FISHWATCH 2021 MONTHLY REPORT
NOVEMBER 2021
by Edward Kikumoto
Again this year, the U.S. Forest Service and The North Umpqua Foundation (TNUF) is asking the public not to visit the Big Bend Pool (the Pool) due to Covid19 concerns, and to protect the health of the FishWatch Caretaker.
The opinions in this report are strictly my own, and do not reflect the views and opinions of the U.S. Forest Service, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, or The North Umpqua Foundation.
Greetings from the Big Bend Pool FishWatch 2021 Caretaker,
END OF THE SEASON
The FishWatch 2021 season officially ended on November 30. However, I will continue to check the Pool through the winter as weather and road conditions permit.
My reasons for ending the season were:
1) At the end of November I observed six steelhead in the Pool.
One was observed circling the pool, and the others were positioned to leave the Pool.
2) The winter rain patterns are beginning to set in for the Umpqua watershed, with the collapse of the high-pressure ridge in California that has been pushing the rain into northern Oregon, Washington and Canada. The expected rain will further raise the water level in Steamboat Creek and motivate the steelhead to move up to or closer to where they will be spawning.
We have had rainfall every week in November, which has raised the water level in Steamboat Creek to “winter low flows,” and on occasion higher, however I don’t think it has been enough to completely saturate the ground yet.
3) I haven’t seen any change in the “normal” movement of the steelhead in their spawning run, as a percentage of steelhead I would expect to see in the Pool now relative to the summer high number.
Recent history has seen a summer high of 250 steelhead in the Pool. At this time of year there will be 12 to 50 steelhead still holding for some time in the Pool.
This number will fluctuate because of the steelhead that will be passing through the Pool, rather than holding.
This year my high count was 50 steelhead on July 5th, with the US Forest Service observing 30 steelhead in the Pool during the fire closure of Steamboat Creek Basin during the summer (July, August, September, early October).
Which is to say that seeing 6 steelhead in the Pool at the end of this November is about right on average.
Which is sad to say, but nevertheless…
STEELHEAD COUNTS
I observed 18 steelhead in the Pool at the beginning of November.
This is down from the 27 steelhead I saw in the Pool and 7 steelhead in Little Bend Pool on October 21.
On November 17, there were 14-15 steelhead in the Pool.
On November 19, I observed 6-8 steelhead holding in (what I would describe as) a normal winter low water holding pattern.
On December 2, I observed 6 steelhead, that appeared to be getting ready to leave the Pool, i.e., not a normal winter low water holding pattern.
After November 14, I did not see any steelhead trying to jump Little Falls.
Just as an aside, on October 27, I saw a lone steelhead holding in the Little Bend Pool (about a quarter mile downstream) holding in a small steelhead sized depression on the farside of the pool.
The last time I saw that particular steelhead in Little Bend Pool was on November 17.
On November 21, when I checked, the steelhead was gone.
WATER TEMPERATURES (Using 2 fisherman’s thermometers)
11.06.21 Big Bend Creek 43/46oF.
11.14.21 Big Bend Creek 46/48oF.
11.17.21 Big Bend Creek 38/41oF.
11.30.21 Big Bend Creek 41/44oF.
TRAFFIC IN STEAMBOAT CREEK BASIN
I was at the Pool on 16-days in November.
I did not observe any outward disturbance of the area around the Pool or in close proximity to it.
As in October, I saw much less traffic in the basin than I would normally expect given that gun bull elk hunting season was from November 6 thru 12.
INFRASTRUCTURE
The Airstream remains on its pad at the Sawtooth Garage on the USFS/ODOT Maintenance Compound.
I installed the dehumidifiers in the Airstream on November 15, and put antifreeze in the drain p-traps.
There have been no mice in the Airstream.
The batteries are in my garage on a trickle charger.
The two generators are cycled at least once a month.
I will continue to check and maintain the Airstream over the winter.
I will be submitting an end of year report to the U.S. Forest service by mid- January 2022.
OF NOTE
The North Umpqua River summer fishing closure ended on November 30. My assumption is that the North Umpqua River is re-opened to steelhead fishing for the winter.
Hazard tree clearing and salvaging continues on Hwy 138 (North Umpqua Highway) between mileposts 36.5 to 30.0, so expect delays.
This activity along the highway is expected to continue into the Summer of 2022.
A new Umpqua National Forest Emergency Fire Closure Order was issued
on November 12, 2021.
From what I can tell, the fire closures are only for specific roads and trails. Here’s the link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd971764.pdf
End of the FishWatch 2021 Monthly Report for November 2021.
The Big Bend Pool on November 30, 2021 @ 14:16.
USGS Steamboat Gauge @ 225 cfs @ 11:30.
