The Wild Steelheader, 5-26-17

May 26, 2017

The forecast for wild and hatchery summer runs on the Columbia and Snake Rivers are dismal this year - the worst in 34 years, in fact. This dire prediction for summer steelhead has triggered unease among anglers. As we stare down the barrel of significant restrictions on fishing, steelhead management agencies are working to balance angling opportunity with the need for conservation -- and in particular, to maximize the number of wild B-run steelhead that make it to spawning grounds. While full-blown closures are unlikely, the path forward will potentially include reductions in fishing cold-water refugia areas, night fishing, and possible changes in gear regulations. This week, our science director channels Game of Thrones as he walks through the Columbia and Snake River predictions. Next, we give you the layman's guide to biologist's favorite steelhead acronymns (spoiler alert: there are many), a step-by-step guide to a killer fly and a peek into the new REI film profiling some of our favorite steelhead advocates, Terry and Jerry Myers.         Over the past century the Columbia River was transformed from a brawling frothy beast to a series of long flowing reservoirs. The dams responsible for these changes have allowed us to build cities and farms, provide cheap power and even helped win World War II. But the cost-benefit analysis for these dams is not so rosy when it comes to their effects on salmon, steelhead, and water quality. For anglers, one of the hardest costs to bear is that the Columbia's legendary wild steelhead runs have struggled to cope with the altered hydrology of the river. This year, forecasts predict very poor returns for summer steelhead in the Columbia with only 1,100 wild B run fish predicted to reach Bonneville Dam.         One of our favorite steelhead advocates, Terry Myers, is profiled in "A Steelhead Quest," a film by Sarah Menzies and Becca Skinner. Myers, a steelhead advocate and long-time angler, spent 2015 trying to catch a wild steelhead on a different river each month of the year. After successfully hooking a wild steelhead in all but two of the months, she set her sight on finding the last two fish to complete her quest.         Ever feel overwhelmed by all the acronymns in any piece of scientific literature? While some commonly used acronyms are readily understood and recalled, others are more obtuse and challenging - even for seasoned biologists. Follow along as John McMillian, science director for the Wild Steelhead Initiative, translates some of the more common terms.         Dean Finnerty walks us through the steps to tying a stainless steel shank intruder. Over the last decade the "Intruder" style flies have become widely popular. There are as many spin-offs of the intruder fly as there are variations of the traditional hair-wing style steelhead flies.