Workin' for the Fish...

[G_Smolt]

...Not really "Fishing" in the recreational sense, but fish and fishing nonetheless, and I thought some of y'all might enjoy seeing a few pics of some friends I have made during this year's field season.

This year started off with a bit of snow on the ground, which made for some interesting access issues...

Luckily, we had a nice couple pose for us in an accessible spot for us. Didn't even have to disturb them to document them!


I spent a LOT of time this spring snorkeling in near-freezing water, but the payoff for 4 or 5 hours of frozen face syndrome can be pretty awesome.


Once May wrapped up, it was time to get out the minnow traps, hand nets, and bushwhackin' waders in search of tiny fish in tiny streams. Most of my June/July work revolves around coho, and it's been a good year in that respect.

Tiny 'Hos from a tiny, tannic stream.


The stream in which this fella (and several hundred of his buddies/broodmates) lives is about 18" across and 1" deep for most of its 145m length.


In contrast to the fish above, these coho are from a larger, less tannic and FAR colder stream. Captured in early July, they are still barely out of button-up/swim up stage.


Besides coho, there are a few other species I see on the reg. Rainbow trout are present in quite a few streams in SE AK.


Many streams have cutthroat as well - sometimes I get what appear to be multiple year-classes in a single trap.


Cutts live in some pretty cool places.


So far this year, the Volunteers and I have gathered enough data to document steelhead presence in 3 streams where no record of them existed previously, and coho in 8 streams, including 2 previously undocumented flows.

If you'd like a bit more info on this work and why it is important, check out http://www.americansalmonforest.org/fishhabitat.html and http://www.americansalmonforest.org/community-science.html

Peace, y'all

 

[mcswny]

Thanks for sharing.

The first cutt photo is hilarious. It looks like when you and 5 buddies jump into a ball pit and get stuck.

 

[Billy]

very cool!

 

[SculpinSwinger]

Keep up the good work.
Thank you!

 

[Long_Rod_Silvers]

Something about a photo of a steelhead redd with a pair of chromers on it really makes me happy.

 

[Buzzy]

When I read "The stream in which this fella (and several hundred of his buddies/broodmates) lives is about 18" across and 1" deep for most of its 145m length" I pictured several coho swimming in this stream, digging a redd all the while their backs out of the water. Thanks for sharing, I've always enjoyed the pictures and reports you've shared with this face numbing work!

 

[dirty dog]

Nice to be young.
For me it is a job just getting to the creek/river and back to my truck.
Walking the gravel bars kicks my ass.
So if ya find an ole guys laying is the cobbles you'll know I died doing what I love

 

[wanderingrichard]

What's the follow on protocol for finding species in previously undocumented waters ??

 

[G_Smolt]

What's the follow on protocol for finding species in previously undocumented waters ??

Pretty much the same as species additions to currently listed waters, but you spend a lot more time describing basic stream morphology and the surrounding riparian zone. When you submit the nomination, you also submit a GIS shapefile of the streampath for addition to the AWC online portal.

 

[Old Man]

Nice to be young.
For me it is a job just getting to the creek/river and back to my truck.
Walking the gravel bars kicks my ass.
So if ya find an ole guys laying is the cobbles you'll know I died doing what I love

One time on the N/F Stilly. I was laying down resting on the rocks on shore. I was fishing with Flybill. He saw me laying down and came running to me because he thought I had passed out or I died. I used to do that quite a bit. It seems to help my back by resting. I waved my rod at him to tell him I was fine.