Radio Telemetry Studies of Summer Run Steelhead Trout in the Skeena River Drainage, 1979, with Particular Reference to Morice, Suskwa, Kispiox and Zymoetz River Stocks

Radio tagging studies were carried out in the Skeena drainage in order to more fully understand the life history of summer run steelhead trout. During the fall of 1978, 24 steelhead were radio tagged on the Morice River, 15 on the Kispiox River, 14 on the Suskwa River and 6 on the Zymoetz River. In the Morice River, tagged fish wintered throughout the mainstem. Spawning locations were identified for 16 tagged fish, of which 9 spawned in side channels and 7 spawned in tributaries to the Morice. Owen, Gosnell and Lamprey Creeks were identified as the most important tributaries, and some enhancement opportunities were identified. In the Suskwa River, tagged fish were found to winter in the section between Km 6 and Km 14 although some were found to winter in the larger Bulkley River before entering the Suskwa during runoff flows and spawning during late May and early June. Spawning sites were identified for 9 tagged fish, of which 5 were in the Suskwa and 4 in Harold Price Creek. Kispiox River fish were found to move very little during the fall and winter. Four of the 5 identified spawning sites were in tributaries to the Kispiox and tagged fish spawned in the mainstem. In the Zymoetz River, one tagged fish wintered beneath the ice in McDonell Lake before spawning at the lake outlet. Management and enhancement options as identified by the study are discussed.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Source URL
Version
Author Lough, M.J.
Data Steward BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
Publication Year 1980