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Papers by James Losee

Marine and Coastal Fisheries

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 2021

Each year, juveniles of eight salmonid species enter the Salish Sea — the inland marine waters be... more Each year, juveniles of eight salmonid species enter the Salish Sea — the inland marine waters between northwestern Washington, USA, and British Columbia, Canada. These species vary in the proportions remaining there and migrating to feed in the Pacific Ocean. Such differential migration affects their growth rates and exposure to habitat alteration, predators, fisheries, and contaminants. We review these diverse migration patterns and present data from Puget Sound illustrating the variation in downstream migration timing, residency in the Salish Sea, and upriver return timing. Recreational catch records indicate that proportionally fewer remain in the Salish Sea than in past decades for several species, and the declines began after peaks in the late 1970s – early 1980s. These declines resist easy explanation because the factors controlling residency are poorly understood, and the Salish Sea has changed over the past decades. Regardless of the cause, the diversity of migration patter...

Despite being one of the most widely distributed salmonids along the Pacific coast, the Coastal C... more Despite being one of the most widely distributed salmonids along the Pacific coast, the Coastal Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii is one of the least understood. In 2007 we began a multidisciplinary project to clarify the spawn timing, spawner abundance, redd morphology, marine migration, and genetic population structure of anadromous Coastal Cutthroat Trout in Puget Sound. Using PIT (Passive Integrated Transpoder) tags, genetic stock assignment and scale analysis combined with redd surveys, we have documented important insights into the biology of anadromous Cutthroat Trout. The majority of “sea-run” Cutthroat Trout enter marine waters at age 2, exhibit high site fidelity to nearshore beaches as juveniles and adults and return to natal tributaries in the spring to spawn (February through June). Migration distances are limited with observations of high site fidelity year-round for juveniles and adults but interestuarine movements were common. Together, this new informatio...

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 2021

Understanding and quantifying migration phenology of commercially harvested Pacific salmon (Oncor... more Understanding and quantifying migration phenology of commercially harvested Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) is a cornerstone for managing sustainable populations. Here, we use a multidecadal data time series together with a hypothesis-driven framework to evaluate migration phenology in adult fall and winter ecotype chum salmon (O. keta) in a poorly studied but highly managed system — the South Puget Sound (SPS) of Washington State, USA. Using generalized additive mixed models that accounted for temporal autoregressive dynamics, we examined the effect of commercial harvest, climate variation, intraspecific density dependence, and predator buffering on migration timing and run duration. SPS chum salmon are migrating earlier over time, especially the winter ecotype that showed the strongest temporal shift from historical timing. Migration timing shifts were closely associated with regional marine climate regimes, local scale freshwater availability, and increasing pinniped abundance...

Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2021

Over the last 5 decades, natural populations of pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and chum (O. keta) ... more Over the last 5 decades, natural populations of pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and chum (O. keta) salmon were the most abundant salmon species returning to Washington, USA. Pink salmon predominantly returned in odd years, and chum salmon stocks that interacted with pink salmon exhibited strong even- and odd-year variations in abundance, size, age-at-maturity, and productivity (recruits-per-spawner). We investigated the effects of competition between pink and chum salmon originating from Washington during different life-history phases. Overall, chum salmon returns were 34% lower in pink salmon (odd) years compared to non-pink salmon (even) years. Chum salmon productivity tended to be below average for odd broods, especially along the Washington coast where there are no pink salmon populations, suggesting that competition during overlapping marine periods established their distinct even- and odd-year patterns. We evaluated long-term trends in chum (and pink) salmon productivity using c...

