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Post by Doug Pennyloff on Jan 23, 2015 10:02:56 GMT -5
Qucik question, are wny steelhead technically winter fish or summer fish? Or do we get runs of both?
Thanks.
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Post by ryantucker on Jan 23, 2015 12:56:20 GMT -5
I found this on the DEC website. I'm not sure how updated the info is. "New York's Lake Erie steelhead fishery is supported by an extensive stocking program and natural reproduction. Current NYS DEC stocking targets are 230,000 Washington strain yearlings that are stocked annually between 9 major tributaries. In recent years, the DEC has also stocked surplus Skamania strain steelhead in Cattaraugus Creek when available...The Washington strain is a winter run, anadromous strain of rainbow trout (steelhead) derived from eggs imported from the state of Washington...The Skamania strain also originates from the state of Washington. This anadromous strain is considered a summer-run fish as they have the potential to enter streams earlier than Washington strain fish. The DEC has stocked Skamania steelhead in Cattaraugus Creek since 2005 with the hopes of boosting the early runs by having fish enter the creek in late August through September. A portion of stocked Skamania steelhead have a double fin clip: adipose fin and left pectoral fin."
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Post by Nick Pionessa on Jan 23, 2015 13:02:18 GMT -5
definitely primarily winter run. the main reason is that our streams are just too warm for salmonids in the summer months. as example, if you watch the gauge on the catt in july and august you will see it reach 80+ regularly. also consider that is our biggest LE trib. most of the rest have very little water in them in the summer. there could be a few in the Niagara in the summer months and the other that gets a few is the Salmon.
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Post by Doug Pennyloff on Jan 25, 2015 1:14:04 GMT -5
Thanks for the responses. I was also under the impression that we get primarily winter fish, but with as many fish in sept/oct as there are i wasn't sure. Rivers out west like the deschutes or the skeena system get alot of fish in sept and october and i believe those are considered summer run fish. In places like washington state most of the winter fish don't start entering the streams until dec with the majority coming in the march time frame. I am assuming that the fish we see in sept and october and not all skamanias so why are winter fish coming in that early?
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Post by ryantucker on Jan 25, 2015 21:41:36 GMT -5
I could be totally wrong, but I thought that I had read somewhere that it has to do with how they have evolved in their native environment. Since the river systems are much longer out west, instinctively for them to make it to their spawning grounds they would need to start their journey's that much earlier. Since they aren't in their native waters and have no way of knowing otherwise, they are genetically programmed to have to travel those distances to ensure their survival. While I do think that some/most of the fish that do reproduce naturally have adapted to the conditions in the Great Lakes, I also think that it can't be that easy to completely wipe away millions of years of genetics. It also might have something to do with the water temps like Nick alluded to previously.
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Post by ryantucker on Jan 25, 2015 21:57:52 GMT -5
I knew I had read this somewhere!
This is directly from "Fly Fishing for Great Lakes Steelhead: An Advanced Look at an Emerging Fishery" by Rick and Jerry Kustich (you can pick up at the shop, a great read that I'd highly recommend)
"A commonly asked question is why do steelhead enter the rivers in the fall if they do not spawn until the following spring. One basic reason would seem to be their genetic connection to Pacific coast fish. Pacific coast river are much longer than the typical Great lakes tributary....however, all winter run fish do not begin their run at the same time. Some enter in fall, some enter in winter and some enter in spring. Theories suggest a method to the madness. It may be natures way of spreading out risk..."
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Post by johnjarosz(jj) on Jan 25, 2015 22:02:48 GMT -5
Ryan...I think you've hit it right. In Rick & Jerry Kustich's book "Fly Fishing for Great Lakes Steelhead" on page 100 about the 4th paragraph down, it's mentioned that it's a long journey up West Coast streams, much longer than Great lakes tribs. In the West, they need to start their migration in the fall in order to be in the spawning grounds by spring. This trait has been genetically programmed over thousands of years. He also mentions that the run doesn't happen all at once but is spread out over many months, some in the winter & some in the spring. Supposedly, this is nature's way of spreading out risk. Nature seems to do a pretty good job of managing fish....in spite of us.
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Post by johnjarosz(jj) on Jan 25, 2015 22:35:05 GMT -5
Ryan...by the timing of our posts, it looks like I was typing while you were posting, but I knew I had read the same thing somewhere, too. A fine bit of detective work there, Dr. Watson!
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Post by ryantucker on Jan 26, 2015 7:54:14 GMT -5
Haha! That is too funny. Good work finding it as well, John!
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Post by johnjarosz(jj) on Jan 26, 2015 10:38:38 GMT -5
Ryan..thanks, and it looks like we've once again proven that great minds really do think alike!!
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