Oregon Fishing Reports

“Summer” and “Winter” steelhead

There are two main runs of steelhead in Oregon, a “summer” and a “winter” run. Some river systems have both types of runs while other streams may have one or the other. On the eastern side of Oregon, all steelhead are considered summer run fish. On average, winter steelhead tend to be bigger than their summer relatives. As early as May, summer steelhead enter fresh water in a reproductively immature state—they do not spawn for many months. Winter steelhead migrate when they are closer to reproductive maturity.

Summer and winter run steelhead spawn in the spring. Like their name suggests, summer steelhead begin migrating to their birth streams during the summer months. This migration may take place as early as May on some rivers and can last until late fall/early winter. Summer fish generally travel much further to spawn than the winter-run fish. Likewise, winter steelhead begin their migration early winter with some fish continuing to migrate well into spring. Unlike the other salmonids, steelhead are not pre-determined to die after spawning and may live to spawn multiple times. After the eggs have been deposited in the spring, the fry emerge in summer and may spend the next 1 to 3 years in fresh water prior to migrating to the ocean.

Catch Statistics

Catch statistics provide anglers with information on timing of steelhead harvest and also which streams are producing high steelhead catches. The new steelhead broodstocks being used for many of ODFW’s steelhead program may have different run timing than the stocks of steelhead anglers are accustomed to. The newer broodstocks can have later, more expanded run timing which is similar to wild steelhead they originated from. The catch statistics tables shown below were compiled using information collected from the Combined Angling Harvest cards, also known as “punch cards.”

Anglers are required to record each fish kept and asked to return these cards at the end each year. ODFW uses the returned cards to estimate harvest within each of the water bodies of the state, identified by unique codes. Because anglers are not required to return their harvest cards, ODFW expands the data from the harvest cards returned to estimate annual harvest. Since the 1990s, return rates of the harvest cards varies from about 15– 25%.

To encourage return of harvest cards, ODFW has drop boxes at ODFW offices and point-of-sale (POS) terminals in sporting goods stores, displays at sportsmen’s shows, and issues news releases. To further improve return rates, harvest cards returned by June 1 of the following year are entered in a drawing for boats and other sporting goods.

Return of harvest cards is important for ODFW’s understanding of the harvest of fish. The harvest card information is a valuable tool for managing fishery resources as ODFW balances harvest opportunities and fish conservation. This information is used in management decisions and setting angling regulations. In some cases, ODFW has on-the-ground creel surveys, but these are more expensive and difficult to conduct, so for many rivers, the punch card information is the only tool ODFW managers have available to estimate harvest. It is important that angler return their harvest cards soon after the end of the year to help maintain this valuable information source.

Five-year Average Catch of Winter Steelhead in Columbia Basin, 2001-2005 (jpg)

Five-year Average Catch of Winter Steelhead in Oregon Coastal Streams, 2001-2005 (jpg)
 

Steelhead hatchery programs in Oregon

Oregon has many steelhead hatchery programs around the state. Almost all of them have the single objective of providing fish for recreational fisheries; however, some hatcheries are conservation hatcheries which supplement local wild stocks using local broodstock to provide eggs. Steelhead hatchery programs in Oregon are designed to maximize the contribution of hatchery fish to the fishery while minimizing the potential negative impacts of the program to wild fish. Practices that are used to maximize harvest include: releasing hatchery smolts (1 year old steelhead) at a time and size that ensures the highest survival to adult; allowing fish to volitionally leave the hatchery to reduce harmful stress from handling; releasing steelhead smolts in areas with good access for anglers; or using local broodstocks.

Hatchery practices that are used to reduce the potential negative impacts to wild fish include: releasing hatchery steelhead smolts in areas that they can home in on, and return to, a trapping facility (to be removed and reduce competition with wild steelhead); releasing hatchery smolts at a size that they quickly migrate to the ocean and don't compete for food and habitat; or releasing hatchery smolts in areas that are not highly used by wild steelhead.

Winter and Summer Steelhead Hatchery Programs in Oregon.

Rivers where hatchery winter steelhead are released

Endemic “Local” Broodstocks

Over the past 10 years, many of Oregon’s winter steelhead hatchery programs have converted from conventional hatchery stocks to endemic, or locally adapted steelhead broodstocks derived from wild steelhead. These newer broodstock uses wild fish from the stream in which the hatchery steelhead will be released. This practice has resulted in adult hatchery steelhead returning at the same time as wild steelhead–generally January through April.

In some cases, this return time is as much as two months later than the previously used steelhead broodstock. The use of local steelhead broodstocks has resulted in hatchery runs of steelhead that return at times when rivers are generally much more fishable, and in some cases, hatchery steelhead adults that hold in the rivers longer before returning to trapping facilities. Both of these traits allow for anglers to catch a greater proportion of the returning hatchery steelhead.

“Steelhead Recycling”

In some locations, where staffing and fishery conditions allow, adult hatchery steelhead that return to trapping facilities are transported downstream to swim through the fishery a second time. This practice is called “recycling.” Recycled hatchery steelhead have a second chance to be caught by anglers, although the rate at which they are caught can be low sometimes. Recycled steelhead also have a second chance to stray away from the trapping facility and compete with wild steelhead. For these reasons, not all trapped hatchery steelhead in all locations are recycled.
 

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