River Research and Applications, 2021

Artificial spawning habitat has been used to mitigate for lost habitat and to increase the abunda... more Artificial spawning habitat has been used to mitigate for lost habitat and to increase the abundance of salmonids, but the endurance and potential need of maintenance of these habitat improvements have not been well studied. We studied the movement of gravel, attributed to spawning activity of brown trout in a third‐order stream in northern Sweden by deploying PIT‐tagged grains of gravel on artificially constructed gravel patches. The results suggest that gravel movement was substantial and most prevalent at the central parts of the patches. As 76% of the tagged gravel was mobilized during a single spawning season, maintenance of this habitat improvement may be necessary in order to guarantee its functionality over time. This study provides a first step in guiding managers tasked with identifying factors degrading restored spawning habitat and maintenance needed.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 2020

Progress in Oceanography, 2020

Abstract In this study, we used scale analysis of returning adults to examine the relationship be... more Abstract In this study, we used scale analysis of returning adults to examine the relationship between early marine growth, feeding conditions, and survival for southern Salish Sea Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). In total, we examined scales from 2,604 individuals over 7 outmigration years characterized by a range of survival conditions from 1976 to 2008. We observed a positive relationship between growth during the first year at sea and survival for adults returning to the Green/ Duwamish, Puyallup, and Skagit Rivers and coastal Washington. Principal Components Analysis indicated that outmigration years of above average growth and survival were associated with increased Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) abundance, reduced sea surface temperature, and fewer juvenile Pink salmon (O. gorbuscha) in the southern Salish Sea. Based on these results, we developed a biological indicator for forecasting cohort survival of Tumwater Falls hatchery Chinook salmon using marine growth estimates of the earliest returning hatchery fish (age-21). The marine growth index predicted survival better for 8 brood years compared to a recent 5 year average returns forecasting approach (3.40% vs 35.41% Mean Percent Error), especially in anomalously high and low survival years. Results from this study suggest that early marine growth and survival of southern Salish Sea Chinook is related to bottom up factors (e.g. environmental conditions, prey abundance, competition) that influence feeding conditions in the Salish Sea. In addition, early marine growth may be a useful biological indicator to improve pre-season forecasting of Chinook salmon populations in the Southern Salish Sea.

Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 2020

The role of spawning salmonids in altering river bed morphology and sediment transport is signifi... more The role of spawning salmonids in altering river bed morphology and sediment transport is significant, yet poorly understood. This is due, in large part, to limitations in monitoring the redd-building process in a continuous and spatially extended way. A complementary approach may be provided through the use of a small seismic sensor network analysing the ground motion signals generated by the agitation of sediment during the redd-building process. We successfully tested the viability of this approach by detecting and locating artificially generated redd signals in a reach of the Mashel River, Washington State, USA. We then utilize records of 17 seismic stations, in which we automatically detected seismic events that were subsequently manually checked, yielding a catalogue of 45 potential redd-building events. Such redd-building events typically lasted between 1 and 20 min and consisted of a series of clusters of 50-100 short energetic pulses in the 20-60 Hz frequency range. The majority (>90%) of these redd-building events occurred within 11 days, predominantly during the early morning and late afternoon. The seismically derived locations of the signals were in agreement with independently mapped redds. Improved network geometry and installation conditions are required for more efficient detection, robust location and improved energetic insights into redd-building processes in larger reaches. The passive and continuous nature of the seismic approach in detecting redds and describing fish behaviour provides a novel tool for fish biologists and fisheries managers, but also for fluvial geomorphologists, interested in quantifying the amount of sediment mobilized by this ecosystem engineer. When complemented with classic approaches, it could allow for a more holistic picture of the kinetics and temporal patterns (at scales from seconds to multiple seasons) of a key phase of salmonid life cycles.

Ecosphere, 2020

Chinook salmon may be associated with pink salmon.

Technical Report, 2019

In non-pink (odd-numbered) emigration years, larger releases of hatchery Chinook salmon associate... more In non-pink (odd-numbered) emigration years, larger releases of hatchery Chinook salmon associated with more or same number of fish surviving to age 2/3 in the ocean and returning to Puget Sound • In pink (even) years, larger releases of hatchery Chinook salmon associated with same number of or fewer fish surviving and returning • Possible mechanism(s): Indirect competition-in even-numbered years, pink salmon enter the Salish Sea earlier than Chinook salmon and alter the preyscape vs. Apparent competition-predation on juvenile Chinook increased when higher numbers of pink salmon are present

