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Record chinook run brings big smiles to Little Campbell River
By Michael Booth, Surrey Now October 29, 2010
The Fraser River isn't the only local stream boasting a surge in the numbers of returning salmon.
In South Surrey, the Little Campbell River is enjoying a modest fish boom of its own with a record run of chinook and impressive early returns of coho.
With the main body of fish already past the counting trap at the Little Campbell River Fish Hatchery, the 2010 run has featured 782 fish, of which 446 were wild Chinook and 336 from hatchery stock.
The numbers have shattered the previous record for returning chinook to the river. The species was introduced to the Little Campbell in 1980 and prior to this year, the record run for this variety of salmon was 385 fish in 2001.
"The chinook numbers are really encouraging because we were so concerned based on the previous two years' returns being so poor," said Roy Thomson, a volunteer at the hatchery. "Even though it's an introduced species, we had serious concerns about the viability of the run in the river."
If the chinook numbers weren't enough cause for smiles around the hatchery, the early returns on coho are equally impressive. The annual run is only roughly halfway complete and already 1,873 fish have made their way upstream. As of Tuesday, 1,791 of those were wild stock and with the bulk of the hatchery fish still en route, Thomson said the early returns leave him cautiously optimistic.
"The only numbers we can really talk about are the chinook because the run is almost over," he said. "The coho numbers are good so far but it's still only 50 per cent of last year's run, which was an excellent run with 3,600 fish. It's still too early to say how good this run will be because we're maybe halfway into it now. A normal year is around 2,000 fish so we already know this is a good year. The question now is, will this be a record year with numbers better than last year?"
That question should be answered in the next week or so and with steady rain featured in the weather forecast, the fish should be arriving shortly. Members of the public are welcome to visit the hatchery (1284 184th St.) to witness the salmon come through the traps, but timing is important.
"The day after a good heavy rain, that's when you should see the coho coming up in numbers," Thomson said. "You just go by the rainfall and if you want to see fish at the trap, that's when you should come."
He added that when fish are running, there are always volunteers on hand to answer questions.
© Copyright (c) Surrey Now
Read more: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/Reco...mpbell+River/3746111/story.html#ixzz13pyLjDzF
Jim's Fishing Charters
www.JimsFishing.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/Sushihunter250
By Michael Booth, Surrey Now October 29, 2010
The Fraser River isn't the only local stream boasting a surge in the numbers of returning salmon.
In South Surrey, the Little Campbell River is enjoying a modest fish boom of its own with a record run of chinook and impressive early returns of coho.
With the main body of fish already past the counting trap at the Little Campbell River Fish Hatchery, the 2010 run has featured 782 fish, of which 446 were wild Chinook and 336 from hatchery stock.
The numbers have shattered the previous record for returning chinook to the river. The species was introduced to the Little Campbell in 1980 and prior to this year, the record run for this variety of salmon was 385 fish in 2001.
"The chinook numbers are really encouraging because we were so concerned based on the previous two years' returns being so poor," said Roy Thomson, a volunteer at the hatchery. "Even though it's an introduced species, we had serious concerns about the viability of the run in the river."
If the chinook numbers weren't enough cause for smiles around the hatchery, the early returns on coho are equally impressive. The annual run is only roughly halfway complete and already 1,873 fish have made their way upstream. As of Tuesday, 1,791 of those were wild stock and with the bulk of the hatchery fish still en route, Thomson said the early returns leave him cautiously optimistic.
"The only numbers we can really talk about are the chinook because the run is almost over," he said. "The coho numbers are good so far but it's still only 50 per cent of last year's run, which was an excellent run with 3,600 fish. It's still too early to say how good this run will be because we're maybe halfway into it now. A normal year is around 2,000 fish so we already know this is a good year. The question now is, will this be a record year with numbers better than last year?"
That question should be answered in the next week or so and with steady rain featured in the weather forecast, the fish should be arriving shortly. Members of the public are welcome to visit the hatchery (1284 184th St.) to witness the salmon come through the traps, but timing is important.
"The day after a good heavy rain, that's when you should see the coho coming up in numbers," Thomson said. "You just go by the rainfall and if you want to see fish at the trap, that's when you should come."
He added that when fish are running, there are always volunteers on hand to answer questions.
© Copyright (c) Surrey Now
Read more: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/Reco...mpbell+River/3746111/story.html#ixzz13pyLjDzF
Jim's Fishing Charters
www.JimsFishing.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/Sushihunter250
