Among the many charms of autumn is the advent of steelhead runs in many rivers. Where I live, on the central California coast, most streams aren’t yet connected to the ocean—until the rainy season begins in earnest, the sandbars that have set up over the summer between their mouths and the salt remain intact. That doesn’t mean there aren’t steelhead …
Science Friday: Survival of hatchery and wild steelhead smolts: lots of mortality, just not always where you think
November has arrived, and here on the Olympic Peninsula, the first frost of the year. Further south in steelhead range, however, things are a lot warmer, and not in a good way. We send our best wishes for everyone affected by the recent wildfires. The impact of the extreme fire events we are experiencing over the past few …
Breaching Lower Snake dams could help water temps, say scientists
We’ve talked a lot about the impact four dams on the Lower Snake River have on dwindling populations of salmon and steelhead as they migrate hundreds of miles to and from their natal streams in Idaho. But last week scientists highlighted one more data point in the argument to further prioritize breaching the four dams: warming water temperatures. …
Oregon Board of Forestry moves in right direction for coho
Earlier this week, the Oregon Board of Forestry voted to embark on a process to develop resource sites for coho salmon on private and state-owned land. The action took place after 22 conservation and fishing groups, including Trout Unlimited, petitioned the board under laws established by the Oregon Forest Practices Act. The Act requires the Board to develop resource …
Homewater Guardians and a Chance to Win Free Stuff!
Every steelheader has one place they consider “their own”. It’s the river or stream that he or she spends the bulk of their time on. If it has both a summer and winter run component, they’ll fish it year round. They intimately know every nook, cranny, riffle, tailout and bucket. They’ll likely have “secret” parking spots where the presence of …
Columbia Basin Partnership report offers new vision for salmon and steelhead
The Columbia Basin Partnership has been flying mostly under the radar, but it could be the forum with the greatest potential to make a great leap forward in recovering wild salmon and steelhead in the Columbia Basin. Why, you may ask? Because it is the one place where all of the major stakeholders in the basin – tribes, utilities, water …
Throwback Thursday- Voluntary Beatdown Part II
This post is part of our Throwback Thursday series and originally appeared on the now deceased blog “Voluntary Beatdown.” Author Jason Koertge can be found on Instagram @bacon_to_fry. Thanks to Jason for letting WSU revive your epic work as one of the best fishing experience writers we’ve had the pleasure of reading. RIP VB. Let’s face it critters: …
Carving a path through the debate over upper Willamette steelhead
Carving a path through the debate over upper Willamette steelhead There are no easy decisions in the world of steelhead conservation and management, but some issues are more difficult than others, such as hatcheries. Although the science on hatcheries is solid and critical to guiding management of wild steelhead, there is a role for hatcheries, as long as …
Frank and Jeanne Moore Honored by Senator Wyden, Conservation Community
Looking down over Winchester Dam and the spring flows of the North Umpqua River, Umpqua Community College’s Danny Lang Event Center was packed with river lovers, conservationists, and anglers of all stripes last Tuesday, at a banquet dinner honoring Frank and Jeanne Moore and the recent creation of the Frank and Jeanne Moore Wild Steelhead Special Management Area on …
Throwback Thursday- Voluntary Beatdown Part I
This post is part of our Throwback Thursday series and originally appeared on the now deceased blog “Voluntary Beatdown.” Author Jason Koertge can be found on Instagram at @bacon_to_fry. Thanks to Jason for letting WSU revive your epic work as one of the best fishing experience writers we’ve had the pleasure of reading. RIP VB. take any …