Free Android App - HydroGauges - Shows river level and flow at more than 1000 gauges

Hey everyone!

At the request of my roommate, I have just finished developing a free app (No ads either!) that gives you quick access to NOAA River Gauges all over the country. You can use the gauges to view river levels and flow to help find your daily fishing spot. You can also save your favorite gauges for quick access later. I'll be adding in sunrise/sunset soon, as well as tides.

I'd love any feedback you can offer both in terms of new features, and any bugs you may experience.

If you're interested in the App, you can find it in the Google Play store by searching "HydroGauges" or by copying the link below:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bemoreapps.HydroGauges.app

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Alabama’s Mobile-Tensaw River Delta

The Mobile-Tensaw River Delta can swallow you up and spin you around the very first time you seafood here. Its nearly 25,000 acres water include riverine stretches, a huge marsh, huge grass houses along with a maze of backwater sloughs, streams and ponds.

Finding the right path to the ramp could be tougher than catching bass. However, if you like solitude, a wealthy natural atmosphere and terrific bass fishing, place the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta in your must-seafood list.

“You can seafood here rather than see another boat all day long,” states local bass sage Jerry P. Davis, that has plied the delta in excess of 40 years.

The delta has three noticeably different fishing areas, Davis highlights. Local fishermen give them a call the Causeway, the center Delta and also the River System.

“From Gravine Island south towards the I-10 highway bridge may be the area we call the Causeway,” Davis states.

About 12 miles wide, the Causeway consists of shallow bays and a good amount of marine plant life, mainly milfoil and eelgrass. Additionally, it has what Davis calls “an overpopulation of bass.”

At certain occasions of the season, you are able to catch 30-50 bass each day in the Causeway. Fall is among individuals magical occasions. The drawback is the fact that many of these bass weigh under 2 pounds. It’s an excellent place to savor fast action, although not to win a tournament.

“You’ll cull through 50 bass to obtain a five-seafood limit that weighs in at eight to ten pounds,” Davis states. “You’ll also catch lots of redfish and speckled trout there.”

From Gravine Island north to simply north from the I-65 bridge is exactly what local bass anglers call the center Delta. The streams and streams that feed the Mobile and Tensaw rivers result in as much as 20 ponds scattered throughout this region.

A few of these ponds are deep other medication is shallow. Some ponds teem with grass, while some haven't much plant life. These harbor bigger bass than individuals within the Causeway.

“You won’t catch as numerous bass here, but this is when you are able to sack limits that weigh 15 to in excess of 20 pounds,” Davis states.

The very best fishing in the centre Delta happens from October through April. Each lake is exclusive and should be caught in a different way, Davis adds.

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State Fish and Wildlife Columbia River regional fishing reports - The Seattle Times (blog)

Salmon/Steelhead

Cowlitz River – Bank anglers at the barrier dam are still catching mini-jack spring Chinook while anglers near the Trout Hatchery are catching some steelhead.

Last week Tacoma Power recovered 355 summer-run steelhead, 131 spring Chinook adults, 23 jacks, 280 mini-jacks, one fall Chinook jack, one chum salmon, one sockeye salmon and nine cutthroat trout during five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.

During the past week Tacoma Power employees released 127 spring Chinook adults, 22 jacks and one fall Chinook jack into the Cispus River above the mouth of Yellow Jacket Creek, 150 spring Chinook mini-jacks into Riffe Lake at Mossyrock Park, and recycled 59 summer-run steelhead, one chum and one cutthroat trout downstream to the I-5 boat launch.

River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 2,630 cubic feet per second on Monday, August 12. Water visibility is 14 feet.

Wind River – Boat anglers are catching some steelhead.

Drano Lake – Boat anglers are catching steelhead and some fall Chinook.  Just under 40% of the steelhead caught were hatchery fish.

Buoy 10 – Fishing for Chinook is improving with nearly a fish per boat average at times.  Coho catches remain light.

Daily sampling summaries can be found at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/creel/buoy10/.

Lower Columbia mainstem below Bonneville Dam – Last week we sampled 3,171 salmonid anglers (including 542 boats) with 90 adult and 11 fall Chinook and 961 steelhead but no coho or sockeye.   449 (47%) of the steelhead were kept; 511 wild fish were found in the unexpanded sample.

In addition, 88 (98%) of the adult fall Chinook were kept.

A total of 534 boats and just over 700 bank anglers were counted during last Saturday’s effort flight count.  Over 80% of the bank effort was found on the Washington shore while just over 100 boats were observed at the mouth of the Cowlitz.

