[fishortho]

I have been following with interest the photos of this year's crop of steelhead from the Vedder/Chilliwack, not only from this site but from others as well..What's with all the side markings? Seems like 50% of the fish caught have these net/ predator/self inflicted scars and marks? It also seems to me there are more than average this year, as this is not that uncommon.
What do you think is causing the marks on these fish?.............Ortho 8)

 

[Nicole]

The marks I've seen are from seals, the fish are stacking up in the fraser somewhere, and the clarity that the fraser has had for an extended period of time has allowed the seals to find them and take a swipe more easily...

That's my theory anyway...

I saw one other fish this year that had classic net marks on it... Nice to see it got away, or it was released.

Cheers,
Nicole

 

[Bent Rod]

Low water years always see more seal encounter marks, these are not net scars as those are not witnessed by C or U shaped markings and usually look to be scars along the head, and not to be confused with line wrap markings that are also common on high pressure systems.

2 seasons ago I witnessed a huge % of Vedder Steelhead with seal encounter markings, tears from the people ripping at Lickman and KWB and even many with noses worn down, I am assuming from having to travel in bone low water.

Last year in the high water year I found many of the fish to be mint condition and not a blemish on the whole body.

I have witnessed some years where interior run fall Steelhead looked like they went through a battle with scratches and rips all over, I am assuming this was from poor conditions for migration.

The worst sign of net issuse I witness is big chunks of the gill plate missing, these fish amazingly fight with vigor and swim away with attitude. I think fish are tougher than we often give them credit for.

 

[fishortho]

Not too many boaters in the lower canal this time of the year...Do we have a seal population down at the mouth looking for a free lunch, like the Somass in Port'?
Just wonderin'.......Ortho 8)

 

[marko]

Another common mark I have noticed is an abrasion on the forehead of more than a couple of
steelies. The idea of these fish holding under debre and behind boulders is the cause but I was
just wondering if anyone else has seen this?

Marko

 

[Bent Rod]

Definately lots of seals in the Fraser year round these days, I see large groups of them lounging on log jams around Mission during the early season Sturgeon fishing. I might add this is when I have witnessed young Sturgeon being killed by seals, which I didn't think was a common occurence.

 

[anthony]

I was In reaction today and some guy brought in a nice steelhead to be weighed and it had the gill plate torn apart pretty bad , like Rod mentioned in the above post

 

[spey]

i have also witnessed many steelhead with worn down noses, possibly from hiding there heads under boulders

 

[marko]

Well that's what I was thinking spey and welcome to the forum. We saw ours on the "T"
how about you?

:beerchug: Marko

 

[Krypto-Limitkiller-Sanderson]

I see lots of seal bit steel early in the season. Maybe because there are still a lot of seals hanging around after the salmon season?

Couple of years ago on the Thompson almost all of the steel that I saw had big wounds on their heads for the first couple of months but after that they seemed to be coming in clean. Something in the fish ladder maybe?

 

[fishing4salmon]

this is my first year, 2008, catching for steelhead and I have never caught one before. I would like to see what mark you guys are talking about!^^ eace:

 

[Krypto-Limitkiller-Sanderson]

You can see seal marks on these fish here http://www.bcfishingreports.com/forum/index.php?topic=5462.30

Many times the scars are much worse with more than just scales missing and gashes going right into the body cavity. Unfortunatly when a does eggs are contaminated with water before spawning they become unviable.