dimebrite2
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Steelhead which survive spawning spend the next year recovering and gain very little weight.  
 
What is the limit on steelhead in the DSR? 
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Not referencing dsr... staircase eye of the needle have pocket pickers well in to November. This never was the case.

Sorry not a scientist, but I'd suppose a 12# (common size for this season) comes back in the teens class the following year



Merry Christmas and happy new year😁

Not according to scientists.
Few males survive and the hens spend most of the next year regaining lost weight.
 
As to the DSR, while there were fewer people back in the before times , there were fish being kept which isn't happing now.  
Should be a plus for upstream numbers.
And the stairs and eye were the first places to attract steelsnaggers.  
The butchery there was there.
Yes the numbers of people on the river has increased there as everywhere else.
That sux and means a minus in fish numbers.
 
 
Happy holidays
 
 
 

r3g3
Even if the changed the law to NO keeping of Steel the fact that they get ripped up would lead to the demise of many.

No doubt about that.
I think it was a matter of less fish ( missing year class? the normal 6-8 pounders that are  usually the bulk ) or they ran very late this year.
I haven't been up since the water was big so don't know what moved last week.
 
Maybe right after Christmas I'll get up for a sampling.  
Have seen some pics of recent entering fish from coloring.

More photos. The fish are there and spread out throughout the system . You just have to find the right combination to get them to bite.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

Nice fish Gerry 😀
I can only dream ..

Just read the super rosy Lake report from Aug 30 2018 by the State. Looked fantastic out there for the boat guys for everything. 
Steel wasn't mentioned but Hos browns and Kings were reported in really great numbers.
Good as the river was this fall the question begs attention--\
- WHAT HAPPENED???.
They were talking  an over 200 percent increase for Kings alone from 5 years ago--

Hey--not complaining about this year on the Sr - it was fine- just not what ya mighta thought with that summer report from the lake.
 
Good luck with the ice Rich.
Low 60s here today.

I've always held to the belief that there are no guarantees when you venture outdoors whether it be hunting big & small game or ply your favorite piece of water.  One thing is certain, if you don't get off the couch you'll never know.  As for the SR this season the salmon run was spread out with fish coming in right into early November.  There was no huge run so to speak but plenty of fish in the system if you were willing to make the effort.  Guides are presently boating a stray king or two on the Oz and the SR.  As for steelhead I think my photos prove my point, nothing ventured, nothing gained.  I must admit I was concerned when they dropped the water levels to around 350 cfs the weekend I arrived.  With runoff it was around 500 cfs, maybe a shade higher.  Before they dropped the levels the fishing was very good with a number of very respectable fish hitting the net. 
 
Go fish, you just might be pleasantly surprised.    

I actually had a moldy king bumping my legs for an hour the last time I was up.

Seen fresh dead Hos in Kiddie during mid  February a few years back.

I agree- even as an ex part timer.
 
The great variety of options may, however, have something to do with NY being about as big as all of New England put together.
That said NY manages its resources VERY VERY well.

Nice fishing. Are not most those females already spawned out ? The Male certainly is ready.

The opening of UFZ should be a slaughter tomorrow. I'd expect there will be a huge amount of fish on reds up there.
I'm sure the pucker bush creek will have creepers as well.