Bonneville and The Dalles pools – Anglers are catching steelhead but the majority of the fish were wild and had to be released.

Hanford Reach – WDFW staff conducted the first creel survey of the Hanford Reach fall Chinook fishery on Friday, August 9.  Staff interviewed 11 boats (22 anglers) and 4 bank anglers that kept  3 adult Chinook and 1 jack and released 2 jacks.  For the week of August 5-11, an estimated 33 adult Chinook and 11 jacks were harvested.

Sturgeon

Lower Columbia mainstem from the Marker 82 line downstream – We sampled 10 sturgeon anglers (including 3 boats) from the Longview to Kalama area with 14 legals released.

The Dalles Pool – Boat and bank anglers caught some legals.  Through July, an estimated 102 (34%) of the 300 fish guideline had been taken.

Walleye and Bass

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam – We sampled 3 walleye boats/5 anglers in the Camas/Washougal area with 2 fish kept and 12 released.

The Dalles Pool – The few bass boats sampled averaged over 10 fish kept/released per rod while it was much slower for the walleye boats.

Trout

The new Statewide High Lake Stocking Report can be found at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01489/2013_high_lake_stocking_statewide.pdf

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Tembeling River Has Potential To Be Biggest <b>Fresh Water</b> Fish Producer In <b>...</b>

August 09, 2012 19:09 PM

Tembeling River Has Potential To Be Biggest Fresh Water Fish Producer In Pahang

JERANTUT, Aug 9 (Bernama) -- Tembeling River has the potential of becoming the biggest fresh water fish producer in Pahang after 50,000 kelah and other fresh water fish released into the Sepia and Gembir rivers last year have matured for harvesting soon.

East Region Fisheries Department Freshwater Fishing deputy enforcement officer, Abdul Gaffar Abdul Manaf said the two rivers had been gazetted as red zones.

"The red zones are prohibited areas for fishing using poisoning and stunning methods and cast and drift nets in order to protect their number.

"This step taken by the Pahang Fisheries Department is also to maintain these two rivers as the breeding grounds for fresh water fish species like the temoleh, jelawat and patin, so as to be at par with Tasik Kenyir in Terengganu," he told reporters, here, Wednesday.

He said tight control over fishing included creating sanctuaries for these valuable species of fish in three main zones of the Tembeling River since five years ago.

-- BERNAMA

We provide (subscription-based) 
news coverage in our Newswire service.

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Catfish poser in Muar river

Villagers claim the existence of giant freshwater catfish known locally as ‘baung’ in the Muar. Pic by Chong Chee Seong

  MUAR: LOCAL fishermen here are claiming that  freshwater catfish can be  found at the Muar river.   Some of the catfish, known locally as baung, are said to be over 30kg in weight.

    Villagers here claim that these giant catfish are able to jump as high as three metres out of the water to catch monkeys playing on the low-lying branches over the river.

  Johor 102 Village community heads' committee chairman Sia Ka Tuan called on the Johor government,  the State Fisheries Department and the National Geographic Society to find out if the claims were true.

  He said the experts should  conduct a study of rivers in  Panchor,  Pagoh, Bukit Kepong and areas towards to Segamat to see if there are such giant catfish.

  "I have received reports from my committee members that such giant catfish exists in the waters upstream of Muar river.

 "According to one  fishermen, however,  there may not be many left because of  water pollution."

  Sia said he once heard of  a baung weighing about 30kg that was caught from the Muar river about 30 to 40 years ago.

  Meanwhile, Pagoh Durian Chondong MCA chairman Goh Tik Tik said there are probably very few giant catfish left in the Muar river these days.   He said that if it was true that the giant catfish still exists in the Muar river, then the  authorities should protect them from extinction.

  Fisherman Mohd Noor Daud, 72, who had been fishing at Bukit Kepong river for more than 50 years, said he once   hooked a 10kg baung using  dead chicken as bait.

  Bukit Kepong resident Isnin Khalid, 74, said if such giant catfish could still be found in the Muar river, it could be turned into a tourism product to attract recreational anglers.

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500 salmon caught on River Moy in past week

Salmon anglers enjoying terrific sport on River Moy. Picture MayoToday.ie

Despite water levels still being slightly high, it was another excellent week for anglers on the River Moy where over 500 salmon were reported. The lower fisheries are suffering due to the water level, however, this is having a positive effect on the upper fisheries. The Moy Fishery produced just seven for the week, with five from the Ridge Pool and two from the Freshwater Beat.

