From Sportfishing
Fish Report for 3-20-2024
ODFW steelhead satellite tagging project is a first for Oregon
3-20-2024
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – If you've ever wondered where steelhead go in the ocean after they spawned in rivers, you're not alone. ODFW biologists in southern Oregon want to know too.
Biologists are putting satellite "pop-off" tags on 10 adult winter steelhead in the Rogue and Chetco rivers this spring. The goal is to tag "kelts" – the fish that already successfully spawned and are heading back to sea.
Unlike Pacific salmon, steelhead can spawn multiple times and have a much broader ocean distribution.
Steelhead are rarely encountered in commercial fisheries like salmon are, so much less is known about their distribution, migration routes, depth at sea, and more. Although this work is not a broadscale multi-year research project, it will provide this information, adding to biological knowledge of Rogue-South Coast winter steelhead. It is also the first winter steelhead satellite tagging of kelts in Oregon.
Tags are programmed for 180 days of data collection and will transmit position, temperature, and depth when a tag comes close enough to the surface. Satellite tags must be near the water's surface to transmit data.
This effort is one of the research items listed in the Rogue-South Coast Multi-Species Conservation and Management Plan. It is funded directly by anglers that purchased the Rogue-South Coast wild steelhead harvest cards.
Anglers are reminded all radio tagged fish must be immediately released unharmed.
ODFW photo: ODFW biologists are tagging winter steelhead kelts to learn more about their life in the ocean.
< Previous Report Next Report >
More Reports
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, March 20thApplegate River: The release from the dam is 450 cfs
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant is at 46 percent full and filling very slowly
Illinois River: Recent reports indicate winter steelhead have been caught throughout the open sections
Rogue River - Middle: The current flow is a perfect 4,240 cfs
Rogue River- Upper: The current release from Lost Creek Reservoir is 1,250 cfs
OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Monday, March 18thDexter Reservoir: Will be stocked the week of March 25th
Foster Reservoir: The first spring stocking will be in a couple of weeks
Kilchis River: The Kilchis is getting a little on the low and clear side
Necanicum River: The Necanicum will be getting a little on the low and clear side this week
Nehalem River: Good catch-and-release opportunities for wild steelhead throughout the basin
Nehalem River- North Fork: The North Fork is getting low and clear
Nestucca River: The Nestucca didn't drop as quickly as expected last week
Trask River: The Trask River is in prime condition for steelhead fishing
Wilson River: The Wilson is a little on the low and clear side, but should be fishable all week
Alsea River: Alsea hatchery steelhead
Website Hosting and Design provided by TECK.net