Stamp/Cowichan Steelhead

You know what? Everyone was shouting and chanting "downsizing government". That's the result of that. A government that is rendered unfunctional and notoriously underfunded and understaffed to do anything.

Actually I would say its a political choice made. The current government does not value the environment. They just play around pretending to care. But really, they care, but not that much!
 
I'm sure glad I got to experience the Cowichan as I did some 24 years ago. Even then we heard of glorious stories from 20 years earlier than that. Still some beautiful wild fish in that system, but definitely not like it used to be.
 
It's like that everywhere. I still remember fishing the Squamish when it rivaled fishing on the Dean. Was not uncommon to have a double digit day. No more. Sad
 
As if the Stamp needed anymore problems.... I've heard the hatchery is facing a bad disease outbreak.
Anyone heard of anything?
 
Information is limited right now.............RCH is closed to the public with a full quarantine in effect. Early reports, very early, are a problem originating with the Steelhead, as if they needed any more trouble, and a possibility of having to wipe out ALL fish, salmon & steelhead, if they can't treat the outbreak. Worst case, it would mean essentially wiping out an entire cycle of salmon & steelhead. Lets hope they get this figured out fast and a full cleansing of the hatchery won't be necessary. Scary stuff right now............... :(
 
60,000 juvenile Steelhead put down. IHN Virus is from wild fish. What a switch that is wild killing hatchery.
> IHN virus outbreak forces fish kill at Robertson Creek Hatchery
>
> by Wawmeesh G. Hamilton - Alberni Valley News
>
> posted Feb 5, 2014 at 6:00 PM
>
>
> A virus outbreak has killed 60,000 juvenile steelhead at Robertson
> Creek Hatchery and prompted the involvement of the Canadian Food
> Inspection Agency.
>
> Fisheries and Oceans Canada has confirmed that there was an outbreak
> of Infectious Haematopoietic Necrosis (IHN) virus at the Robertson
> Creek Hatchery.
>
> The virus was diagnosed in January after extensive laboratory
> testing, said Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) spokesperson Carrie
> Mishima, who only responded to questions from the News by e-mail.
>
> The virus has infected more than 60,000 juvenile steelhead at the
> hatchery, which have since been destroyed, officials said.
>
> Hatchery staff became aware of the outbreak after noticing higher
> than normal mortalities in juvenile steelhead. Staff noticed signs
> of the virus and initiated lab tests.
>
> According to the fisheries department, IHN is a naturally occurring
> pathogen in wild fish throughout the Pacific West Coast from Alaska
> to California.
>
> IHN poses no risk to humans but it can spread quickly and has a 100
> per cent mortality rate if a fish population becomes infected.
>
> The virus is known to exist in Great Central Lake where the hatchery
> draws its water supplies. Lab tests identified the virus as the
> endemic, naturally occurring strain that is commonly found in Pacific
sockeye.
>
> The Canadian Food Inspection Agency was called because IHN is a
> reportable disease.
>
> Staff have isolated the area where the infected fish were being
> held, and are cleaning and disinfecting the area.
>
> Measures have also been put in place to control the movement of
> staff and fish in and out of the hatchery.
>
> Cleanup will be completed when the CFIA is satisfied that the
> process has met their requirements.
 
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Stamp-somass

Nothing on the Stamp? Wow, I heard last yr was brutal as well. The Murphys and the other guides must be really hurting?

I was on the Stamp and the Somass for three days water was low but fish could still get up>In the past on the somass we used to hit like three fish every morning i didnt hit one on either rivers .Was nice camping there was pritty mild weather Stamp Falls was surprised its open in the winter.
 
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