Bryan Ward reports

On the Ridge Pool, Dublin angler Eamon Fitzsimons had two of 3.5lbs and 6.5lbs on the worm, as did Jim Keeley, N.Ireland. Both John McKinley and Padraig Hastings had success while spinning on the Freshwater Beat.

The Ballina Salmon Anglers’ water yielded fifty salmon, while Mount Falcon, Knockmore, Attymass and Coolcronan also produced their share. Byrne’s Fishery produced twenty-six and Armstrong’s thirty-five including one of 8lbs for Michael Braun, Germany.

Gannon’s Fishery reported thirty-nine for the week, where Simon Stokoe, U.K. had one of 11lbs. The Foxford Fishery also enjoyed a very good week, where their total was fifty-one salmon. At the Foxford Fishery, Peter Feeney, N.Ireland, had two of 9lbs, each to the worm, while Sean O’Brien, Co. Wexford had one of 11.5lbs, also on the worm.

Rinanney and the Foxford town fisheries all reported very good numbers of fish. At Rinanney Horst Zettle, Germany, caught one of 13lbs spinning while Guy Herve, France had one of 12.5lbs.

IFI’s Cloongee Fishery produced almost ninety salmon, including a great fish of 15lbs for Tom Cogan, Co. Monaghan to a spinner and one of 13.5lbs for Alain Soisson, France, also spinning. East Mayo Anglers’ water yielded almost one hundred for the week, where John Noad, U.K. had two of 5lbs and 7lbs on fly, Lothar Deeg, Germany had one of 7lbs also on the fly while Dennis O’Manoney, Dublin had one of 10lbs.  

Ballisodare

The Ballisodare Fishery also experienced a great week, where over two hundred salmon were caught and over one hundred of these released. Among those to have success were local angler Christy O’Gara, who had one of 8lbs, John Murray, 9lbs to the fly, Ronan Waters, 8lbs on fly and Peter Henry who also had one of 8lbs, on the worm.

Shane Maye and Jimmy Cuffe, released fish of 6lbs and 5lbs respectively, taken on the fly, with Eddie Harte capturing a fine fish of 10.5lbs also to the fly. Visiting angler Peter Cunningham released one of 7lbs to the fly, John Connolly had a nice salmon of 11lbs on fly with Eamon Ruddy, taking one of 8lbs to the worm. 

Carrowmore Lake

Although the high wind did hamper efforts on Carrowmore at times during the week, many anglers had good sport on the lake. Michael Naughton and Vincent Rigney had one each to the boat, while J.J. Sullivan and boat partner had two each. Ronnie Maye boated one as did Gary Copney, Vincent Roche and Paddy Byrne. David Donnell had two, Alan Boyd and Jim Ruane, one each as did Larry McElendon.

Flies which proved successful over the past week on Carrowmore were the Black Dabbler, Green Peter and Cascade varieties.  

Trout Angling Lough Conn and Cullin

The weather did hamper angling on Conn and Cullin once again, despite this, some anglers did enjoy success. Fishing out of Pontoon Bridge Hotel, Rodger Sanders, Paul Dixon and Ben Dixon, U.K. had five trout to the boat for a day, all taken on the Grey Wulff. Sean Almandras, U.K. also had five for a day, his best was 2lbs. Steven Forehead, also from the U.K. reported seven, his best 1.5lbs, all taken on the Royal Wulff.

Angling out of Murphy’s of Massbrook, Barry Graham and Ned Tyrell, Co. Offaly had six for a day, their best was 2lbs. Boat partners Liam McHugh and Mick Sweeney, Co. Galway had six for a day, including two trout each weighing over 4lbs, taken on mayflies off Coleman’s Shallows.
Dominic Concannon, Co.Derry released four trout, while Bob Allis, U.K./Terrybaun had three for a day on Cullin, his best 1.5lbs.

In the Cloghans area, Stephen Brown and Sean Creane, both Cloghans, had two each on dry Olives, their best 1.5lbs while John Burke, Foxford and Adrian Murphy, Cloghans also had two each all taken on dry flies.

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Fish to help gauge health of DuPage River

By Linda Girardi For The Courier-News June 1, 2012 12:44PM

Rod Emmons, a resource technician with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, nets a couple bass as the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County released 100 4-6 lbs. smallmouth bass in the west branch of the DuPage River at Warrenville Grove Forest Preserve in Warrenville on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. | Steven Buyansky~Sun-Times Media

storyidforme: 31429707
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Updated: June 1, 2012 4:26PM

Olive green fish with dark spots and mottled salt and pepper bellies will help biologists determine the health of the West Branch of the DuPage River.

