08/13/2010

SILETZ FISH TRAP:

Donny & Wayde made the trap run today. We left town at 8:20 and arrived at the Siletz trap at 9:50. We saw 1 deer on the way in and no logging trucks.

I went across the river and opened the trap. Donny sent the transport box over and I guided it into the trap. I went back across for Donny and our salmon work began. There were 14 fish in the trap. I was glad there were not too many as I still felt stuffed from the great BBQ we all had the night before. I must have eaten a dozen of Donny’s “Texas Poppers”. The water was 53 degrees.

The fish breakdown was:

Hatchery Steelhead

3 males 4 females



Wild Steelhead

3 females



Chinook

2 male 2 jacks



There were many fish waiting below the trap along the ladder and at the pool below the ladder.

Stan van de Wetering visited us at the trap. He is the fisheries biologist for the tribe. He was doing a lamprey eel survey wearing a dry suit and had a snorkel. He found about 20 eels below the trap in the ladder. He was interested in the activities of the LVH Fishing Club so I told him briefly some of what we do.



We threw 10 fish in Gravel Creek above it’s confluence with the Siletz river. More deer and a blue heron were seen above the falls.



Got back to the Pig House at 12:30pm. Later in the day I gave Donny a copy of the club video so he can show his fellow Texans what Oregon salmon look like.

Wayde

07/31/2010

SILETZ FISH TRAP:



ARRIVED AT THE PIG AT 7:50, WENT IN AND THERE WAS KNOW ONE AROUND. SAT DOWN IN CASEYS CHAIR AND WAITED. AT 8:00 AND STILL KNOW ONE AROUND I WONDERED IF THEY FORGOT ABOUT ME. SHORTLY AFTER 8 CASEY CAME IN AND SAID THAT DONNY AND BILL HAD GONE TO DO ANOTHER PROJECT, AND THEY WERE GOING TO THE TRAP WHEN FINISHED. SINCE THERE WAS ONLY 16 FISH IN THE TRAP ON WEDNESDAY, THEY DIDN'T NEED MY HELP. SO I GOT FIRED FOR THE DAY. LARRY

07/23/2010

SILETZ FISH TRAP:

July 23, 2010

7:55 am Friday arrived at the ODFW offices for another day of fish wrassling. I was presented with a coffee mug by Christine for meritorious service or maybe just because I looked pathetic.

8:15 am Casey, Bill and I left to pick up an oxygen tank for the aerator and headed out to the fish trap where we were greeted by a bald eagle flying over us. Water temperature was 62 degrees, so things are warming up. The river was down from last Friday also. Casey kept a running tally while Bill and I netted, tagged, whacked, groped and released the fish. After a bit we were joined by Stan (the Siletz tribe biologist) and his son Parker. Stan was checking on Lampreys. Parker came down to the trap to help net the fish and fill the bucket to transport them. That was a big help to me, as Bill was on the other bank operating the machinery. When the dust settled we wound up with:
40 male hatchery fish
21 female hatchery fish
8 wild males
8 wild females
2 male Chinook
1 female Chinook
1 jack
We also had:
2 male blue tag re-runs
6 female blue tag re-runs
1 male red tag re-runs
2 female red tag re-runs
For a total of 92 fish plus about 15 were left in the trap for next time.
Arrived back at the pig house at 2:15 pm.

Don Sarver

07/16/2010

SILETZ FISH TRAP:
ANOTHER >< TRAP ROAD TRUCKER’S SAGA >< On The Siletz River Fish Trap Run > for < 16 July 2K10

About 8:25 AM today >< Casey & the “Double D’s” (Myself & Donnie) set out to Grope the Fish, once again, in the Siletz River Trap !!! On the way Up Canyon, we saw a couple of Deer at the 1 Mile Marker & Eventually arrived, about 9:45 AM, at the Trap.

We found a Total of 136 Fish in the Trap, with a partial breakdown as follows >>> 40 Hatchery Males >< 50 Hatchery Females >><< 3 were Blue tag Male Re-runs >< 5 were Blue tag Female Re-runs >< 1 Red tag Male Re-run >< 5 Red tag Female Re-runs >< 2 Yellow tag Female Re-runs >><< Sorry to Report >> No Chinook’s !~!~!

