North Shore Steelhead Assessment
A Partnership in Research
2015
By: Jon George
Goals and Objectives
• Partnership with Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and
Forestry (OMNRF) Upper Great Lakes Management Unit
(UGLMU) and the North Shore Steelhead Association (NSSA)
• Documenting the status of wild steelhead populations
in tributaries of North West Lake Superior using adult
population estimates and life history characteristics
• Applied science that can be used to develop steelhead
management plans and regulate harvest
• Monitor present regulations and habitat manipulation…. before
and after (adaptive management)
Co-op Angler 2015
Introduction
• Five steelhead assessment projects were conducted during the
spring of 2015.
• They are:
A) Neebing River Steelhead Population Assessment
B) McIntyre River Steelhead Population Assessment
C) McVicars Creek Steelhead Population Assessment
D) Portage Creek Steelhead Population Assessment
E) Cypress River Steelhead Population Assessment
F) Co-op Angler Study
• All studies were conducted in partnership with the North Shore
Steelhead Association (NSSA) and the Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources and Forestry (OMNRF).
Steelhead Assessment 2015
Projects and Methods
A) Neebing River Steelhead Population Assessment
Two anglers from the NSSA worked with local land owners angling adult steelhead. Captured fish were
measured, sexed, fin clipped, and a scale sample taken
B) McIntyre River Steelhead Population Assessment
Four experienced anglers biologically sampled, fin clipped and tagged adult steelhead they captured while angling during the
spring spawning migration (May and June).
C) McVicars Creek Steelhead Population Assessment
Three experienced anglers biologically sampled and fin clipped and tagged adult steelhead they captured while angling during the
spring spawning migration (May and June).
D) Portage Creek Steelhead Population Assessment
Anglers from the NSSA angled, biologically sampled, fin clipped and tagged adult
steelhead during the spring spawning migration (May and June)
C) Cypress River Steelhead Population Assessment
Three experienced anglers biologically sampled and fin clipped and tagged adult steelhead they captured while angling
during the spring spawning migration (May and June)).
E) Co-op Angler
Anglers from the North Shore Steelhead Association received sampling kits (tape, glove, knife, envelopes
and instructions) and biologically sampled their steelhead catches (fork length, sex, and scale samples
from north shore tributaries during the spring. Scientific permits were issued by MNR.
The population estimates were based on a ‘Petersen Population Estimate’; Adult
steelhead are fin clipped in year one and recaptured in year two. The repeat spawners with
fin clips in year two complete the formula.
Live Sampling Methods
Sample Kit
Gender (male or female ?)
Measuring Length
(fork length in mm.)
Scale Sample
Co-op Angler, Sample Size / Stream 2015
Basin
Tributary
Sample
Size
A
Thunder Bay
Whitefish River
Neebing River
McIntyre River
McVicars Creek
Blind Creek
MacKenzie River
73
139
94
219
32
79
B
Black Bay
Portage Creek
Spring Creek
55
27
Nipigon Bay
Jackpine River
Cypress River
Prairie River
Steel River
Miscellaneous
Nipigon Bay tribs.
38
159
31
15
others
23
C
26
Petersen Population Estimate
Number of Fish Clipped in Year #1 X Repeat Spawners in Year # 2 / by Clips from
Year # 1 Captured in Year # 2
Example :
250 marked in Year #1
150 Repeat Spawners Year # 2
30 Marked fish from Year # 1 Captured in Year #2
250 X 150
-----------30
= 1259 +- 95 % Confidence (year #1)
Estimated Number of Adults
Neebing River……...1120 (north branch 2014)
McIntyre River……..2000 (2012)
McVicars Creek……1518 (2014)
Portage Creek……….282 (2014)
Cypress River……...2396 (2014)
Data Obtained from Scale
Samples
• Number of stream years
• Number of lake years
• Total age
• Age at maturity
• Lake Years at Maturity
• Number of spawning events
• Size at age
Steelhead Scale:
Age 5 years
(2 stream, 3 lake,
3rd spawn)
Life History
Third Lake Year,
Third Spawn
Second Lake
Year, Second
Spawn
First Lake
Year, First
Spawn
Second
Stream
Year
First
Stream Year
Data Management
A: Fish data recorded on
envelope, scale sample placed
inside
B: Life history coded on back of
envelope
C: Life history data transferred to
Excel spread sheet
A
B
Portage Creek Spring 2012
Clips on Capture
Year
Date(d/m/y)
Colour
Tag
Flen
2012
15/04/2012
Yellow
49000
2012
15/04/2012
Yellow
49001
2012
15/04/2012
Yellow
2012
15/04/2012
2012
Lamp.
Sex
Spw.
L/spw.
Str.
Lk.
Age
Mat.