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is partnering with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois Natural History Survey for a research and monitoring project of sport fish in the river. As part of the project, 100 hefty-sized smallmouth bass were released Wednesday in areas of the river within the Warrenville Grove Forest Preserve and West DuPage Woods Forest Preserve.

The robust fish swam a short distance and began fanning their fins as if to get acquainted with their new habitat. Some fish swam straight to deeper parts of the river.

The restocking of the freshwater fish comes after a multi-year $180 million federal environmental clean-up and $25 million restoration of natural streambeds, channels and banks of an eight-mile stretch along Kress Creek and the West Branch of the DuPage River to the McDowell Grove Forest Preserve in Naperville.

The West Branch of the DuPage River was one of four National Priorities List sites contaminated with industrial radioactive thorium.

Years of cleanup work have left the river in much better shape.

At the site of the former Warrenville Grove dam there are now cobbles, rocks and a cascading stream with a backdrop of old forest trees.

“We essentially raised the riverbed and connected the river to the floodplain with plantings,” said Scott Meister, Natural Resources Management coordinator for the Forest Preserve District. “During times of heavy rain, instead of the river racing through and scouring out the bottom, the water will flow into the floodplain, eliminating erosion and providing better habitat.”

Meister said the removal of the 1930s era Warrenville Grove and McDowell Grove dams will allow the river to regain a natural course and make it possible for fish to swim upstream.

“Our hope is for the restoration of the river to last for centuries,” Meister said.

In the swim

The release of the bass on Wednesday is an important step in judging how well the restoration work on the river is going. The researchers and biologists from the three agencies involved now will assess the river’s return through the lives of the fish.

Good fishing and a healthy stream go hand-in-hand, said Jeff Stein, fisheries ecologist for the Illinois Natural History Survey.

“We want to see how the fish population reacts to the restoration of the river,” Stein said. “We will be able to assess the population and what parts of the river they prefer.”

Stein said the bass will be easily identifiable by researchers and anglers by their external white or green identification tags. The tags will help provide information about travel patterns and habitat use and allow for a means to gauge the population. The researchers will collect the data over several years to document how the fish are doing.

Local anglers also will play a role in the project. Researchers will rely on them reporting when a fish with a tag has been caught. The fishermen should call the number on the fish’s tag and then give the tag number and color, date of capture, location and length of the fish to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Anglers are encouraged to release the tagged fish back into the river.

“We are striving for the restoration of the sport fish population – we want to see adult smallmouth bass living, feeding and reproducing in this part of the river,” Stein said.

Stein said a healthy river has a clean habitat, with proper water flow and temperature, as well as a sufficient food supply for fish to thrive.

“A healthy river system will support good sport fishing,” the researcher said.

The researchers said they hope to see the return of sensitive fish, such as the smallmouth bass, thriving with the 25 other species of fish now in the river.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit http://www.suntimesreprints.com/. To order a reprint of this article, click here.

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Whetting your app-etite for Copper River salmon

The Sorting Table: Whetting your app-etite for Copper River salmon

The Sorting Table delves into commercial fishing news from coast to coast. The editorial staff of National Fisherman invites you to share your insights on what’s going on in the industry.

CategoriesRecent EntriesCatch shares: A nation dividedSupporting cast growingGetting ready for the rallyWhat's next for Maine's shrimpers?"That conversation is going to have to happen"California cannabis cultivation compromising cohos? No accounting for fund mismanagementAt least put a label on itWhetting your app-etite for Copper River salmonCod cuts illustrate need for March 21 fishermen's rallyRecent CommentsMike Dolan on NOAA is all apologiesBrian on Introducing the iLobsterBen on Introducing the iLobsterBeringFisherman on Groundfish catch shares going bi-coastal Dick Allen on Jane, doh!National Fisherman on Jane, doh!Wreckfish on Jane, doh!Sierra Anderson on Facing factsken grimshaw on Tough loveJessica on Recovery in a snapArchivesMarch 2012February 2012January 2012December 2011November 2011October 2011September 2011August 2011July 2011June 2011« Cod cuts illustrate need for March 21 fishermen's rally |Main| At least put a label on it »

February 11, 2012Whetting your app-etite for Copper River salmon

If you loves you some Copper River salmon, but don’t know what restaurants and retailers carry it, I have some good news for you — there’s an app for that.

