Fall Salmon - 2003

Salmon Spawning Updates, 2003

Click the following link to see a table of spawning data for 2003 (pdf file).

2003 Final Spawning Tally

Salmon Spawning 2002 (History)

Fall Salmon Spawning has probably concluded for 2002! Great success again! Thanks to the Game and Fish Department and Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery for their efforts!!

Salmon spawning update provided by clicking link below. Shut down the ladder until Monday (maybe for the year). Took 250K eggs today, grand total is 1.7 million, should be enough for everyone. Interesting, done the same day as last year (Friday of the 3rd week). Probably could take a lot more if needed. Too bad we cant freeze some till next year, have a feeling well need them then unless we get a lot of snow in the mts this year.

Jeff Hendrickson

- Fisheries Biologist - October 18, 2002

October 18, 2002 spawning report in pdf format

Montana successful in taking Chinook eggs

An email from Mike Ruggles says that they took their last eggs for the year on October 22, 2002. They finished with 70,000 eggs. This will be in addition to what they might need/get from the North Dakota egg take.

Related story about new salmon ladder

South Dakota will again stock Chinooks in 2003

A fish that set a new state record for chinook salmon was caught at Whitlock Bay.
The salmon weighed 21 pounds, 2 ounces.

Related story about South Dakota stocking plans

South Dakota Reduces Stocking Numbers

Make your own spawn bags

Bob Valeu - Lee Klapprodt - 9/21/02

Wind, rain and we still had fun!

Bob Valeu - Mike Gackle - fish 12 lb. 10 oz.

One of the key locations in the fall is Scoria Bay, Lake Sakakawea State Park

Scoria Bay in Lake Sakakawea State Park from the water on a very nice fall morning. An experience even if you don't hook a chinook!

This is a panoramic image of Scoria Bay in Lake Sakakawea State Park from the top of the boat ramp. It is where the mature salmon will return on their spawning run. Low water will cause this area to be very crowded over the last couple weeks of September and all through October. Consideration of others and patience will be critical to having success and a good time hooking fall chinooks. If you download the image to your computer, you can view it in larger scale. Hope its useful to you.

With any luck you'll see a few of these

Fly fishing from an inflatable

One popular methods inside Scoria Bay

Fly fishers and boat anglers share small area

As October wears on, the fly rod and spinner rigs do better

This family of residents puts up with us anglers

You'll see these guys all summer

Chinook Salmon life cycle.

No natural reproduction on Lake Sakakawea.

Smoking your catch!