ODFW: anglers give region’s steelhead a helping hand
July 13, 2017
CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Facing some of the lowest steelhead
returns on record, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has
already curtailed steelhead fishing seasons throughout the Columbia
River basin by adopting rolling season closures, reduced bag limits, and
a night angling closure for all species.
Additionally, ODFW is asking anglers to further help the
region’s steelhead by adopting ODFW’s best handling practices when
they’re out on the water this summer.
“Positive voluntary efforts may reduce the necessity for
future mandatory regulations,” said Tucker Jones, ODFW’s manager of
Ocean Salmon and Columbia River fisheries. “If a person happens to
intercept a wild steelhead, or any steelhead during a retention closure
period for that matter, it is imperative that they do their utmost to
ensure its survival by using best handling practices.”
ODFW lists best handling practices on Page 13 of the 2017 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations. These practices include:
- Use barbless hooks (even where not required)
- Use tackle strong enough to bring your fish in quickly
- Land fish as quickly and carefully as possible
- Avoid removing the fish from the water
- If taking a photo, cradle the fish at water level and quickly take the picture
- Remove hooks quickly and gently while keeping the fish under water
- Use long-nosed pliers or hemostats to back out a hook
- If a fish is hooked deeply, cut the line near the hook
- Revive fish (point them into slow current or move them back and forth until gills are working)
- When possible, let the fish swim out of your hands
- Fish when it’s cool out – likely early in the morning or late in the afternoon – fishing is better and stress on fish is less.
Upriver summer steelhead forecasts are very low this year at
approximately 119,000, compared to 5- and 10-year average actual
returns of 236,000 and 315,000, respectively. Wild upriver summer
steelhead forecasts are low as well, with a forecast return of just
34,000 fish versus the 5- and 10-year average actual returns of 87,000
and 105,000, respectively. Snake River wild “B” steelhead returns are
the most imperiled, with a forecast of just 1,100 fish.
With returns of steelhead so low, another strategy is to not
target them and focus on other species, including warmwater species
such as bass, walleye, and pikeminnow. These species are not only fun to
catch but they also prey on juvenile steelhead and salmon.
