Q.
From Wadedeep: While fishing a creek in WA
state I was pleasantly surprised to find
literally thousands of chinook in the stream.
I purposefully did not target fish actively
paired up and working on redds. I did however
fish the deeper pools with some success. Is
it logical to assume that fish holding in deeper
(6’+) water are not yet actively spawning? Have
there been any studies that document mortality
rates of pre-spawn fish that are hooked, played
and released? I would love to continue fishing
this spot, but am hoping to avoid “fishing hell”
when my time comes. Is this angling strategy
the equivalent of a mortal sin against fish
preparing to spawn? Thanks in advance for
your scientific (and perhaps theological) opinion!
A.
I called a fishery biologist whom I formerly
worked with in Washington State, who has more
experience with salmon biology than I. He said
that although the fish you were catching in the
deeper pools were probably not yet actively
spawning, it doesn’t mean that they might not
be soon. Thus, it is a pretty fine ethical
line that you are treading if you don’t want
to impact spawning. They might not be spawning
when you hook them, but who knows when they might.
As to hooking mortality of pre-spawn fish, there
is evidence that it can be as high as 40%. These
fish have accumulated a finite amount of energy
reserves to carry them through spawning, so any
energy exerted in activities not related to
spawning, such as being played by an angler, is
that much energy they won’t have to carry them
through spawning. Thus, I’m afraid that I cannot
give you complete absolution; besides, I’m not
ordained for that kind of thing!
~ C. E. (Bert) Cushing, aka Streamdoctor
105 W. Cherokee Dr.
Estes Park, CO 80517
Phone: 970-577-1584
Email: streamdoctor@aol.com
The ‘Stream Doctor’ is a retired professional stream ecologist and
author, now living in the West and spending way too much time
fly-fishing. You are invited to submit questions relating to
anything stream related directly to him for use in this Q & A Feature
at streamdoctor@aol.com.
Originally published July 28th, 2003 on Fly Anglers Online by Robert Younghanz.