The Copper River Salmon/Prince William Sound Marketing Association announced on Feb. 9 that Copper River Salmon is launching what it hails as the first-ever Salmon Locator App on Facebook. The app’s trade launch will take place just prior to the International Boston Seafood Show, which takes place at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center March 11-13.  A consumer launch of the app will follow at the start of the 2012 Copper River fishery.

The Salmon Locator is designed to direct users to stores and restaurants that carry Copper River kings, sockeye and coho salmon during their respective seasons. Kings are available in May and June, sockeyes from May to July, and cohos from August to September.

So how does the app work? Shoppers log on to www.findcopperriver.org, which brings you to the Salmon Locator on Copper River Salmon’s Facebook page. You type in your location (city, address or zip code) to find you nearest retailers and restaurants carrying Copper River salmon. Generous salmon lovers who wish to share the love can tag the name and address of a store or restaurant that carries Copper River fish.

The app will also help the region’s fishermen connect with where their product is being sold. And food bloggers in 15 key markets will help find and tag Copper River salmon in their cities.

Time will tell whether the Facebook app catches on, but it’s always encouraging to see other avenues for seafood marketing like social media apps being explored.

 

 

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Boat Access Closures: Webster Lake (Franklin) And Connecticut River (Orford)

CONCORD, N.H. -- The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department today announced upcoming closures at two New Hampshire boat access facilities. In the coming month, repairs and improvements are planned for boat ramps on Webster Lake in Franklin, N.H., and on the Connecticut River in Orford, N.H.

In Franklin, N.H., Fish and Game will replace the existing deteriorating concrete boat ramp on Webster Lake. Warm spring weather is allowing construction to get underway soon. Therefore, the Webster Lake boat access facility will be closed for about a month, from March 21 through mid-April 2012, as the new ramp is installed. Fish and Game will make every effort to make the ramp available for weekend use during this period.

The boat ramp on the Connecticut River in Orford, N.H., will be closed for contracted repair work from approximately April 16 through May 4, 2012. When the work is complete, boaters can look forward to using a new concrete boat ramp that will be installed at the site, replacing the existing gravel ramp. In addition, the access road will be improved and a new parking area will be built, increasing the number of available parking spaces.

New Hampshire's Public Boat Access Program is funded through boat registration fees and federal Sport Fish Restoration funds.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department works in partnership with the public to conserve, manage and protect the state's fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats, as well as providing the public with opportunities to use and appreciate these resources. Fish and Game's Public Boat Access Program is part of the Facilities Construction and Lands Division, which acquires land for public water access sites, refurbishes existing sites and builds new public boat access areas.

Media Contact
Jeff King, Biologist, Statewide Public Boat Access Program: 603-271-1748;
Jane Vachon, 603-271-3211

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A Shift In Strategy For Merrimack River Atlantic Salmon Restoration

CONCORD, N.H. -- The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department won't need as much volunteer help this year stocking millions of inch-long salmon fry (young salmon) into the Merrimack River basin because of an exciting new development. About the same number of fry will be stocked, but fewer rivers are being targeted because Fish and Game does not want to stock on top of fry that may have hatched in the wild.

Last fall, adult salmon were released into the Souhegan, Baker and upper Pemigewasset rivers, and successful spawning was confirmed by monitoring radio-tagged fish and counting redds (salmon nests). The shift in strategy was inspired by a record number of 402 returning Atlantic salmon counted at the Essex Dam fish lift downstream in Massachusetts in the spring of 2011. Similar increases were recorded on salmon rivers throughout Maine and Canada. The increase in numbers allowed Fish and Game to take some big steps toward answering questions about natural salmon reproduction.

It has been 35 years since the first salmon fry were released in the Merrimack River watershed under the current Atlantic salmon restoration program, which is funded by the federal Sport Fish Restoration Program. Before 1976, Atlantic salmon had been missing from the waters of the Merrimack since the first attempt at salmon restoration ended more than a century ago in 1895. The original salmon population had been extirpated by dams built in Lawrence and Lowell in the early 1800s.

Optimism ran high in the early days of the modern program. Targets for adult salmon returns were set in the thousands. The program became a catalyst for habitat restoration, land conservation and fish passage projects throughout the Merrimack watershed. Yet the goal of achieving a sustainable salmon run has remained elusive, with an average of 121 adult salmon returning to the Merrimack River each year.

