Nanoose Streamkeepers

With the coming of spring to our watersheds, [hopefully not premature with that statement even though you will be reading this in June] the fish have started to move downstream on their migration to the sea. Over the past month we have seen an increasing number of smolts as the days go by even though water temperatures have been in the single digit range [5c to 8c]. Last week we saw the largest Wild Coho smolts yet to exit the Beaver pond, over 8 inches, closer 10 if we had time to measure it. As with all fish the most important thing we can do is not have them out of the water more than necessary, a quick dip with the net then count and release. Ever heard of a salmon that could hold its breath? It should have left last year or the year before and now will go out to sea for the rest of this year then return in the fall as an adult. Many years ago we had Coho fry in our box before we had done any fry salvage for that year. At the time we speculated that their was the possibility that some fish had remained in the lake and spawned in the upper reaches of the stream above the lake, now finding this one we think that was the case. Once the Beaver begins to repair the dam around the end of May [or earlier if the weather is dry] the smolts no longer have free passage through the dam and have to wiggle through where they can or jump over the top. If they remain then they become two year olds the next year when they leave and if not as in this ones case they can stay or leave as a three year old. We do have a pipe buried in the dam for fish passage but since our boat was stolen we now have no way to check the pipe without a very cold swim and believe me the water is cold at 5 centigrade, even the short time your hands are in the water they begin to go numb if you have to fish out the net from the bottom of the box. This is a very beautiful time of the year to be out and about in the watersheds, all the trees are sending out new growth, plants are beginning to bloom, birds of all kinds are nesting and rearing their young. The Bears are starting to wander around feeding on new shoots and grasses and their are even some spring mushrooms, we had a feed of Shaggymane two weeks ago from the same spot right in the middle of the old logging road where they grow in the fall. Yesterday I picked Puffballs in the estuary, which made a fine addition to lunch. Next time I go to the estuary I will be picking some Sea asparagus, which will be placed, in a shallow baking dish with olive oil and a nice fillet of Sockeye placed on top then baked in the oven, I told you spring is a fine time of the year. Speaking of Sockeye make sure you get over to Port Alberni over the next few months to see the run of Sockeye one of the largest in years to return. Now the first nations have the rights, which they never really lost in the first place to trade their catch you will be able acquire some to bring home if you are not a fisherperson. June is the month that should bring warmer weather but do not quote me on that as May has felt like April or even March. Remember that when out and about try to leave only footprints and take time to really appreciate the magnificent natural world all around us. Take time to sit beside a stream and watch nature unfold before your very eyes, you may be lucky to have a close encounter with the creatures that live there. There is nothing finer than to watch a Water Ouzel swimming around in a riffle or pool in search of food and if you are really still it may come right up to you.