Fish and Fisheries, 2019

Successful management of wildlife involves an understanding of fluctuations in abundance, surviva... more Successful management of wildlife involves an understanding of fluctuations in abundance, survival, productivity, and body size or condition. Demographic metrics are shaped by a wide range of factors related to environmental conditions, interactions with humans and population dynamics related to density, interactions with other species and other factors. Multidecadal, accurate, species-specific accounting of these metrics enables managers to compare them to environmental and anthropogenic conditions to accurately forecast future abundance and viability (

Journal of Fish Biology, 2018

Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. have been the focus of scientific research for over a century, b... more Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. have been the focus of scientific research for over a century, but anadromous trout in this genus, in particular anadromous coastal cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii, have been neglected. Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii occupy a diverse range of habitats including fresh water, brackish estuaries and marine water, but have a relatively small home range making them ideal for studies of behaviour and movements during ocean residency. In 2015, we sampled O. c. clarkii monthly along a small stretch of beach (47.08 N, 122.98 W) in Eld Inlet, south Puget Sound, Washington using a beach seine. We collected tissue for genetic tagging and stock identification and scales for aging from 427 O. c. clarkii, ranging in size from 118 to 478 mm fork length. Additionally, we enumerated redds in natal streams of those fish tagged to describe inter-habitat movement patterns and investigate site fidelity of juvenile and adult O. c. clarkii in the marine environment. Consistent with other anadromous salmonids, O. c. clarkii captured at our study beach exhibited rapid growth rates, particularly in spring following dispersal into the marine environment (mean AE SD = 0.61 AE 0.29 mm-d). Genetic tag data revealed that while O. c. clarkii undergo inter-estuarine migrations, O. c. clarkii of all life stages exhibited site fidelity in the marine environment. Twenty-one percent (64/305) of sampled O. c. clarkii were recaptured at least once during the course of the study while multiple fish (n = 3) were recaptured up to five times. These results suggest that O. c. clarkii occupying south Puget Sound reside in or regularly return to a small geographic area in the nearshore environment for much of their life and therefore may be particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbance (development, angling, etc.).

North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 2016

Spawn timing information for Coastal Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii is typically li... more Spawn timing information for Coastal Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii is typically limited to counts of adult fish at traps and tagging studies based on few samples. These types of data have suggested a protracted spawning period that occurs between November and March. We sought to determine the spawn timing and describe the redd morphology of anadromous Coastal Cutthroat Trout in a typical coastal stream of southern Puget Sound, Washington. Skookum Creek was surveyed for live and dead Coastal Cutthroat Trout and redds once weekly from early October to early June during six spawning season (2008-2014). In total, 148 live adults and 544 redds were observed. The timing of redd construction was highly variable among years, with 50% of redd detections occurring by as early as February 13 or as late as April 27. Measurements were collected from individual redds to describe redd morphology and the habitat type utilized by spawning Coastal Cutthroat Trout. Redds were typically found in substrate composed of small gravel (1.3-3.8 cm) and large gravel (3.8-7.6 cm) and in water with an average velocity of 0.60 m/s. The pit within redds averaged 0.43 m wide × 0.48 m long. Information from this study may provide new insights that will allow fisheries managers to begin developing a species-specific approach to monitoring anadromous Coastal Cutthroat Trout.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 2017

The effect of the length of Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss on catch rate, catch size, and cost... more The effect of the length of Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss on catch rate, catch size, and cost of stocking was evaluated in two western Washington lakes. Rainbow Trout of two general lengthclasses (200-300 ["catchables"] and 300-400 mm ["jumbos"]) were differentially marked and stocked 1 d prior to a fishery utilizing typical sportfishing techniques. In both study lakes, larger trout represented a larger proportion of the total catch than would have been expected if proportional to lengths at stocking. Fish in the largest individual length-class (360-380 mm) were, on average, 12.5 times more likely to be caught by sport anglers than those in the smallest individual length-class (200-220 mm). Larger Rainbow Trout are more expensive to produce for stocking agencies. However, fish stocked in the 280-300-mm class were twice as likely to return to the creel as expected and therefore are the best value in terms of number of fish caught per dollar invested. The results of this study suggest that a stocking strategy aimed at stocking fish 280 mm or larger would result in lower cost overall and increased satisfaction from anglers. Additionally, stocking Rainbow Trout less than 280 mm appears to have minimal recreational value in western Washington lakes.

