Fish Counter at Dam Reflection of Amount of Fish?

[JayW]

Just checked out the newenglandshad.com website and on it the fish counter read 2 salmon were lifted over. Hopefully a lot more will be lifted over this year than last years. The question Im trying to ask is do you think the amount of fish lifted over the Holyoke Dam actaully reflect the actual numbers in that are in the River? Obviously there must be a lot more in the river so why would paying attention to the Holyoke one be important for managing fish species. Also are there other places on the river where fish are counted? Sorry if the questions sound dumb but there must be some formula to calculate the actual estimated numbers in the river.

[grimfisher]

Check out http://www.fws.gov/r5crc/fish/daily.html

This US Fish & Wildlife page has daily updates on all fish counting locations along the River, which will eventually include counts at the Turners Falls fish ladder, and another location up in Vermont.

I believe that the significance of the fish counts is to give a general idea about which segments of the river the fish are intending to spawn in, and this in turn justifies conservation and restoration efforts along tributaries in these sections. As long as salmon keep coming up the Holyoke dam, there can be reason to believe that the species is trying to spawn naturally in tributaries up-river of the dam. So, I don't think it's so much as finding total number of fish, but rather where they're headed.

That's just my thought - anyone else feel free to counter or add to this.

[fisher16]

[The question Im trying to ask is do you think the amount of fish lifted over the Holyoke Dam actaully reflect the actual numbers in that are in the River?] No, it just reflects the number of fish passed through the fish ladder.

"Obviously there must be a lot more in the river so why would paying attention to the Holyoke one be important for managing fish species. Also are there other places on the river where fish are counted?"
The Holyoke fish lift is the first fish lift on the Ct. River. Other places that fish are counted is the Westfield River fish ladder and Turners Falls. Don't know of any in Ct.

In past years all salmon would be trapped at the Westfield/Holyoke. If they made it to Turners Falls somebody wasn't paying attention. Wink1 After the Salmon were trapped some would be they taken to Cronin National Salmon Station in Sunderland others would be radio tagged and released upstream.

Hopefully a lot more will be lifted over this year than last years. We all hope that this happens, and the fish continue to migrate and spawn in our local waters. Maybe we could get a couple of guys/girls to stock some salmon. I saw a article this past weekend in the Sunday Republican concerning the Westfield River Watershed association is looking for volunteers to assist in salmon fry stocking in the Middle branch of the Westfield River on Saturday. Additional information (per the Sunday Republican) contact information Henry Warchol 413-562-3467 or William Rose 413-786-0195.

[Smallmouth]

In a related question... I'm almost always fishing above the Holyoke dam... do stripers get above the dam? Smallies? The shad do becouse I see their bodies all over the shore so I assume some of these other species get up. I didn't know Turners dam had a ladder or is it under construction? And lastly, can one go and look at the fish as they use the ladder and maybe talk to the biologists? Thanks to any responses. Dave H

[Smallmouth]

OK, I saw that link. I wonder if they tally smallies and stripers or they just don't use the ladder...

[fisher16]

do stripers get above the dam? Smallies?] Dave the smaller stripers between 12-28 inches sometimes get a lift over the dam. There is also a variety of fish from smallies, largemouth, trout,suckers, carp, the list can go on and on.

There's a viewing window in the Holyoke fish lift but they don't let the public in the back where they are counting, sampleing, and trapping salmon. The reason why Is its a pretty dangerous operation alot of moving parts and slippery conditions on top where the ladder deposits the fish into the fishway. Hope this helps.

[grimfisher]

I found another USFWS website that gives all the info on Conn. River fish counting stations. http://www.fws.gov/R5CRc/Fish/visit.html

Also on this page http://www.fws.gov/R5CRc/Fish/hist.html, there are links to fish counts from the past five years, which should give you a good idea of how things will look later on in the year.

I've been meaning to go to the fish ladder these past few years, but haven't gotten there yet. Plus, I think it's really popular to bring the kids, and lord knows I don't have any of those yet!Grinning1

Lots of other links on this page, so be sure to soak up the public information.

[JayW]

Thanks all for the responses. Pretty interesting information. The numbers of the various species counted looks like the Atlantic Salmon counts are going up each year. The Shad count is dropping though significantly on the other hand.

[theothereric]

The Shad count is dropping though significantly on the other hand.
the years of even 300,000 fish are behind us now. i dont even think we saw 200K last year. correct me if im wrong.

[fisher16]

Your right I think it was around 150,000 fish. Hopefully its just a cycle and they begin to rebound.

[mac]

No, I do not think the count is reflective of whats going over the dam. From what I've heard they often hire counters who don't know the difference between a sucker and a salmon. Plus the sheer volume has to cause problems. I do know that stripers were being taken the Ct River when biologists were saying there were none.

[Capt.Shay]

I didn't know Turners dam had a ladder or is it under construction? And lastly, can one go and look at the fish as they use the ladder and maybe talk to the biologists? Thanks to any responses. Dave H

The Turners ladder has been up and running for quite a few years. There is a viewing window and it is open to the public. The hours are usaually intermitant so you will want to make a call before heading there.

They do station a person there to speak with the public but it all depends on who they hire that year as to the levell of experitse they offer. A friend of mine had the job a few years ago and even though she has a degree in naturalism, she is no fish biologist. Before she went to work there, she came to me and asked all kinds of quiestions and barrowed some books from me so she could study up.

Tight Lines,

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/verkleidung/costumed-smiley-058.gif