On our way Back Down Canyon >< We followed a Coyote, for quite a ways, before he left the road. All in All >< “The Casey Crew” put in an Honest Days Labor, which resulted in 136 Steelhead being dropped off with our Good Friends at the Newport Food Share Program.

The Additional Good News is >< That We all survived Casey’s Driving & Arrived Safely back at the Pig Pen, at about 2:10 PM.

THE “NORTON RIDER” (aka Don Sarver) for The Casey Crew !~!~!

07/09/2010

SILETZ FISH TRAP:

July 9, 2010

Sorry this was late, but we have been out of town the last two days and the motels we were in didn't have internet service.

Left town at 8:20 am and arrived at the fish trap at 9:40 am. Bill and Donnie in one truck and me in another. Water was 53 degrees and trap was full. We passed 61 summer Steelhead through the trap. 30 males 30 females and one jack. Also 13 Chinook including one Bill estimated at about 40 pounds. We recycled 58 males and 63 females hatchery summer Steelhead. We whacked 52 hatchery fish and delivered them to Food Share in Newport.

Bill has been helping me refine my netting techniques with little tips like:

1. Don’t chase them...let them come to you

2. Come at them from the side not astern

3. Don't get too many in the net, etc

So hopefully my skills will improve over time.

Bill and Donnie had a flat tire on the return trip but no other major malfunctions. Returned to the pig at 4:10 pm and Bill and Donnie showed up about 5:30 pm

Long but satisfying day at the trap.

07/02/2010

SILETZ TRAP RUN:

Another busy day at the Siletz Falls trap. We took 2 vehicles again because of the expected number of fish. Casey and I were in the truck with the small tank and Bill and Donny were in the truck with the big tank. Bill and Donny reached the trap first and Casey & I pulled in at 9:53. Very nice, cool day with a few showers. The trap was not as full as it has been. Last Wednesday there were 147 Steelhead and 5 Chinook. Water was 53 degrees.

Today the count was 105 Steelhead and 5 Chinook. The breakdown was:

Hatchery Steelhead

44 male 42 female

Wild Steelhead

7 male 12 female

Chinook

2 male 2 female 1 jack

60 hatchery Steelhead were taken back downriver and released at the Mann Ranch, just below Moonshine Park.

26 were taken to Siletz tribal food share.

A bit of excitement today. When we first crossed the river Bill noticed some fishermen downstream and near the "deadline" rock. It is illegal to fish upstream of the deadline rock and it is well posted. All 4 of us observed the men fishing and once we saw them fight a jumping fish that was upstream of the no-fishing line. Casey got on the radio and was able to contact OSP and get a trooper sent our way. The trooper arrived in 1/2 hour from Otis via Gravel Creek. He walked down to check the fishermen. When he arrived none were fishing and denied fishing above the deadline. We could not positively identify who was fishing illegally and the trooper did not see them fishing. He cited 1 for no fishing license and warned the other 3. My guess is they won't fish there again for awhile.

Saw 1 doe deer on the way out and got back to the Pig House at 3:30.

Wayde

06/25/2010

SILETZ TRAP RUN:

Derek and Casey figured that it would be a heavy day and therefore sent two teams to the trap. Bill and I were joined by Emi (sorry but I can't remember her last name), a student and internist from Oregon State and Donny Pearson. Donny is a "host" who volunteers to assist ODFW during the summer months. Donny is from Texas as can be confirmed by his great souther drawl. Emi is 19 years old at scheduled to graduate next spring with two degrees in Biology and Zoology. Both tank trucks were used for today's mission. This was a new personal record day for me as we were greeted by 181 anxiously awaiting fish in the trap. The count was:

Hatchery 57 male 64 female 1 jack (two separate loads of 60 fish each were taken down river and released at Mill Park in Siletz.

Wild 14 male 23 female All passed upstream

Returns 5 male 4 female All contributed to stream enhancement

Brood stock 6 male 5 female The brood stock was transported to the Cedar Creek hatchery in Hebo by Emi and Donny

There were 2 winter males that were also returned for stream enhancement.

Got back to the Pig Pen at about 4:50 with many sore muscles. A long enjoyable day on the river. We also noted approximately 11 fish in the ladder below the trap awaiting their turn. We also noted a large number of vehicles and bicycles at the lower end of the gorge as the word has spread about the current run.

