Acristickid
Well-known member
Fishing: Slow steelhead season related to walleye predation
Sunday, December 27, 2009
By Deborah Weisburg
If Erie steelhead failed to shine this year, you can blame voracious walleyes as much as low water in tributaries.
Predation on young steelhead by record numbers of adult walleyes born in 2003 led to fewer silvery salmonids for anglers to catch in recent months.
"There's definitely an inverse relationship between big walleye numbers in the lake and the number of steelheads in the streams," said Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission biologist Chuck Murray. "When we stock [steelhead] smolts during years of high walleye abundance, you can expect steelhead catch rates to decline a couple of years later."
The drop in steelhead this year wouldn't have been as obvious if weather had been better, since stream conditions dictate movement of fish in tributaries, Murray said.
"Flow and water temperatures affect steelhead catch rates as much or even more than walleyes in the lake. When there's water in the streams, people have been catching fish like crazy," he said. "But there's no doubt walleye abundance has an impact on smolt survival."
The commission maintains steelhead numbers by stocking more than 1 million 6 or 7 inch smolt a year. It does not stock walleyes, but tries to maintain abundance by establishing catchable quotas jointly with other Great Lakes states and Ontario, which has a significant commercial fishery. When necessary, Erie partners reduce both their commercial and recreational harvest limits.
Walleye populations began to nose-dive throughout the Great Lakes in 2005, making a 2011 change in regulations almost certain, Murray said. But the walleye hatch in 2003 was the best in a quarter of a century, he said. Walleyes born that year would have been age 2 in 2007 and able to forage effectively on steelhead smolts.
"As walleyes get older, they become big, effective predators that can eat a lot of fish," Murray said. "We'll cut open 6-year-old post-spawn females and find six to eight smolts in their bellies. Given how many steelhead we stock, there's plenty of forage available right there at the mouths of the creeks, where the big walleyes just gorge themselves."
While the walleyes' feast meant slim pickin's for anglers, it also put a bite on tackle shops. Brian Ruland of Poor Richard's Bait and Tackle said some of his customers made fewer trips to Erie.
"Between low water and the bad economy, they weren't willing to come up here as often for bad fishing," he said.
But, he added, "it wasn't all gloom and doom. The 2007 year class wasn't there, but you could still catch fish and they were bigger on the whole than in other years."
Fly fishing guide Ray Travis caught an 18-pound steelhead on one of the east side streams and the following week, a 14-pounder.
"There were bigger fish in the mix this year," he said, "and there were days when they were fairly fresh and bit with ease."
Low water also meant fewer crowds and more room on the stream for anglers willing to deal with tough conditions.
"It was a matter of fishing lighter tippets -- 3X and 4X -- smaller streamers, nymphs or egg patterns -- size 14 and 16 -- and less weight," said Travis. "Fish in low water may already be spooked, so you have to be stealthy and keep a little greater distance."
Steelheaders are likely to encounter fewer numbers through the winter, although spring is when runs typically peak, Murray said.
"Ice jams at the mouths could keep fish from coming in, but when there's enough open water and good flow, fishing can be good," he said.
Fish and Boat Commission creel surveys indicate some of the highest catch rates of the season are during the coldest months, in part because there are far fewer anglers on the stream and they tend to be more experienced, Murray said.
Travis suggests targeting steelhead in slack water in winter, because fish will seek slower pools to save energy. Anglers should slow their drifts and present flies precisely, since steelhead won't chase bait in frigid water.
"Toward spring, they're often paired up and spawning in shallow water, which can make them more visible," said Travis. "Especially the males, which tend to be darker when they've been in the stream awhile. It can be a good time for sight-fishing."
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09361/1023707-358.stm#ixzz0atz2W1I0
Sunday, December 27, 2009
By Deborah Weisburg
If Erie steelhead failed to shine this year, you can blame voracious walleyes as much as low water in tributaries.
Predation on young steelhead by record numbers of adult walleyes born in 2003 led to fewer silvery salmonids for anglers to catch in recent months.
"There's definitely an inverse relationship between big walleye numbers in the lake and the number of steelheads in the streams," said Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission biologist Chuck Murray. "When we stock [steelhead] smolts during years of high walleye abundance, you can expect steelhead catch rates to decline a couple of years later."
The drop in steelhead this year wouldn't have been as obvious if weather had been better, since stream conditions dictate movement of fish in tributaries, Murray said.
"Flow and water temperatures affect steelhead catch rates as much or even more than walleyes in the lake. When there's water in the streams, people have been catching fish like crazy," he said. "But there's no doubt walleye abundance has an impact on smolt survival."
The commission maintains steelhead numbers by stocking more than 1 million 6 or 7 inch smolt a year. It does not stock walleyes, but tries to maintain abundance by establishing catchable quotas jointly with other Great Lakes states and Ontario, which has a significant commercial fishery. When necessary, Erie partners reduce both their commercial and recreational harvest limits.
Walleye populations began to nose-dive throughout the Great Lakes in 2005, making a 2011 change in regulations almost certain, Murray said. But the walleye hatch in 2003 was the best in a quarter of a century, he said. Walleyes born that year would have been age 2 in 2007 and able to forage effectively on steelhead smolts.
"As walleyes get older, they become big, effective predators that can eat a lot of fish," Murray said. "We'll cut open 6-year-old post-spawn females and find six to eight smolts in their bellies. Given how many steelhead we stock, there's plenty of forage available right there at the mouths of the creeks, where the big walleyes just gorge themselves."
While the walleyes' feast meant slim pickin's for anglers, it also put a bite on tackle shops. Brian Ruland of Poor Richard's Bait and Tackle said some of his customers made fewer trips to Erie.
"Between low water and the bad economy, they weren't willing to come up here as often for bad fishing," he said.
But, he added, "it wasn't all gloom and doom. The 2007 year class wasn't there, but you could still catch fish and they were bigger on the whole than in other years."
Fly fishing guide Ray Travis caught an 18-pound steelhead on one of the east side streams and the following week, a 14-pounder.
"There were bigger fish in the mix this year," he said, "and there were days when they were fairly fresh and bit with ease."
Low water also meant fewer crowds and more room on the stream for anglers willing to deal with tough conditions.
"It was a matter of fishing lighter tippets -- 3X and 4X -- smaller streamers, nymphs or egg patterns -- size 14 and 16 -- and less weight," said Travis. "Fish in low water may already be spooked, so you have to be stealthy and keep a little greater distance."
Steelheaders are likely to encounter fewer numbers through the winter, although spring is when runs typically peak, Murray said.
"Ice jams at the mouths could keep fish from coming in, but when there's enough open water and good flow, fishing can be good," he said.
Fish and Boat Commission creel surveys indicate some of the highest catch rates of the season are during the coldest months, in part because there are far fewer anglers on the stream and they tend to be more experienced, Murray said.
Travis suggests targeting steelhead in slack water in winter, because fish will seek slower pools to save energy. Anglers should slow their drifts and present flies precisely, since steelhead won't chase bait in frigid water.
"Toward spring, they're often paired up and spawning in shallow water, which can make them more visible," said Travis. "Especially the males, which tend to be darker when they've been in the stream awhile. It can be a good time for sight-fishing."
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09361/1023707-358.stm#ixzz0atz2W1I0