Fisheries Research, 2017

In Washington State, anadromous Cutthroat Trout are targeted by sport fishermen in the marine env... more In Washington State, anadromous Cutthroat Trout are targeted by sport fishermen in the marine environment, year round in catch and release fisheries, however little is known regarding marine stock distribution and migration patterns. The current study was designed to (1) describe the size, age and stock structure of Cutthroat Trout captured in marine waters of South Puget Sound, (2) estimate travel distances of individual Cutthroat Trout and (3) evaluate factors that determine travel distances. Genetic assignment of fish captured in inlets to their population of origin was performed, and marine migration patterns were inferred from the genetic assignments. Cutthroat Trout in South Puget Sound were frequently recovered outside of their natal inlet. Fish originating from Skookum Creek were disproportionately represented in the study area representing 78.8% of the total catch and were found in every marine sampling area while 90% of McLane and 100% of Kennedy Creek fish were found in their natal inlet. Travel distances were greatest during summer months (Mean: 18.9 km ± 4.9 S.D.) and shortest during fall (Mean: 6.0 km ± 7.9 S.D.), prior to spawning. Complex migration patterns of Coastal Cutthroat Trout resulted in a mixed stock fishery for most of the year and have the potential to make protection of smaller populations difficult in the marine environment. Catch and release regulations in marine waters have likely had a positive effect on the total abundance of anadromous Cutthroat Trout in Washington State however, managers should focus population specific recovery efforts in the freshwater and estuarine environments where Cutthroat Trout populations segregate naturally as they return to natal waters.

Marine and Coastal Fisheries

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 2021

Each year, juveniles of eight salmonid species enter the Salish Sea — the inland marine waters be... more Each year, juveniles of eight salmonid species enter the Salish Sea — the inland marine waters between northwestern Washington, USA, and British Columbia, Canada. These species vary in the proportions remaining there and migrating to feed in the Pacific Ocean. Such differential migration affects their growth rates and exposure to habitat alteration, predators, fisheries, and contaminants. We review these diverse migration patterns and present data from Puget Sound illustrating the variation in downstream migration timing, residency in the Salish Sea, and upriver return timing. Recreational catch records indicate that proportionally fewer remain in the Salish Sea than in past decades for several species, and the declines began after peaks in the late 1970s – early 1980s. These declines resist easy explanation because the factors controlling residency are poorly understood, and the Salish Sea has changed over the past decades. Regardless of the cause, the diversity of migration patter...

Despite being one of the most widely distributed salmonids along the Pacific coast, the Coastal C... more Despite being one of the most widely distributed salmonids along the Pacific coast, the Coastal Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii is one of the least understood. In 2007 we began a multidisciplinary project to clarify the spawn timing, spawner abundance, redd morphology, marine migration, and genetic population structure of anadromous Coastal Cutthroat Trout in Puget Sound. Using PIT (Passive Integrated Transpoder) tags, genetic stock assignment and scale analysis combined with redd surveys, we have documented important insights into the biology of anadromous Cutthroat Trout. The majority of “sea-run” Cutthroat Trout enter marine waters at age 2, exhibit high site fidelity to nearshore beaches as juveniles and adults and return to natal tributaries in the spring to spawn (February through June). Migration distances are limited with observations of high site fidelity year-round for juveniles and adults but interestuarine movements were common. Together, this new informatio...

