Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3714 June 22-July 6, 2018 | Page 7

VOL.37 • ISS. 14 June 22 - July 6, 2018 Hey Dan! — Letters To The Editor COVER STORY 7 Established 1982 What’s on your mind? Do you have something you’d like to share with us and our readers? A picture... a story... a question to ask, or an answer to another? Let’s hear your compliments, or your gripes! Whatever it is, send it to: HEY, DAN!, c/o Fish Sniffer Publications, The Fish Sniffer - P.O. Box 776, Colfax, CA 95713, or you can now e-mail it at [email protected]. Please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return of pictures or text. Thanks! Salmon Live, Salmon Die, What GGSA Is Doing About It Hey Dan! In the last update, we told you the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife reversed course and agreed to truck Merced hatchery salmon after GGSA reminded the department that fish forced to swim past the Delta pumps died. (The Merced River is a tributary of the San Joaquin River and all San Joaquin River fish have to swim past the pumps, which less than five percent survive). After winning the argument we lost the battle. These fish were released on the third day of a massive hatchery release which cost them their lives. Coded wire tags implanted in hatchery fish have revealed that those released on day one and two of a release survive. By day three, the predators have figured out what’s going on and decimate them. That’s what happened to the Merced hatchery fish according to eye wit- nesses. GGSA continues to press the case with CDFW for a strict two day release schedule, resting the release site for at least five days before resuming releases. Since there are millions of hatchery salmon released in the Delta and bay every year, and an average tanker truck load is just over 100,000 baby salmon, lots of tanker trucks are needed to take best advantage of the two day release strategy. In addition to the two day release strat- egy, hatchery managers have determined that releases late in the day are critical to minimizing bird predation on the baby salmon. Oh... and an outgoing tide is handy too, further limiting when releases can occur. Currently CDFW is about two trucks shy of what some say is needed, along with a shortage of staff and extra net pens to accommodate the releases. Acquiring two more is a high priority now. GGSA worked hard within the state capitol while the state budget process was at fever pitch to see that money was set aside to buy a few more trailers. As of this writing, it’s not yet clear whether these efforts will pay off but if they don’t, we’ll look elsewhere to solve the problem. Ft. Baker release runs into problems Another tactic to increase survival of hatch- ery salmon is to move the release site as close as possible to the ocean. So more fish are now being released right at the Golden Gate Bridge. But in May something went wrong with one of the loads. Dead fish floated on the water at the release site and others died after hitting the water in a highly weakened state. Part of the problem might have been overcrowding of the fish in the tanker trucks where dissolved oxygen, tempera- ture, and salinity all play a role in keeping the fish healthy. Another part might have been the handling the fish at the Feather River hatchery leading up to the loading of the trucks. They’re fragile at this stage of life and need care in handling. Much criticism was leveled at CDFW on social media as photos of the dead baby salmon circu- lated. Sources within CDFW say the problem has been addressed and we can expect to see healthy fish released going forward. We’re counting and depending on it. More net pens coming? GGSA president John McManus working with Coastside Fishing Club’s net pen project to bring more salmon. The overwhelming success of the Half Moon Bay net pen fishery, started and managed by the Coastside Fishing Club, is a model others are looking to repeat elsewhere. Suggestions have been floated to establish a net pen site some- where in San Francisco Bay where baby salmon would be held for several days to weeks to imprint on a site they’ll return to as adults. Since they’re all hatchery fish, rounding up the few that aren’t caught relieves pressure from govern- ment agencies concerned about the straying and interbreeding of hatchery fish with other fish. Key floodplain made more salmon friendly GGSA has steadfastly pushed to lower or notch a low elevation concrete dam called the Fremont Weir that regulates when Sacramento River floodwaters wash into the Yolo Bypass. For years scientists have told us that when the Yolo Bypass floods, sucking in floodwaters full of baby, salmon survival increases. The baby salmon find ideal feeding conditions in the flood- ed bypass which is full of small bugs baby salm- on love to eat. Lowering or notching the weir to allow more frequent and prolonged spring flooding has long been recognized as a key to greater Central Valley salmon productivity. I In fact, the federal government required it in a set of rules released in 2009. After nine years, those responsible have taken the first concrete steps towards making this happen. In late May a ceremony was held to mark the lowering of a channel from the Sacramento River to the weir and the notching of the concrete weir to allow more frequent flooding. ~ John McManus, Executive Director, Golden Gate Salmon Association (GGSA) Hey John! It’s been a rough year for salmon so far. Before we lose our salmon fishery forever, we need to hold the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Water Resources and the Governor accountable for the numerous environmental laws they have broken by sacri- ficing salmon and other fish populations at the altar of corporate agribusiness greed. Thanks for the update on the latest activities of GGSA. ~Dan The KFBK OUTDOOR SHOW 3507 1 Rated with your Outdoor Radio Show host for 26 years! # Bob Simms Fishing • Hunting • Destinations Conservation • History Dedicated to the Northern California Outdoorsman CALIFORNIA-NEVADA EDITION “The No.1 Newspaper Dedicated Entirely To Northern California Sportsmen!” Published By NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ANGLER PUBLICATIONS, INC. The Fish Sniffer P.O. Box 776, Colfax, CA 95713 Toll-Free (833)-347-4661 www.fishsniffer.com CAL KELLOGG’S E-MAIL: [email protected] EDITORIAL E-MAIL: [email protected] The landlocked king salmon fishing has been outstanding at Lake Oroville this spring – and the fish will get even bigger in the summer and fall. Carrie Hodges of Loma Rica had a great day of fishing at Lake Oroville with Rob Reimers of Rus- tic Rob’s Guide Service, as evidenced by this 18 inch rainbow trout and 18-1/4 inch salmon caught on May 19. Hodg- es, Gary Adkins of Yuba City, Fish Sniff- er Editor Dan Bacher and Reimers kept 18 salmon and 2 rainbows while trolling Brad’s Kokanee Series Cut Plugs in dif- ferent colors at 25 to 35 feet deep in the Bidwell Canyon Area. The The Fish Fish Sniffer Sniffer has has a a NEW NEW PHONE PHONE NUMBER! NUMBER! Contact Contact us us Toll Toll Free Free at at 1-833-347-4661 1-833-347-4661 ADDRESS CHANGE FORM MOVING OR MOVED? 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