CLA
432
1
1
2
1
2
3
3
RP
581
2
2
2
2
3
5
4
RP
49002
384
1
1
2
1
2
3
3
RP
Yellow
49003
479
1
2
1
1
2
3
2
RP
15/04/2012
Yellow
48004
614
1
2
3
1
4
5
4
RP
2012
15/04/2012
Yellow
49005
366
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
RP
2012
15/04/2012
Yellow
49006
551
1
2
2
1
3
4
3
RP
2012
15/04/2012
Yellow
49008
594
2
6
2
1
7
8
3
RP
2012
15/04/2012
White
44050
522
1
3
1
1
3
4
2
RP
2012
21/04/2012
Yellow
49009
492
2
1
2
1
2
3
3
RP
2012
21/04/2012
Yellow
49010
521
2
1
2
1
2
3
3
RP
2012
21/04/2012
Green
38115
631
2
4
2
2
5
7
4
RP
S
W
CLC3(FD)
CLC1(AD)
CLC7(RP)
CLC2(AN)
CLC5(LV)
An
Ad
Ad
LV
An
C
Adult Steelhead Life History from Scale Sample
(Recorded on Excel Database)
Flen
Sex
Spw
Lk/Sp
St.
Lk.
Age
Mat.
450
2
1
2
1
2
3
3
380
1
1
1
2
1
3
3
470
1
2
1
2
2
4
3
510
1
2
1
2
2
4
3
580
2
1
2
2
2
4
4
600
2
2
3
2
4
6
5
540
1
2
1
2
2
4
3
340
1
1
680
2
5
2
2
6
8
4
470
2
1
2
2
2
4
4
510
1
2
1
2
2
4
3
610
2
6
2
1
7
8
3
690
9
4
3
2
6
8
5
640
2
3
2
2
4
6
4
490
1
2
2
1
3
4
3
580
2
1
3
1
3
4
4
Legend: Flen. (fork length mm.), Spw. (# of spawns), Lk/Sp (# lake years @ first spawn), St. (#
stream years), Lk. (# lake years), Age (total age), Mat. (age at maturity)
Steelhead, Thunder Bay Tributaries
Age Structure 2015
Neebing River
N=135
McIntyre River
N=91
McVicars Creek N=215
MacKenzie River N=77
Blind Creek
N=32
Percent of Total
40
30
20
10
0
2 (13)
3 (12)
4 (11)
5 (10)
6 (09)
7 (08)
Age (year of birth)
8 (07)
9 (06)
10 (05)
Steelhead, Black Bay Tributaries
Age Structure 2015
Spring Creek N=22
Portage Creek N=55
30
Percent of Total
25
20
15
10
5
0
2 (13)
3 (12)
4 (11)
5 (10)
6 (09)
7 (08)
8 (07)
Age (year of birth)
9 (06) 10 (05) 11 (04)
Steelhead, Nipigon Bay Tributaries
Age Structure 2015
Jackpine River N=38
Cypress River N=157
Prairie River
N=31
40
Percent of Total
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2 (13)
3(12)
4 (11)
5 (10)
6 (09)
7 (08)
Age (year of birth)
8 (07)
9 (06)
10 (05)
Smolting History 2015
Steelhead,Thunder Bay Tributaries
Steelhead, Black Bay Tributaries
Number of Years Spent in the Stream
Number of Years Spent in the Stream
Percent of Total
60
40
20
Spring Creek
Portage Creek
100
80
Percent of Total
Neebing River
McIntyre River
McVicars Creek
MacKenzie River
Blind Creek
80
60
40
20
0
1
2
3
Number of Years Spent in the Stream
Steelhead, Nipigon Bay Tributaries
Number of Years Spent in the Stream
Jackpine River
Cypress River
Prairie River
80
Percent of Total
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1
2
3
Number of Years Spent in the Stream
4
0
1
2
Number of Years Spent in the Stream
3
Steelhead Maturity
Steelhead, Thunder Bay Tributaries
Steelhead, Black Bay Tributaries
Age at Maturity 2015
Age at Maturity 2015
50
40
30
20
Spring Creek N=22
Portage Creek N=55
30
25
20
15
10
5
10
0
0
2
3
4
5
6
7
Steelhead, Nipigon Bay Tributaries
Age at Maturity 2015
Jackpine River N=36
Cypress River N=156
Prairie River
N=31
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
2
3
4
5
Age at First Spawning Migration
2
3
4
Age at First Spawning Migration
Age at First Spawning Migration
Percent of Total
Percent of Total
60
N=135
N=91
N=213
N=76
N=32
Percent of Total
Neebing River
McIntyre River
McVicars Creek
MacKenzie River
Blind Creek
70
6
5
Repeat Spawners
Lake Superior, Steelhead
Repeat Spawning 2015
McIntyre River
McVicars Creek
MacKenzie River
Blind Creek
Portage Creek
Cypress River
70
Percent of Total
60
50
R=55%
R=66%
R=54%
R=34%
R=71%
R=65%
40
30
20
10
0
M
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Number of Spawning Events
A healthy adult Steelhead population:
55% repeat spawners = 45% total annual
mortality (30% natural mortality, 15%
fishing mortality or harvest)
Weight and Age of your Steelhead
Lake Superior Steelhead
Figure A
Weight for Length Categories
5
Length to Weight
•
A 60 cm. (24”) steelhead weighs 2.5 kg.
or 5.5 Lbs.