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 2021

Understanding and quantifying migration phenology of commercially harvested Pacific salmon (Oncor... more Understanding and quantifying migration phenology of commercially harvested Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) is a cornerstone for managing sustainable populations. Here, we use a multidecadal data time series together with a hypothesis-driven framework to evaluate migration phenology in adult fall and winter ecotype chum salmon (O. keta) in a poorly studied but highly managed system — the South Puget Sound (SPS) of Washington State, USA. Using generalized additive mixed models that accounted for temporal autoregressive dynamics, we examined the effect of commercial harvest, climate variation, intraspecific density dependence, and predator buffering on migration timing and run duration. SPS chum salmon are migrating earlier over time, especially the winter ecotype that showed the strongest temporal shift from historical timing. Migration timing shifts were closely associated with regional marine climate regimes, local scale freshwater availability, and increasing pinniped abundance...

Marine Ecology Progress Series, 2021

Over the last 5 decades, natural populations of pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and chum (O. keta) ... more Over the last 5 decades, natural populations of pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and chum (O. keta) salmon were the most abundant salmon species returning to Washington, USA. Pink salmon predominantly returned in odd years, and chum salmon stocks that interacted with pink salmon exhibited strong even- and odd-year variations in abundance, size, age-at-maturity, and productivity (recruits-per-spawner). We investigated the effects of competition between pink and chum salmon originating from Washington during different life-history phases. Overall, chum salmon returns were 34% lower in pink salmon (odd) years compared to non-pink salmon (even) years. Chum salmon productivity tended to be below average for odd broods, especially along the Washington coast where there are no pink salmon populations, suggesting that competition during overlapping marine periods established their distinct even- and odd-year patterns. We evaluated long-term trends in chum (and pink) salmon productivity using c...

River Research and Applications, 2021

Artificial spawning habitat has been used to mitigate for lost habitat and to increase the abunda... more Artificial spawning habitat has been used to mitigate for lost habitat and to increase the abundance of salmonids, but the endurance and potential need of maintenance of these habitat improvements have not been well studied. We studied the movement of gravel, attributed to spawning activity of brown trout in a third‐order stream in northern Sweden by deploying PIT‐tagged grains of gravel on artificially constructed gravel patches. The results suggest that gravel movement was substantial and most prevalent at the central parts of the patches. As 76% of the tagged gravel was mobilized during a single spawning season, maintenance of this habitat improvement may be necessary in order to guarantee its functionality over time. This study provides a first step in guiding managers tasked with identifying factors degrading restored spawning habitat and maintenance needed.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 2020

Progress in Oceanography, 2020

Abstract In this study, we used scale analysis of returning adults to examine the relationship be... more Abstract In this study, we used scale analysis of returning adults to examine the relationship between early marine growth, feeding conditions, and survival for southern Salish Sea Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). In total, we examined scales from 2,604 individuals over 7 outmigration years characterized by a range of survival conditions from 1976 to 2008. We observed a positive relationship between growth during the first year at sea and survival for adults returning to the Green/ Duwamish, Puyallup, and Skagit Rivers and coastal Washington. Principal Components Analysis indicated that outmigration years of above average growth and survival were associated with increased Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) abundance, reduced sea surface temperature, and fewer juvenile Pink salmon (O. gorbuscha) in the southern Salish Sea. Based on these results, we developed a biological indicator for forecasting cohort survival of Tumwater Falls hatchery Chinook salmon using marine growth estimates of the earliest returning hatchery fish (age-21). The marine growth index predicted survival better for 8 brood years compared to a recent 5 year average returns forecasting approach (3.40% vs 35.41% Mean Percent Error), especially in anomalously high and low survival years. Results from this study suggest that early marine growth and survival of southern Salish Sea Chinook is related to bottom up factors (e.g. environmental conditions, prey abundance, competition) that influence feeding conditions in the Salish Sea. In addition, early marine growth may be a useful biological indicator to improve pre-season forecasting of Chinook salmon populations in the Southern Salish Sea.

Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 2020

The role of spawning salmonids in altering river bed morphology and sediment transport is signifi... more The role of spawning salmonids in altering river bed morphology and sediment transport is significant, yet poorly understood. This is due, in large part, to limitations in monitoring the redd-building process in a continuous and spatially extended way. A complementary approach may be provided through the use of a small seismic sensor network analysing the ground motion signals generated by the agitation of sediment during the redd-building process. We successfully tested the viability of this approach by detecting and locating artificially generated redd signals in a reach of the Mashel River, Washington State, USA. We then utilize records of 17 seismic stations, in which we automatically detected seismic events that were subsequently manually checked, yielding a catalogue of 45 potential redd-building events. Such redd-building events typically lasted between 1 and 20 min and consisted of a series of clusters of 50-100 short energetic pulses in the 20-60 Hz frequency range. The majority (>90%) of these redd-building events occurred within 11 days, predominantly during the early morning and late afternoon. The seismically derived locations of the signals were in agreement with independently mapped redds. Improved network geometry and installation conditions are required for more efficient detection, robust location and improved energetic insights into redd-building processes in larger reaches. The passive and continuous nature of the seismic approach in detecting redds and describing fish behaviour provides a novel tool for fish biologists and fisheries managers, but also for fluvial geomorphologists, interested in quantifying the amount of sediment mobilized by this ecosystem engineer. When complemented with classic approaches, it could allow for a more holistic picture of the kinetics and temporal patterns (at scales from seconds to multiple seasons) of a key phase of salmonid life cycles.

Ecosphere, 2020

Chinook salmon may be associated with pink salmon.

Technical Report, 2019

In non-pink (odd-numbered) emigration years, larger releases of hatchery Chinook salmon associate... more In non-pink (odd-numbered) emigration years, larger releases of hatchery Chinook salmon associated with more or same number of fish surviving to age 2/3 in the ocean and returning to Puget Sound • In pink (even) years, larger releases of hatchery Chinook salmon associated with same number of or fewer fish surviving and returning • Possible mechanism(s): Indirect competition-in even-numbered years, pink salmon enter the Salish Sea earlier than Chinook salmon and alter the preyscape vs. Apparent competition-predation on juvenile Chinook increased when higher numbers of pink salmon are present

Fish and Fisheries, 2019

Successful management of wildlife involves an understanding of fluctuations in abundance, surviva... more Successful management of wildlife involves an understanding of fluctuations in abundance, survival, productivity, and body size or condition. Demographic metrics are shaped by a wide range of factors related to environmental conditions, interactions with humans and population dynamics related to density, interactions with other species and other factors. Multidecadal, accurate, species-specific accounting of these metrics enables managers to compare them to environmental and anthropogenic conditions to accurately forecast future abundance and viability (

Journal of Fish Biology, 2018

Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. have been the focus of scientific research for over a century, b... more Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. have been the focus of scientific research for over a century, but anadromous trout in this genus, in particular anadromous coastal cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii, have been neglected. Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii occupy a diverse range of habitats including fresh water, brackish estuaries and marine water, but have a relatively small home range making them ideal for studies of behaviour and movements during ocean residency. In 2015, we sampled O. c. clarkii monthly along a small stretch of beach (47.08 N, 122.98 W) in Eld Inlet, south Puget Sound, Washington using a beach seine. We collected tissue for genetic tagging and stock identification and scales for aging from 427 O. c. clarkii, ranging in size from 118 to 478 mm fork length. Additionally, we enumerated redds in natal streams of those fish tagged to describe inter-habitat movement patterns and investigate site fidelity of juvenile and adult O. c. clarkii in the marine environment. Consistent with other anadromous salmonids, O. c. clarkii captured at our study beach exhibited rapid growth rates, particularly in spring following dispersal into the marine environment (mean AE SD = 0.61 AE 0.29 mm-d). Genetic tag data revealed that while O. c. clarkii undergo inter-estuarine migrations, O. c. clarkii of all life stages exhibited site fidelity in the marine environment. Twenty-one percent (64/305) of sampled O. c. clarkii were recaptured at least once during the course of the study while multiple fish (n = 3) were recaptured up to five times. These results suggest that O. c. clarkii occupying south Puget Sound reside in or regularly return to a small geographic area in the nearshore environment for much of their life and therefore may be particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbance (development, angling, etc.).

