Upper Deschutes River First Steelhead Since 1960

The first adult steelhead since the 1960s was passed upstream above the Pelton dam on the Deschutes River Friday, September 14th (photo attached), and the second this passed Wednesday,  September 26th.   12 or 14 PIT tagged steelhead adults from above the dams have passed upstream over Bonneville Dam.  Neither steelhead caught and passed so far has been PIT tagged.   Passed adults are receiving double green floy tags for ID purposes.  Some are receiving radio tags.

 

Also, yesterday while conducting a kokanee spawning survey, Mike Gauvin, ODFW, took the attached pdf photos of an adult male Sockeye on a Redd in the upper Metolius River at Smiling River Campground.   He is carrying a radio-antenna coming from the mouth.  

 

These are the early results of a monumental new project by PGE on the Deschutes river system to enhance and restore wild chinook salmon, steelhead and sockeye in the upper Deschutes river basin. 

 

See more on the Deschutes River at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Fishing Guide Touches over 100 Steelhead on Deschutes in ONE DAY!

Guide Gil Muhleman of Water Time Outfitters touched over 100 steelhead yesterday September 25th!  No it was not for some amazingly good and super lucky clients.  Gil was helping ODFW staff at the Sherars Falls fish trap.  Steelhead are migrating fast right now in the Maupin area on the Deschutes River.  Good numbers of fish are moving through the system and are heading upstream. 

The fish trap at Sherars falls allows biologist to sample fish and get an idea of run sizes.  The trap only captures a small portion of the run as it is only operated in the evenings and only certain days of the week.  "The trap was full when we got there; we would tag the fish and then let them on through.  After the fish in the trap passed on upriver we would reopen the trap.  With-in 10 seconds the trap would literally be too full again!" says guide Gil Muhleman.  "These fish are in really good shape, they seem to be pushing hard to get upriver.  About 10% of these fish seemed to be B-run fish, well over 10lbs."