The restoration program holds the first 300 returning Atlantic salmon at the National Fish Hatchery in Nashua, where their eggs are used to produce the millions of juvenile salmon that are stocked throughout the Merrimack River watershed each year. Until 2011, this target was only exceeded once, with 331 salmon returns counted in 1991.

Salmon returns have typically been low because populations throughout North America are in decline. Poor survival in the ocean has been a major obstacle to salmon restoration efforts throughout the region. This remains true despite the closing of an ocean fishery off the western coast of Greenland, where Atlantic salmon congregate before migrating back to their home rivers. Determining the potential cause, or causes, of declining marine survival is a major focus of current research.

"If ocean survival is cyclical, then it is reasonable to believe that salmon restoration can succeed," said Matt Carpenter, a fisheries biologist who coordinates New Hampshire's salmon restoration program. "However, if there has been a fundamental shift in the North Atlantic ecosystem because of a changing climate or other factors, then salmon restoration may not be possible."

It was with this uncertainty about the marine phase of the salmon's life cycle in mind that regional anadromous fisheries planners began, in 2010, to rethink the strategy of the Merrimack River Salmon Program. A common theme has been scaling back hatchery production and shifting focus toward evaluating the potential for natural salmon reproduction in the watershed. This looks especially promising in the Souhegan River, where a recent dam removal has made salmon spawning habitat accessible for the first time in the history of the program. Releasing adult salmon and evaluating their ability to spawn in the wild, rather than waiting until we reach a minimum target of 300 fish before breeding adults are released, will tell us whether the Souhegan River contains habitat that is capable of supporting a sustainable salmon population if marine survival improves.

"It was encouraging to see that marine survival did improve, at least for salmon returning in 2011," said Carpenter.

Fish and Game will continue to monitor the progress of salmon breeding in the wild in the Souhegan and other rivers. In two years, biologists will be able to sample for juvenile salmon, called parr, in areas where successful spawning was recorded.

"This will allow us to measure the reproductive success of salmon that spawned naturally in the watershed," said Carpenter. "Within five years, we should have a better understanding of what to expect from salmon that are allowed to run the river. This information, along with trends in ocean survival, will ultimately determine if successful salmon restoration can be achieved for the Merrimack."

In northern and western New Hampshire, there will be a significant reduction in fry stocking for the Connecticut River Salmon Program due to flood damage at the White River Hatchery in Vermont during Hurricane Irene. Most of the fry will be stocked to the south, in Massachusetts and Connecticut, where juvenile salmon will have to navigate fewer dams on their migration out to sea. New Hampshire Fish and Game biologists will stock a small amount of fry in the Keene area, but will not need volunteers this year.

For more information about anadromous fish restoration activities in New Hampshire, visit http://www.fishnh.com/Fishing/fisheries_management/conservation.html.

Media Contact
Matthew Carpenter: 603-271-2501
Jane Vachon: 603-271-3211

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Strong returns of Columbia River chinook salmon, coastal coho projected

OLYMPIA - Fishing opportunities look promising for chinook in Washington's ocean waters and the Columbia River, as well as for coho in coastal bays and rivers, according to preseason salmon forecasts released today at a public meeting in Olympia.

Forecasts for chinook, coho, sockeye and chum salmon mark the starting point for developing 2012 salmon-fishing seasons in Puget Sound, the Columbia River and Washington coastal areas. The forecasts were developed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and treaty Indian tribes.

Fishery managers have scheduled a series of public meetings over the next few weeks to discuss potential fishing opportunities before finalizing seasons in early-April. A meeting schedule, salmon forecasts and information about the salmon season-setting process are available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/.

Phil Anderson, WDFW director, said protecting and restoring weak wild salmon populations will continue to be the top priority as fishery managers develop salmon seasons.

"Over the next few weeks, we will work with tribal co-managers and constituents to establish fishing opportunities on abundant runs of hatchery salmon while ensuring we meet or exceed conservation objectives for wild fish populations," said Anderson.

Anderson noted that state budget reductions over the past three years are also a factor in designing fisheries that can be managed effectively with a reduced staff. State general-fund support for WDFW has been reduced by $38.2 million, or nearly 40 percent, since 2009.

As in past years, salmon-fishing prospects in 2012 vary by area:

• Columbia River: About 651,000 fall chinook are expected to return to the Columbia River this season - a run size similar to the last couple year's returns, said Cindy LeFleur, Columbia River policy coordinator for WDFW.

