11/13/09

SCHOONER FISH TRAP:

Team Chinook 4 Men & 54 Miles R/T. Fish Count 2 Male COHO & 1 Native Male Steelhead all passed Upstream.

Hello Casey, This is the 1^st in our series of Trap Operations Reports, which we hope will make you feel very much a part of what we do in the Bush & at the Traps. (Hang Tough Casey!!)

Our Run Today was made without any rain, but it was a little chilly. We had a full team with Captain Bill, Bud Roark, Larry Dale & Me. Bill opted to be the Trap Man today & he initially found 2 beautiful Male COHO, which Larry passed to Bud, who is our Stream Release Man. The last fish Bill found was a healthy Native Male Steel Head, which we passed upstream. We had moderate water flow with minimum debris in the Trap.

Once again Bud defied “All Odds” & got out of the Creek with his Waders Dry Inside !!! Of course, I deftly handled the Driving & the Clipboard Duties. Bill & Larry secured the Trap & then we all Saddled Up & Pulled for home.

What a Team & We always have Fun & a Bunch of Laughs. Sorry to report, No Wild Life Sightings this trip.

JCS for Team Chinook

11/13/09

SILETZ FISH TRAP:

Frank and Wayde made the trap run to Bohanan and Siletz along with Bill from ODF&W. Wayde drove because the paperwork is not complete for Bill yet.

We left town about 8:20 and headed south on Hwy 101 in the rain. Arrived at the Bohanan trap near 9:00 am. There were 21 Coho in the trap, all wild fish. 12 males, 9 females. 2 of the females were return fish that had been in the trap before. We left for the Siletz trap about 10:00 and the rain had lessened to just showers.

2 sites of logging on the road up the gorge. Both had highlines over the road and we had to stop and check with the CB radio before proceeding. We reached the trap at 10:55 and geared up to cross the river. Water was quite high and the falls looked great. A lot of white water. The Siletz trap help 38 fish, all Steelhead with the following breakdown:

Wild Hatchery

1 m 4 f 15 m 18 f

We worked on the fish a couple of hours and returned 33 as stream forage between the falls and Gravel Creek.

Headed back down the gorge and got back in town at 3 pm.

No wildlife was sighted.

Wayde

11/11/09

SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:

Good evening everyone,

What a beautiful day. Either I have someone looking over my shoulder or I am just infected with dumb luck. Either way the last two weeks on Wednesdays have been absolutely perfect weather up the canyon at Schooner Creek. The sun was shining and the water was relatively clear. As I reached the trap I noticed that there wasn't much water in the trap but a deep pool above the upper gate. The water in the trap was only about a foot deep as the upper gate was pretty well cogged with leaves and other debris. I immediately saw a dorsal fin and knew I would need the net today. As I entered the trap fish started darting all over. The end result was eight Coho all male. Seven fish were released upstream and one was passed down stream over the dam. The one small male Coho was caught in the entry grate and was unable to move forward or backward and apparently drowned. I cleaned the trap which was clogged with leaves and branches but no silt or gravel (thank you Butch and whomever helped you dig out the entrance). The trap should be in good condition for the upcoming rains. No wildlife today.

Mike

11/09/09

SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:

SCHOONER TRAP REPORT > 9 Nov. 09 <><>

Team Chinook was short Electric Bill today, but Linda Reed stepped up to the plate & She even brought Apple & Cherry Fritters !!!

It goes without saying, her involvement along with the Trapping Skills displayed by Larry & Bud + Some Minimal Contributions by Yours Truly ><><>

It rained hard all the while we were at the Trap, but the water flow was clear with minimum debris on the gratings. Sad to say, we saw no wildlife going in or out, but it was delightful to have Linda join us today.

JCS for the CHINOOK TEAM

11/06/09

SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:

The Chinook Trap team returned to the trap today. We had another successful Day with the trap team of John Spangler, Larry Dale, Bud Roark, and myself. At this time I would like to humbly apologize for leading you astray on Monday we did not have Steelhead in the trap we had COHO. Yes the Hook not only made the trip he chauffeured in the Tree Hugger. Larry plunged into the trap with vigor and let us know that we had fish. He passed up a beautiful Buck COHO and I passed it on to Bud who was eagerly awaiting in the stream to release it. Returning the net to the trap Larry began eagerly pursuing the next fish which turned out to be another big COHO in full spawning colors and was rapidly released upstream. The only problem was the fished liked the trap so well he went right back to it. Larry cried out from the trap there are more fish so I hustled the net back him so that he could pursue the quarry. Larry passed the net up and there was a big bright beautiful STEELHEAD BUCK (yes it was) and I turned him over to Bud to be swiftly released. The last fish was also a nice big male Coho and was smoothly released. John recorded all of the fish entry's, we cleaned the trap and headed home. We had expected nasty weather but had been pleasantly suprised by a nice trip. We didn,t see any noteable wildlife on this trip, maybe next time.

Electric Bill - for - Team Chinook

11/04/09

SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:

Good afternoon all,

What a beautiful day at the trap. It was so warm I was in just a tee shirt. We had two fish in the trap, both male Coho. One was bright and the other was in his red spawning colors. Both fish had very pronounced hooked upper jaws (kipes). Both fish were released up by the bridge to keep them from running back into the trap. Water was low but the trap was running very well. I cleaned out some debris and leaves and we should be n good shape for the upcoming rains we are expecting later this week. One the way down the creek I stopped where I usually do to look for fish on their way up and saw four fish in the hole. Also on the way down saw two doe at the four mile marker. Both were in really good shape.

Mike

(It's good to have Mike back!)

11/02/09

SCHOONER CREEK FISH TRAP:

SCHOONER TRAP IS OFFICIALLY OPEN

TEAM CHINOOK LEADS THE WAY FOR A NEW SEASON!


Larry Dale, Bud Roark, Chris Furgason, Bill Furgason, departed Longview Hills @ 9:00am and returned at 12:15pm. The day was beautiful and a very pleasant drive into the trap. We didn't see any wildlife except for FISH, upon checking the trap we noticed that there were FISH in the trap. Larry suited up and went down into the trap to check it out. Bud went to the stream and took up his position as needed. Larry dipped in and came out with a beautiful red Buck that had won a fight with a seal.
Larry passed the net to Chris who relayed it to Bud for a smooth release, and off up the stream he went. Meanwhile back in the trap Larry had corralled another beautiful Buck this one bigger than the last he netted it and past the net to Chris who again passed it to Bud who masterfully released it. Larry in checking found yet another fish in the trap upon netting it he discovered that it to was a Buck. The relay of netting the Steelhead to release was performed flawlessly.
Larry checked the trap and found no more fish so we set about cleaning the trap. Bud released a bunch of leaves and debris and sent them through the trap. Chris raised the gate to let debris through. Larry cleaned the gate and it was lowered, and the front gate was raised to release the debris on down stream. We stowed the equipment and recorded the fish leaving the trap ready to receive the next run of fish. Team Chinook will be manning the trap this Friday Nov. 6th if we get some rain we just could see more fish in the trap. We returned to Longview Hills with a job well done.

ELECTRIC BILL - for TEAM CHINOOK