24/2010
SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:
Greetings,
It was beautiful up at Schooner Creek today. However, no fish to be had. The water was clear and running at about 12" to 15" deep. I know there is one fish somewhere downstream laughing at us.
It was beautiful up at Schooner Creek today. However, no fish to be had. The water was clear and running at about 12" to 15" deep. I know there is one fish somewhere downstream laughing at us.
Mike
03/22/2010
SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:
Hank
What a nice day, the trees were dripping on me but no rain. The water in the creek was Crystal clear but no fish in the trap, water depth and flow is also good.
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