Take care, Frank

06/11/2010

SILETZ TRAP RUN:

June 11, 2010

Once more we set out on the trail of the elusive Siletz Steelhead. Saw a deer going in and arrived at the trap at 9:45 am. River was down and running clear. Captured a total of 57 fish in the trap. Hatchery males 19, hatchery females 24, 1 winter female and 11 wild females. Also 1 previously tagged fish and 1 winter male which were sent to the great fish pond in the sky by Bill the hit man. Had some company at the trap as some of the equipment was undergoing it's yearly inspection. Weather was great and no major malfunctions, so another successful day on the river.
Don

06/04/2010

SILETZ TRAP RUN:

June 4, 2010

Went to the fish trap with Bill and Christina. After the heartbreak of leaky hip waders last time, I resolved to remedy that situation with a trip to the store for some proper equipment. After spending copious amounts of cash, I wound up looking like a sporting goods store mannequin, which prompted my sweetie to grab her camera and get a picture of me cuz I looked so "cute". Being used to this sort of abuse, I took it in stride, wobbled out of the house and headed for town.

Saw a bald eagle on the way to the fish trap and arrived at 9:50 am in one piece, despite an impromptu meeting with a sneaky logging truck (Use your radio Bubba!). We then proceeded to hop into the trolley of doom and braved the raging Siletz (sorry folks just trying to spice it up a bit). The river was up quite a bit since the last time I was there and the water temp was 48 degrees. We found 24 steelhead in the trap. One wild male, 4 wild females, 10 hatchery males and 9 hatchery females. Alas, 5 perfectly innocent hatchery fish were brutally slain, but all for a good cause.

Bill had 2 rookies on his hands today. Christina on some of the power equipment and me on pretty much everything else. Hopefully, I didn’t bring too much shame or humiliation on the LVHFC. I'm happy to announce he never once lost patience with either of us. What a great guy! In the end - mission was accomplished and a good time had by all. Looking forward to doing it again next Friday.

Don

05/21/2010

SILETZ TRAP RUN:

Siletz Falls trap run, Friday May 21st

Wayde and Bill Segler made the trap run today. Very uneventful with so-so weather, no critters and only 5 steelhead. We got to the trap at 9:37. The water was 47 degrees. The fish were winter steelhead:

Hatchery

2 male 1 female

Wild

1 male (re-run) 1 female

There was 1 dead female in the fike (inlet structure) that got it's head caught.

We left the trap at 10:10 and were back in town at 11:40.

Wayde

05/21/2010

SILETZ TRAP RUN:

Siletz Falls trap run, Friday May 21st

Wayde and Bill Segler made the trap run today. Very uneventful with so-so weather, no critters and only 5 steelhead. We got to the trap at 9:37. The water was 47 degrees. The fish were winter steelhead:

Hatchery

2 male 1 female

Wild

1 male (re-run) 1 female

There was 1 dead female in the fike (inlet structure) that got it's head caught.

We left the trap at 10:10 and were back in town at 11:40.

Wayde

05/19/2010

SILETZ FISH TRAP:

Wednesday, may 19

Wayde and Bill Sigler made the Siletz Falls trap run today. We were on the road at 0820 and headed east towards Siletz. Saw 2 deer just past the Logsden store. The gorge was very quiet with no CB chatter on the way up.

The water was down to the top of the old diversion structure just upstream from the trap. I did not get a water temperature because my laser thermometer was on the fritz.

We had a total of 29 Steelhead in the trap. The scorecard is getting more complicated now that we have winter and summer fish along with hatchery and wild so now the fish are classified into those 4 categories. The results:

Winter

Hatchery 7 males 2 females

Wild 1 male 3 females

Summer

Hatchery 3 male 4 female

Wild 3 male 5 females

for a total of 28 fish.

We saw 1 deer on the way down the gorge and the logging activity had begun.

We returned 7 summer fish to the river at the Moonshine Park boat ramp. My thermometer was working by then and the river was 50 degrees. We got back to town at 12:30.

Wayde

05/14/2010

SILETZ TRAP RUN:

Bill and Lee left pig house at 8:10 and proceeded towards Siletz. We received a radio call from Derek saying we had the keys he needed for the tank truck. We returned to the office and then headed out once more. It turned into a beautiful day as we went up the gorge. At the trap we found one wild winter male which was marked and released down stream and one beautiful wild summer female which was sent upstream. There were six hatchery males and four females which were loaded and taken to Ollala lake for stocking. Traffic on the gorge road was very light for a change. No animals were seen along the way. We arrived back at the pig house at 12:30.

