If there was actual real chinook spawing in the Yakima rather than
pooling up at the hatchery, wouldn't it actually be a good thing
for the river? It doesn't seem to adversely affect the rivers up in
Alaska at all. The carcauses would bring ocean nutrients back in
to the river and the loose eggs would be gobbled up by the trout.
The trout would also feed on the dead salmon too. Or, is this just
something that goes on in Alaska?
Just some thoughts.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Preston Singletary" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Washington Fly fishers" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2000 5:07 PM
Subject: Yakima
> The number of returning spring chinooks seems to have been a big surprise
to
> everyone (30% higher than pre-season estimates). The official numbers
over
> Bonneville were 178,000 springs and 21,000 jacks, the largest return since
> 1938. The downside is that an estimated 90% were hatchery fish. There
are
> still many questions in my mind. I know that, even though the hatchery
was
> not yet completed, the tribe released a large number of smolts three years
> ago (we were catching them all through the spring and summer) so there
> should be adults from that plant returning this year. Are the Yakamas
> marking their fish? I don't think I've ever bothered to check any of the
> many little fellas I've caught. I just find it hard to believe
(especially
> in light of that 90% hatchery figure from Bonneville) that there is such
a
> sudden bonanza of wild springers in the Yakima. I agree that (in spite of
a
> recent study by WDFW) the re-introduction of salmon will have an adverse
> impact on the Yakima's trout populations. Sure, ocean-type chinook drop
> down to the salt almost as soon as they are free swimming, but river-types
> stay in the river for at least a year, eating, eating, eating.
> Re-introduction of coho should elevate the problem to a whole new level.
>
>
