salmon fishermen--did you fish deeper this year?

[tsquared]

There is a discussion going on on my local fishing board  here in BC about salmon being found deeper this year and I was curious if this phenomenom was happening elsewhere, Alaska or Washington/Oregon/California. Typically, chinook salmon (kings) are caught during the
summer by sports fishermen putting their gear at 60 ft or shallower, very close to the shore. When I used to commercial fish back in the '70's and '80's we would fish out on the banks off the west coast of Vancouver Island deeper and with heavier gear, up to 40 or 45 fathoms. (240-270ft).  There were friends of mine who swore they spent a trip fishing at 400 ft but that was an exception. This summer the sporties (myself included) found more fish at over 100 ft down, with some people going down as far as 250 to 300 ft. The speculation is that the increasing water temperature is affecting salmon migration behaviour, driving them deeper into the water column. Did anyone else experience something similar this summer?
T2

[Kummok]

Salmon are spottier this year but the depth range is consistent with last.....20' to 75'. That applies to feeder King only......spawners come up all the way to the surface eventually  ;) ;D (Sorry, couldn't resist, T2)

[tsquared]

spawners come up all the way to the surface eventually    (Sorry, couldn't resist, T2)

I didn't know that,Kummok! ::) :D
T2

[Kummok]

SEE what happens when the forum is open to ANYONE?!?!?   ;) ;D

Not sure that Alaska can help that much on this one. You guys down that far have a lot different thermo-clines then us and salmon love cruising those as much as they love diving in and out of the riptide demarcation. I am interested in wha the marine biologist have to say, but I'm NOT touching the "increasing water temps" thang and risk starting a global warming battle with more forum casualties...... :o  ;) :)

[MWS]

SEE what happens when the forum is open to ANYONE?!?!?   ;) ;D
but I'm NOT touching the "increasing water temps" thang and risk starting a global warming battle with more forum casualties...... :o  ;) :)

You mention Kyoto Kummok.....and I'm gone  ;) ;D

[TomG]

The worst Bay Area salmon season in history will be closing in 10 days.  Last week we heard that the stick boats were picking up a few fish at 300' in 400-500' of water. There was talk among some sports to go out another 20 miles to the deep water and try mooching with spectra and a 3# sinker on a release.  Before we were able to get geared up there was a short but irresistible run of albacore and salmon were back burnered until yesterday.  For 30 years we have fished the Marin coast 12-18 miles from the Gate, 30-45 pulls, 2 ½ # lead sinker with a boat speed of 2kts in 70-100'of water.  For 30 years, this time of the year, we would routinely get ½- 2 fish per rod.  This year we were lucky to get 1 fish per boat in 2 trips.  Yesterday, not having anything better to do, we tried a "new" different, "deep" technique.  Instead of a specific number of pulls, we bounced our balls(Yep, Kummok before you ask, the H2O was cold :o) on the bottom and cranked up 5-15 turns.  Hello, not a great day, but did manage two 15 #ers, a hand full of take downs, a dozen scratched bait, and high boat honors.   Not a super day, but the best one we've had in over 2 months.  River counts are way down, where have all the fish gone?   

[Arcs_n_Sparks]

River counts are way down, where have all the fish gone?   

In the end, I think we will find dams (and other managed water efforts) are showing their shortcomings. I have ideas, but in California you cannot build a nuclear plant, and that continues to exercerbate the water wars.

Arcs_n_Sparks

[tsquared]

Good news for us --one of the best rivers on the west coast of our island has FINALLY got lots of coho coming up, only 4 weeks late! Course, the wind is howling today and we can't get out to get them. (It's a conservation wind!)
T2

[oguard]

This year fishing the West coast of Vancouver was indeed slow.We fished  between 60 and 80' during the day and 50 to 30' in the earley morning and late evening.The bites did not come on as they usually.The bites would come and go throught out the day with no relation to the tides.It is good to here the coho are finnaly hitting the river.I don't think the fish have really disapeared they are coming later and staying deeper.When we have 40 celsius temps in the summer I can't blame the fish for staying deeper.

Mike

[oguard]

I must also add that I did catch my limits with a 32# being the biggest and the avg. being about 26#.Lots for the Bradley and for the jars.Friends and neighbors always love coming to my house in the fall smoked salmon,candied salmon And some oter beast and the smoker. 8) 8)

Mike

[tsquared]

Hey Mike--good to hear you caught some fish. Haven't heard from you in awhile--how are you?
T2

[oguard]

I'm good T2,busy with football hven't had time to look at the forums till this week.4 kids in the house does'nt give me much computer time.Where did you fish this year?

Mike

[tsquared]

Had the boat in the water at Cheanuh marina, close to home here in Metchosin. Fished Sooke waters, with 2 trips up to Port Renfrew. It was a spotty year, except for a couple of weeks  in late August. Still ended up with plenty of fish to smoke. I think I'm going to keep the boat at the marina for the winter--the crabbing is good and the spring fishing right in the bay at the marina is excellent. How did you do in Nootka?
Tom

[oguard]

Did well enough but had to fish hard.One and half days without a fish.But it picked up near the end of my trip.Changed up gear lots and then went back to what I know Hootchies.Great weather and my two boys had a great time fishing off the dock and catching dogfish and makeral.Hoping to get some prawning in this winter.

Happy smoking

Mike