A 75 cm. (30”) steelhead weighs 3.8 kg
or 8.5 Lbs.
Weight (kg)
•
4
3
2
1
0
Fig. A
35
45
50
55
60
65
70
75
80
Fork Length (cm)
Figure B
Note: 2.54 cm = 1 in ; 1 kg = 2.2 lb
Fork Length to Age
Lake Superior Steelhead
A 50 cm. (20”) steelhead is 3 years old
A 70 cm. (28”) steelhead is 7 years old
Fork Length at Age
80
Average Fork Length (cm)
•
•
40
Note: Length at age will vary depending
on stream life and maturity
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0
Fig. B
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Age in Years
Note: This is s general guide. Grow th w ill vary considerably w ith m aturity, stream life and
feeding behavior.
What is happening in Black Bay ??
Figure A
Illustrates the population size in Portage
Creek and the McIntyre River.
Lake Superior, Steelhead
Adult Population Size 1991 to 2014
2600
Figure B
Age classes as a percentage
2400
Note:
Adult steelhead in years 2012 (age 3) to 2009
(age 6) (Fig. C) show a significant difference in
the numbers of adults….strong recruitment in
Thunder Bay tributaries is poorly represented in
Portage Creek and other Black Bay tributaries.
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 0
Fig. A
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14
Lake Superior, Steelhead
Age Structure and Year Class 2015
Age Structure and Year Class 2015
McIntyre River N=91
Portage Creek N=55
McIntyre River N=2000
Portage Creek N=300
500
25
400
Number of Adults
Percent of Total
1
Year
Lake Superior, Steelhead
20
15
10
300
200
100
5
0
0
2 (13)
Fig. B
McIntyre
2000
Number of Adults
Figure C
Age Classes as the estimated number of
individuals
30
Portage
2200
3 (12)
4 (11)
5 (10)
6 (09)
7 (08)
Age (year of birth)
8 (07)
9(06) 10(05) 11(04)
2 (13)
Fig. C
3 (12)
4 (11)
5 (10)
6 (09)
7 (08)
8 (07)
Age (year of birth)
9 (06) 10 (05) 11 (04)
Portage Creek, Steelhead
Number of Age Three Adults 1991 to 2015
Number at Age Three
1000
800
600
400
200
0
91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Year of Capture
Portage Creek (Black Bay tributaries) maintains a high repeat
spawning rate but poor juvenile recruitment (2009 to 2015) into the
spawning population as illustrated above.
Lake Superior Steelhead: Summary
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay is a good news story.
Adult steelhead population estimates were 1800 to 2000 (years 2010 to 2014) in
the McIntyre River and 1300 (year 2014) in McVicars Creek
2009 to 2012 year classes all show good to excellent recruitment of juveniles
Population size, age structure and repeat spawning levels are all indicators of
healthy adult steelhead populations
Black Bay
Black Bay is not good news
Portage Creek reflects what is occurring throughout Black Bay…..it’s adult
steelhead population size has declined to 300 (2014) from 2000 (2007)
Poor survival of juveniles to first time spawning and low angler success in all
tributaries has occurred over the past five years
Changes in the Black Bay fish community (walleye and perch abundance) is the
probable reason for the steelhead decline
Nipigon Bay
Nipigon Bay streams show a positive trend similar to Thunder Bay
2009 and 2011 year classes in the Jackpine R. and Cypress R. appear strong
An adult population in the Cypress River was estimated to be 1800 to 2300 (2013
and 2014)
Age structure and the percent of repeat spawning indicate strong juvenile
recruitment and low harvest levels
Acknowledgements
The author of this report would like to thank the following persons and groups for all their
hard work in making these projects successful.
McIntyre River Population Study:
Randy Beamish, Wes Bender, Keith Ailey and Terry Kosolowski
McVicars Creek Study:
Kyle Stratton, Norm and George Stieh
Portage Creek Population Study:
The NSSA membership and Upper Great Lake Management Unit (OMNRF) staff and Thunder Bay
OMNRF. Staff
Cypress River Population Study:
Wes Bender. Keith Ailey, Terry Kosolowski, Larry Doggett and Scott Thorp
Co-op Angler Steelhead Data Collection:
Thanks to all the NSSA members that collected the data.
Aging and Data Management:
Jon Tost and Cyn Chappel, North Shore Environmental Services (NSES)
Funding:
North Shore Steehead Association and the Upper Great Lakes Management Unit (OMNRF)
Corporate Sponsorship:
Normark Inc., Canada
Web Site:
Frank Edgson
Future Activities
•
•
•
•
•
•
Maintain co-op angler program
including population estimates
Continue Portage Creek Study
Annual reports
Graduate work
Peer reviewed publications
Questions: jgeorge@tbaytel.net
Protection of Wild Steelhead Populations is in your
Hands