North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 2016

Spawn timing information for Coastal Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii is typically li... more Spawn timing information for Coastal Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii clarkii is typically limited to counts of adult fish at traps and tagging studies based on few samples. These types of data have suggested a protracted spawning period that occurs between November and March. We sought to determine the spawn timing and describe the redd morphology of anadromous Coastal Cutthroat Trout in a typical coastal stream of southern Puget Sound, Washington. Skookum Creek was surveyed for live and dead Coastal Cutthroat Trout and redds once weekly from early October to early June during six spawning season (2008-2014). In total, 148 live adults and 544 redds were observed. The timing of redd construction was highly variable among years, with 50% of redd detections occurring by as early as February 13 or as late as April 27. Measurements were collected from individual redds to describe redd morphology and the habitat type utilized by spawning Coastal Cutthroat Trout. Redds were typically found in substrate composed of small gravel (1.3-3.8 cm) and large gravel (3.8-7.6 cm) and in water with an average velocity of 0.60 m/s. The pit within redds averaged 0.43 m wide × 0.48 m long. Information from this study may provide new insights that will allow fisheries managers to begin developing a species-specific approach to monitoring anadromous Coastal Cutthroat Trout.

North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 2017

The effect of the length of Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss on catch rate, catch size, and cost... more The effect of the length of Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss on catch rate, catch size, and cost of stocking was evaluated in two western Washington lakes. Rainbow Trout of two general lengthclasses (200-300 ["catchables"] and 300-400 mm ["jumbos"]) were differentially marked and stocked 1 d prior to a fishery utilizing typical sportfishing techniques. In both study lakes, larger trout represented a larger proportion of the total catch than would have been expected if proportional to lengths at stocking. Fish in the largest individual length-class (360-380 mm) were, on average, 12.5 times more likely to be caught by sport anglers than those in the smallest individual length-class (200-220 mm). Larger Rainbow Trout are more expensive to produce for stocking agencies. However, fish stocked in the 280-300-mm class were twice as likely to return to the creel as expected and therefore are the best value in terms of number of fish caught per dollar invested. The results of this study suggest that a stocking strategy aimed at stocking fish 280 mm or larger would result in lower cost overall and increased satisfaction from anglers. Additionally, stocking Rainbow Trout less than 280 mm appears to have minimal recreational value in western Washington lakes.

Fisheries Research, 2017

In Washington State, anadromous Cutthroat Trout are targeted by sport fishermen in the marine env... more In Washington State, anadromous Cutthroat Trout are targeted by sport fishermen in the marine environment, year round in catch and release fisheries, however little is known regarding marine stock distribution and migration patterns. The current study was designed to (1) describe the size, age and stock structure of Cutthroat Trout captured in marine waters of South Puget Sound, (2) estimate travel distances of individual Cutthroat Trout and (3) evaluate factors that determine travel distances. Genetic assignment of fish captured in inlets to their population of origin was performed, and marine migration patterns were inferred from the genetic assignments. Cutthroat Trout in South Puget Sound were frequently recovered outside of their natal inlet. Fish originating from Skookum Creek were disproportionately represented in the study area representing 78.8% of the total catch and were found in every marine sampling area while 90% of McLane and 100% of Kennedy Creek fish were found in their natal inlet. Travel distances were greatest during summer months (Mean: 18.9 km ± 4.9 S.D.) and shortest during fall (Mean: 6.0 km ± 7.9 S.D.), prior to spawning. Complex migration patterns of Coastal Cutthroat Trout resulted in a mixed stock fishery for most of the year and have the potential to make protection of smaller populations difficult in the marine environment. Catch and release regulations in marine waters have likely had a positive effect on the total abundance of anadromous Cutthroat Trout in Washington State however, managers should focus population specific recovery efforts in the freshwater and estuarine environments where Cutthroat Trout populations segregate naturally as they return to natal waters.