'Steelheading the Deschutes River' by Deke Meyer

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

http://www.flyfisherman.com/2013/04/17/steelheading-the-lower-deschutes/#axzz2ROhhNR6b

Article in Flyfisherman magazine.

[weightforwardfilms]

There's something interesting in this article that I haven't mention much. The number of stray hatchery steelhead in the Deschutes is almost quadruple that of hatchery fish bread of Deschutes' parentage and six times greater than that of native wild fish (using the high run numbers). It may be good for the catching but, it's a not so obvious fault in the hatchery "solution". As Deke states these stray hatchery fish don't have a home river and therefore lack many of the instincts of the wild fish.

These numbers date back to the mid and late 90's. It would be interesting to see how they differ from today's figures. I think I'll take a look.

I haven't fished the Deschutes yet. That needs to be fixed. Pronto.
Jeremy

[shawn kempkes]

[QUOTE=weightforwardfilms;132877]There's something interesting in this article that I haven't mention much. The number of stray hatchery steelhead in the Deschutes is almost quadruple that of hatchery fish bread of Deschutes' parentage and six times greater than that of native wild fish (using the high run numbers). It may be good for the catching but, it's a not so obvious fault in the hatchery "solution". As Deke states these stray hatchery fish don't have a home river and therefore lack many of the instincts of the wild fish.


The new regulating towers on round butte dam have greatly reduced the number of strays in the lower deschutes. The river down near the mouth is just too dam warm for alot of the a-run fish to travel up the river. Which is exactly what the bios want.

http://www.deschutespassage.com/deschutes-passage-background.html