by Fort Peck biologist Heath Headley

Last Friday (October 4th) was the first day of electrofishing efforts by MT FWP fisheries and hatchery staff. There are definitely Chinook salmon present in some of the bays, but spawning activity is not quite fully underway. The official salmon snagging (and, new this year, bowfishing), season started Oct. 1.

Water surface temperatures are still relatively warm as it relates to salmon spawning activity. Most spawning activity occurs when water surface temperatures are around 55F. This is when we typically see good numbers of salmon and females are “ripe” or in the process of releasing their eggs.

Currently, it appears there good numbers of 2-year old males present that are averaging close to 5 pounds as well as some larger 4-year old fish in the upper teens and close to 20 pounds.

As of Friday, we captured more male salmon than females. This is typically the pattern early on – males are first to show up, and then females become more present as water temperatures fall within their desired window.

Shore and boat anglers and other people recreating around the water should use caution when FWP is electrofishing. Please be courteous. It’s important that fisheries staff is able to collect sufficient numbers of chinook salmon as this unique fishery relies on these annual efforts to stock salmon the following spring.

FWP fisheries and hatchery staff will be electrofishing and spawning Chinook salmon over the next several weeks.