[Rib]

I'm just inquiring about what has happened to some of the smaller fisheries for cutties in fraser tributaries? I recall a few years back, that incidental catches of nice big wild sea run cutties while fishing steelies was fairly common for me on some of the smaller flows and have noticed that these fish have all but disappeared, granted I haven't targeted them specifically in some time, and I know the fraser and harrison fisheries for cutts is still quite strong, but it still seems that one year they were there and the next??? Bye bye birdie.... It's dissappointing, and probably related to hatchery outputs?
What's the word?
Rib

 

[Rib]

for example, does anyone remember all those nice football sized cutts that came back to the chehalis each year? I haven't taken any the last few years, but I remember one year you would be into ten a day and for a few of them, it would take a few seconds to figure out if they were small summer runs or cutts, they were so nice.....ah the good old days :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[markinhope]

:twisted: some SICK people like too kill and eat them.... this comment is just a joke ! please dont let me cause any problems you are allowed too kill these fish ! and i dont want too change what is THE LAW! lol...

 

[Guest]

some people just like the taste of fish and some SICK people think there opinion counts. a released fish is a good fish but there is nothing wrong with taking one home for dinner.

 

[fishortho]

I don't think the odd hatchery cuttthroat going home to the fry pan is the reason for poor catches over the last few years....There have been many changes in habitat and the timing of the salmon runs, as you are well aware...This year for eg. the chum & coho returned VERY late to the Chehalis, which will make make the appearance of the fry much later than normal. The disruption of the gravel beds and the slack water at the lower end of the river has not been very conducive to having some really "HOT" cutty action. I have caught a few fish this year in the Nicomen slough area as well as the Stave River, but only after targeting these fish and not catching them as a by-catch when steelhead fishing.
We have all caught ther odd Dolly Varden in the Chilliwack/Vedder but not nearly the numbers as in the past. The elusive cutthroat has indeed been very scarce, this year, as I have talked to others and they have not faired to well either.....I think it is still a bit early, and when the fry hit the rivers in larger numbers, you will see them mysteriously show up...Ortho

 

[mr eagle]

There are quite a few in the Sumas below the mouth of the Vedder right now; search around and you will find them. i fish for them in there in my canoe with minnow patterns, you never know when you might get in to a steelie as well!

 

[fishortho]

You mean below the highway bridge where the Sumas enters and on down past the RR bridge....NO?.....Ortho

 

[uncle_binky]

Fish for food!
What a concept!
there is always someone with " I am holier than thou attitude "

My way of fishing is better than yours,
how dare you eat a fish, save the planet.
What a load O crap

 

[Rib]

Just a quick point with regards to this topic...(since I started it) 8)
I have no problem with any fisherman's practices as long as they are within the boundaries set by the regs, and are in line with good etiquette.... :? :? :wink: Having said that, I have found over the years that if I want to take home a fish for the table, I will target a species with high returns, like salmon and release any cutties or steelhead I catch... Now, after last years hurtin' coho runs, I don't think I won't keep any coho either, at least untill the numbers bounce back! But that's just my approach to whether I decide to keep a fish or not... I do miss those large runs of sea run cutts that populated the chehalis all those years though, whatever the reasons for their decline....
Now if you want to keep a fish, and its legal, go right ahead!!! LOL. But if my way of fishing (almost all C&R) makes me, in anyones opinion "holier" than anybody else, or SICK for having an opinion that I think counts, then someone must have some kinda complex :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[markinhope]

Wow... you kinda said it yourself ...with the coho .. and save the planet .. SHIT ~ ther are no more coho...I just was trying too put in a bit of not kill the CUTS so maybe ther will be more of them .. holier then thou comment,..that is your problem ...as for keeping fish ..I do keep fish... TOO EAT!!! .....as for listening too OUR GOVERMENT say what is legal too keep and what we really should be keeping (less would be beter ) but im also the same guy that doesnt think BAIT should be on the Thompson River and that really pisses people off... AHAHAHAAHAH ....also when it comes too saving the planet (mr.blinky) GROW UP.... with that i dont care attitude ! or ther wont be ANY FISH !!! and yes i do CARE ALOT ABOUT OUR FISH !!! the comment that i made useing the word (sick ) was just a humor comment ... takin the wrong way ....by the wrong people ! on this site we should be teaching others that are new ..that maybe killn everything is not ok.. just because your allowed too kill coho... maybe we should lay off for a bit ...as for cutts i just love fishing them sooo much that it is sad that ther going .. ..but you kill what YOUR RIGHTS say you can ... and ill teach those i fish around too let go most and keep some ...this way your happy and im happy ! this was not supposed too start a sin bin .. but ill phone bergler and tell him too put this ther ...

 

[berean_man7]

"I'm tellin my Mommy and you guys wont be aloud to play in my yard !! " :roll:

 

[uncle_binky]

concept lost in the E-mail

Did not mean to freak people out.
I guess most people don't get my humour.
I am all for conservation of fish.
I follow the regulations & always clean up the places I fish at.
Keeping fish to feed my family, while upsetting to some is not to me.

There would be a hell of a lot more fish if there were a hell of a lot less nets!

Forgive me father for I have sinned!

 

[markinhope]

no problem .. but you dont need too pray about it ..and yes i feel ther are WAY too many nets out ther ... commercial nets are probly alot of the problem !!~ lol but who knows ....

 

[kettlefisher]

Having spent 7 years on the North Coast in the 60's when fish were so plentiful it was amazing and I was, for a bit, a commercial fisherman (deckhand not owner). I was also a Fed Fish officer up there after fishing for a coupla seasons. I worked in the canneries for awhile too. As a result I very seldom eat fish and NEVER salmon. I OD'ed on the stuff and I have eaten/ingested it every way imaginable.

My wife likes the occasioanl bit of hailbut, cod or a trout, so as a result so far this year I have kept 2 sockeye, one small mouth bass from the Kettle River and one trout. I gave the 2 socks to family cuz they love it, I served blackened bass to company and my wife ate the trout.

I very seldom keep fish that I catch but I sure as hell do not begrudge anyone that does keep a fish so long as they keep it within the regs and practice good sportsmanship and good stewardship.


KF

 

[chummer]

I very seldom keep fish that I catch but I sure as hell do not begrudge anyone that does keep a fish so long as they keep it within the regs and practice good sportsmanship and good stewardship.


KF

I second kettlefisher's thought!

 

[bigjay]

Hey Kettle fisher,
how much is the by catch? I have never been a comerail fisher and would like to know. I did have the chance to be a fish counter on a commerial long liner but did not do it for safety reason - buddies had many bad experiances doing that job. Example being on a longlinner out of Rupert and the crew is shooting at bird behind the boat - including eagles - the counter says, 'stop or I have to report.' The last words said to him are, 'A lot of people just fall off boats.' And for the seven days no one talked with him.
Have fun, Jason.

 

[ambler]

I am sorry to hear your buddy had such a bad time. I have worked five seasons as a deckhand on a variety of fish boats, and met dozens of commercial fishers. The vast majority have been normal, nice people. And everyone I have worked with has had the upmost respect for observers and the work they do, as well as for animal and human life. Don't judge the whole industry based on those pricks pricks; that's all they are anyway.
Your bycatch question is a tricky one though, because it varies from fishery to fishery.