To correct any wrong assumptions, I did not mean that the zones are the problem... But given the fact that added stress of fighting a fish is quite detrimental to its survival, the zones would be the most prone to "killing" fish. Does anyone remember when they closed the zones in 2007??? I remember every time looking off that bridge while it was closed that year to see nothing but large amounts of healthy unstressed fish. Fish congregate naturally above that bridge more so than any other spots I've ever seen. Its quite apparent that what they did that year was a good move as great some of the best I've ever seen) returns of all species came for the returning years after that...

Again, reading around- some have been seen like this low in the DSR in the early AM- It aint just the river but clearly a lake issue too, they are coming in with the lice.
Perhaps its the added pressure of running or that they just haven't been noticed dead in the large lake, but the lice seem to be out there attaching to the fish as someone mentioned earlier.
As this has only seemed a minor thing  in the past the lice must be increasing for some  reason-  one may well think it isn't just the Steel being affected.
Ontario does not appear to be the first Great Lake affected by this.
Always something, but still sad stuff.
 
Similar reports from other Ontario tribs ?????

Here is a list of articles ect I have come across on this. FWIW they do not think it is gill lice as the issue was worse in 2012.
http://www.syracuse.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2014/12/scientist_puzzled_about_whats_killing_steelhead_in_the_salmon_river_and_other_la.html
 
http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3868#.VI-rFJU5DIX
 
 
This was an e mail received from Scott Prindle, the Biologist in charge of the SR.

 There have been steelhead acting strangely and dying for several weeks now. We
sent an initial sample to Cornell University Vet School to see if was being
caused by a disease, virus or parasite. They found nothing conclusive on those
fish.

We think it may be related to thiamine levels in the fish. Similar observations
have been made in other Great Lakes in the past. Last week we captured several
fish and took muscle and liver samples to be sent off to a Federal Fish Health
lab to determine their thiamine levels. Additionally we are holding some fish in
a pen at the hatchery that are acting sick and have injected them with a
thiamine solution. This has worked in the past to revive fish that were
suffering from thiamine deficiency.
 
Here is a set of articles about  the great lakes salmon . it I old but  has some good stuff
http://www.jsonline.com/n...97825z1-284550501.html

Unfortunately while we may be able to determine that thiamine is the culprit,
there is not much that can be done from a practical standpoint.

I'll let you know what we hear from the Feds. 

Scott" 

  

It definitely has potential for disaster. Since 2005 the DEC really started keying in on wild stocks in the system. Maybe they were too late? 3 years in a row of phenomenal salmon runs followed by the worst ever... Lake trout populations are up... Could the lake be running out of bait??? Notice the question marks.

For those who knew where and how there were Salmon- but clearly NOT like any normal year.
 There WERE dead Steel early on and more than normal too. I attributed it to improper release and play but ???
Did see many coming down on top while upriver in the first parts of the run and also attributed that to improper release and tired fish from above.
There were a LOT of Steel in October including very  many shorts- now somebody says there are no jacks around ???
Really looking to the day the question is answered - even if we don't like it at least we will know why.

OK lucky maybe not "ever" is the final conclusion... But in 25 consecutive avid years its the worst I saw and many folks who have been at it even longer including lake guys are quite puzzled themselves... And NO, none of my opinion is based off of just a few outtings every few weeks

Settle down guys , lol. We are not the scientists, just some average fishers discussing thoughts . I have been fishing on the Trib a grand total of once this fall and that was for trout.
I have only drawn any info from other forums and as we know most is just rumor. It does however seem there is a big problem in most all the Great Lakes systems. Some have crashed and if a solution is not found , this one seems on course. I know a one off year is far from that but it also may be the early warning signs of things to come.. The fishery overseers must keep pro active ( I'm sure they are) and so much information does come from those who spend time on the water

I have a lot of faith in the NY folks in charge of the fishery.
They have developed a world class system where little or nothing was there to begin with and have manage it well throughout a number of ups and downs.
 Ma Nature is always handing out some kind of barrier and the State folks always get around it with professional expertise.
If fish go back to old low  numbers for a bit while they get it straightened out -well so be it.
A part of the ebb and flow of the fishery I guess- although its hard to adjust to with very low years or disease following banner seasons.
 
Personally  doubt its whirling disease as from what I read it hits the young of the year and there is little about it hitting adults.
Also doubt its the gill lice as fish seem to have had them right along albeit in smaller amounts.
Might agree the greater amount of lice weakens the fish and might be  factor in their strength fighting off something else though.
Water levels and temps don't seem to be a factor so there is certainly something else happening IMHO.
Chemical reactions in baitfish are perhaps a factor but with an increase in Lakers ( which are greatly affected by the bait fish thing) it may well not be the answer with this dilema-
 We will see----

Rember its the fisherman of concern that the DEC needs... It was fisherman that provided concern and the first specimen to be evaluated at Cornell. Scientists we are not but fisherman we are and the DEC would have quite a tough job to do with out our efforts, thoughts and opinions... Seeing is believing and can be quite factual in itself. Yes tuna, following fishing forums for info on the "problem" at hand is not the best fact base. I started this thread based off of first hand knowledge that I obtained and every bit was fact... Dying fish, many having gill lice, and specimens being taken to Cornell. Should we really just sit back and act like a lifeless dumby who has no opinion or concern??? (Notice the question marks) the articles that clint posted up were articles I have read also in which I have contemplated already. Special thanks to him for sharing... And its nice to hear some other opinions and concerns... My opinion may be getting a little too expensive though... Might have to start using dollar signs instead of question marks

Its very possible that all of the stress factors combined are having a synergistic effect on them....they ran early (aka less O2 in the water, and more people beating them up), longer in the river (less food), gill lice (less O2 into their system and makes them more suseptable to other infections) and who knows there may be an undiagnosed disease at play too.

If it is a nutritional disease that is not good...

Question: are the weakened steelhead that are nutritionally imbalanced more prone to acquire gill lice?

http://hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2997824/The_Gill_Lice_Epidemic_Expands
 
On gill lice

That is a bad scenario, Andy. It's more system collapse than a specific pathogen . I have noticed that the steelhead I've caught and the ones I've seen are fairly thick and do not appear to be undernourished. The swirlers i saw seemed to be thinner. Just a very limited observation.  Clint, I thought the egg fly non-productivity was just my lousy technique, I fished them way less. Especially since  I didn't see  scattered eggs on the bottom like I have in the past. My best fly has been a bunny flesh fly and larger wooly buggers are  producing for the non-ripping fly guys.  Hopefully, this forum isn't experiencing system collapse. It does have a virus from Ohio that is hard to kill off, but hopefully most will be immune.

It will be interesting to see what comes from DEC when they get the lab reports.