Lee

05/12/2010

SILETZ TRAP RUN:

Wayde & Bill Sigler made the Siletz Falls trap run on Wednesday. We left town at 8:10 and got to Buck Creek (mile post 5 1/2) at 9:10. Bill had to survey Buck Creek from the Siletz river to the gorge road. It took him just over an hour and he beat his previous best of 9 redds with a total of 14 active redds. Promising sign for Steelhead. The water in both streams was 43 degrees.

Reached the Siletz Falls trap at 10:42. The trap had about 24 fish in it. We left most of the hatchery fish in the trap and took 2 wild females, 1 wild male and 3 pair of hatchery fish to the Alsea hatchery. We went through Valsetz which is always a nice change of pace.

The 3 wild fish were spawned at the hatchery and put back in our tank to return to the Siletz River at the Hee Hee Il-a-Hee boat ramp (in town). We got back to the "Pig House" at 3:01. Did not see any wildlife of note.

Wayde

05/07/2010

SILETZ TRAP RUN:

Derek, Candy and Lee left at 10 after 8:00 for the traps. We stopped first at Palmer creek where we found one hatchery buck and put it down river. The trap was taken out of service. The opening to the pond was boarded up and rods removed from the weir to open up the creek. Derek then had a meeting at the rock pit on the 128 road with a state forester. Along with the forester in tow we then proceeded up the gorge. When we checked the trap there were no fish in it. Derek had wanted some more for the hatchery. We had to open the main gate to adjust the flow over the bottom end. We were back at the pig house a little after noon. No animals were seen during trip.

Lee

05/05/2010

SILETZ TRAP RUN:

Derek Wilson and I made the run to the Siletz trap this morning where we found 5 wild male steelhead and 1 summer run hen hatchery. We took 3 of the wild males to the Alsea Hatchery for brood stock and returned 6 fish (1 hen and 5 males) to Siletz for release. The summer run hatchery hen was punched and returned back down stream for someone to hopefully catch. She sure was bright and pretty. It was a fun day and we were back in town a little before 2:00.

Frank

04/28/2010

SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:

Proceded up to Schooner with Frank Stout. Rain, wind off and on, and fairly cool. Didn't expect any fish, but the water was running about 2ft and fast, so couldn't get a good look (even with the "special technique/tool developed by some un-named Club Member). So, on with the waders and into the water. Immediately got hit in the legs by a large moving object - which I cornered and netted: 15lb Steelhead buck. While Frank did the net-run-release thing, I found a second smaller buck and Frank was on his way again. When he returned, we concentrated on a final check, and what to our wondering eyes should appear, but a third Steelhead which was cornered briefly and then disappeared! Fish was small enough that we think it made it back down through the slot. Nice day, as it cleared up on the way out, and we saw the Elk herd on the way in and out over on Drift Creek.
Brian

04/28/2010

SILETZ TRAP RUN:

Wednesday, April 28

Derek & Wayde made the trap run today. Bill Sigler is somewhere in sunny California on an extended motorcycle ride.

We left around 8 pm and went to the Palmer trap first. Surprise, surprise there were 8 hatchery Steelhead in the trap. 2 female & 6 males. Derek kept 5 to give to Casey for some student dissection instruction. The other three were recycled. It was a quick stop, in at 8.55 and out at 9:25 with 47 degree water.

Siletz Falls was next and we got there at 10:02. Water was up from the recent rain. It was about 4 feet below the headwall. 8 Steelhead were in the trap. 2 wild males and both were put back down the ladder. The 6 hatchery fish consisting of 3 males & 3 females were recycled. The water was a bit cooler at 39 degrees. We left at 10:24 for a turnaround time of 22 minutes, not bad. Fair amount of logging traffic today as we met trucks going both ways.

Palmer was next and no "hat trick" for us today. The trap was empty. Water was 44 degrees and we left at 12:12. Derek checked out a potential woody debris site upriver from the trap and then we headed for Newport arriving at 1:14. Good weather most of the day. It rained on us leaving Newport and again when we got back. No wildlife of note.

Wayde

04/26/2010

SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:

Monday April 26, 2010

Wayde & Barb checked the Schooner trap this morning. Low, clear water & no fish. Nice drive but nothing to report.

Wayde

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