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Story from Roaring Fork Guide Service

Springer Migration Update

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Fish Passage numbers at Willamette Falls are trailing behind those posted last year at the same time.  By May 16, 2006, ODFW had reported almost 20,000 Spring Chinook and over 4400 Summer Steelhead having passed the counting station in Oregon City, mostly headed for the Mckenzie, the Santiam and the Middle Fork Willamette.  This year however, on the same date we have a total of 12,226 Springers and only 2,827 headed south so far.  Some hot bites have been reported below the Falls this past week which is encouraging news for Willamette Valley guides, like myself who rely on this run each year for our summer season.  A two degree change in the water temperature at Willamette Falls can make a world of difference in the upriver migation numbers.  The Willamette River at Oregon City has been holding at 58 degrees.  A two degree increase to 60 degrees should increase the daily Springer migration to upwards of 1000 per day.  To date we are not seeing boatloads of fish coming into our local launches.  Even the guides are having to work their tails off to produce a fish or two per trip.  It's just a matter of days now, but this pattern should change very soon, with a marked improvement.