More than half of the chinook anticipated this year - about 353,000 salmon - will be "upriver brights" headed to the Hanford Reach area and the Snake River. That would be the fourth largest run of upriver brights since 1964, when fishery managers began keeping detailed records, said LeFleur.

While the chinook run is expected to be up, the forecast of 317,000 Columbia River coho is about 45,000 fish below last year's projection.

"I'm expecting salmon fisheries to look a lot like last year," said LeFleur. "We had some great fishing in 2011, especially for fall chinook in the mainstem upstream of Buoy 10. Anglers fishing that section caught a record 28,300 chinook last season."

• Washington's ocean waters: Nearly 191,000 hatchery chinook are expected to return this year to the lower Columbia River. Those salmon, known as "tules," traditionally have been the backbone of the recreational ocean chinook fishery. The 317,000 coho salmon bound for the Columbia River also account for a significant portion of the ocean catch.

"It's still early in the process, but we will likely have an ocean salmon fishery similar to what we have seen the last two years, when we had an abundance of chinook in the ocean but low numbers of hatchery coho," said Doug Milward, ocean salmon fishery manager for WDFW.

• Coastal bays and rivers: Strong returns of wild coho salmon are expected this year to many of Washington's coastal streams, including the Queets, Quillayute, and Hoh rivers, as well as to Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay area rivers, said Pat Pattillo, salmon policy coordinator for WDFW.

"If the wild runs come in at forecast, fishing opportunities for coho in those areas should be great this year," he said.

• Puget Sound: Overall, coho returns to Puget Sound are expected to be lower than last season. About 732,000 coho are forecast to return to Puget Sound streams, 249,000 below last year's forecast.

But there are some bright spots for coho in the Sound, including returns to the Nooksack and Samish rivers, said Steve Thiesfeld, Puget Sound salmon manager for WDFW. Coho returns to those two rivers are expected to total about 88,000 fish this season.

Thiesfeld said another bright spot for anglers is Baker Lake, where an abundant sockeye salmon return of about 35,400 fish is expected this season.

Meanwhile, summer/fall chinook salmon returns to Puget Sound are expected to total about 224,000 fish, slightly below last year's projection of 243,000. The bulk of that return is hatchery chinook.

To protect low returns of wild chinook to the Skagit, Snohomish, Stillaguamish and Green (Duwamish) rivers, fisheries throughout Puget Sound will likely be limited to those that focus on hatchery chinook, said Thiesfeld.

State, tribal and federal fishery managers will meet March 2-7 in Sacramento, Calif., with the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) to develop options for this year's commercial and recreational ocean chinook and coho salmon fisheries. The PFMC establishes fishing seasons in ocean waters three to 200 miles off the Pacific coast.

Media Contact
Pat Pattillo, (360) 902-2705

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Natural Resources Police Issue Upper Potomac River Advisory

Annapolis, Maryland - The Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) has announced, based on information received from the National Weather Service and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), that boating and other recreational use of the Upper Potomac River, including its creeks and streams, should be avoided at this time.

This advisory is from September 07, 2011 thru September 09, 2011 and will be updated at that time if necessary.

Due to recent precipitation, river levels are hazardous for recreational use on the main stem of the Upper Potomac River from Cumberland to Little Falls.

Hazardous stages are water levels which pose a threat to non white- water vessels, tubers, swimmers and other recreational users and are caused by wave action, water velocity, and treacherous currents. This hazardous condition may exist on tributaries of the Potomac River.

This warning does not apply to professionally guided river trips. The public is reminded that river travel involves risks. Water and boating safety should be of utmost importance. The Maryland Natural Resources Police remind boaters to always wear a life jacket. It is mandatory to wear a USCG approved life jacket while boating on the upper Potomac River from November 15 to May 15 each year.

For more the latest information on Potomac River conditions between Cumberland and Little Falls, call the National Weather Service at 703-996-2200.

Media Contact
Sgt. A.A. Windemuth
410-260-8003 office
410-713-8449 cell
awindemuth@dnr.state.md.us

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Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement Program Funds First Wenatchee River Salmon Fishery in 25 Years

The Wenatchee River salmon fishery-recently opened for the first time in at least 25 years- is the latest result of the Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement program.

Since April 2010, all anglers 15 years and older fishing for salmon or steelhead on the Columbia River or its tributaries have been required to purchase an $8.75 endorsement to support management of those fisheries. The endorsement pays for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery management activities including scientific monitoring and evaluation, data collection, permitting, reporting and enforcement.

The endorsement has generated more than $1 million annually to avert recreational fishery closures and increase fishing opportunities throughout the Columbia River basin.

"This program has made it possible to maintain existing opportunity and open new fisheries such as the Wenatchee River hatchery summer salmon season," said WDFW Fish Program Assistant Director Jim Scott.

The Wenatchee River fishery opened Aug. 1 from the river mouth at the confluence with the Columbia River to 400 feet below Dryden Dam. Anglers are allowed to retain two hatchery-marked (adipose-fin-clipped) adult and jack summer chinook salmon per day. The season runs through Oct. 15 with selective gear rules and night closure in effect. Anglers are required release fish other than hatchery chinook salmon.

Another section of the Wenatchee River, from the mouth of Peshastin Creek to the Icicle Creek road bridge west of Leavenworth, will open Sept. 1 through Oct. 15 for retention of hatchery summer chinook salmon under the same rules.

Season and rule details are listed on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) website at https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=1077.

The Wenatchee River fishery is allowed because hatchery summer chinook returns to the river are expected to exceed spawning escapement needs, WDFW's Northcentral Regional Fish Program Manager Jeff Korth explained. Hatchery summer chinook are not listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, but Upper Columbia River spring chinook are listed as endangered and steelhead and bull trout are listed as threatened. The majority of spring chinook and bull trout have already migrated to the upper Wenatchee River, but a few steelhead remain in the area of the recently-opened fishery.

"Monitoring the impacts of the fishery on listed stocks is essential, but monitoring and other management activities for this fishery are expensive," Scott said.

Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement program was created by the 2009 Washington Legislature (Senate Bill 5421). A board of citizens representing four regions within the Columbia River basin reviews fishery proposals and has been instrumental in the success of the program.

Besides the Wenatchee River fishery, the endorsement program also supported salmon or steelhead seasons on other rivers in the Columbia River system, including the Snake, Entiat, Methow, Okanogan and Similkameen.

Media Contact
Jeff Korth, (509) 754-4624, ext. 224

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Hudson River Stripers

Home > Fishing Articles > Freshwater Fishing

Hudson River Stripers
by Mark Mahar

Generally in about mid-April, some of the finest bass action on the Hudson River begins. Anglers come from around the world to do battle with the striper.

The striper is one of the two real bass—the other being a white bass—make there way from the Atlantic up the river to spawn (black bass are not real bass, they are actually a sunfish species).

The herring are the start, the chad follow, and then the stripers round out the food chain.

These fish are generlly caught in a couple diffrent ways. The first and most popular is with live herring. The second is with chunked herring or shad.

Just hooking into one will have you hooked for life. When the action is on you can expect the opportunity to hook into a hand-full a day. Even on the slow days we find that chad and herring rigs on light tackel can be almost as exciting.

The striper run generlly starts with the break in the weather around mid-April and runs through May. Late season we chase the out-going schools with chunk bait bouncing the bottom ahead of them.
Author: Mark Mahar
Email: cmguideservice@verizon.net
Web Site: http://www.cmguideservice.com/
Details: NYS guide and pro bass angler. Member of NYS Nitro Pro Team and Mercury Pro Staff.

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Coast Guard Closes Portion Of Missouri River

TOPEKA - The U.S. Coast Guard has closed the Missouri River to all vessel traffic, including vessels used for fishing and recreation, from mile marker 386 located downstream of Leavenworth, northward to mile marker 811, near Gavins' Point Dam in Yankton, S. D. Mile marker 386 is about one-half river-mile downstream of the ADM/Growmark grain elevator facility located on the Kansas side of the river. The closure includes the entire length of the Kansas portion of the Missouri River northward from mile marker 386.

The closure is a result of consultations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the governors of Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri.

"For their own safety and the safety of emergency personnel who could be called to their rescue, it is vital that people avoid the dangerous flooding conditions on the Missouri River," said Robin Jennison, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT)."

According to Captain Rob Ladner, a law enforcement supervisor with KDWPT, the swift floodwaters create unpredictable currents and carry large, hazardous debris. "The high water level hides submerged obstacles, making any kind of boating unsafe," he added.

Information about flooding along the Missouri River is available from the Kansas Adjutant General's Department, www.kansastag.gov; and the U.S. Coast Guard at www.FloodResponse2011.com. The Coast Guard also urges boaters to monitor VHF-FM channels 16 and 22 for any changes to the closure.

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