Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks have kindly funded the genetic analysis of 25 fin clips that I collected over 2007. The analysis was done at the University of Montana Conservation Genetics Laboratory in Missoula. The results indicate that there is very little evidence of westslope cutthroat trout/rainbow trout hybridization in the six lower blocks.

It is time for each participant to report all data collected for the mainstem work. The data will will used to derive a population estimate for the westslope cutthroat trout stock. This stock assesment will be used to initiate an adaptive management plan the the Elk River.

Be sure to include the following:

Total catch and species
Fork Length
Location of each fish
All tag numbers
Any marked fins
Type of gear used
Effort per fish (if possible)

Thanks to All participants. If you have not yet participated, now is the time to do so in order to receive a FREE T-SHIRT!!!

The biggest one I saw was about 60cm

The maps are all updated to include the waypoints from this summer's tagging program. Thanks again to everyone who helped out with the tagging. The remainder of the fishing season is now devoted to recaptures. I want to encourage everyone to login and start entering your catch into the website if you have not already done so. REMEMBER to enter ALL the fish you catch, not just the tagged fish and to examine the fish to see if any fins have been clipped in case the tag falls out.

This is just a brief note to say that I have successfully snorkeled the entire river from the North Fernie bridge to Elko (Blocks A and B). The new maps are also available for these two blocks and can be printed off from the website to take with you. I have counted hundreds of fish and I have also seen 7 tags and one clipped fin (the tag fell out) among these fish, so they are definitely out there. Now it's up to you to go out and try catch them. Remember to report your TOTAL CATCH and inspect the pelvic fin of each untagged fish you land in case the tag fell out. Happy tag hunting!

Chado

While I was fishing on monday afternoon August 13 on the Ek River, about 200 meters west of the north side bridge in town. I was fishing a riffle, next to a log jam, and a girl out of nowwhere strolled accross the rocky shore line and said to me she was doing research for the University of BC. She wanted to know how long I was fishing for, and if I caught any fish, And I replied, "Yes, just a little guy", A 12 inch cut throat, caught on a Hare's Ear Caddis Larva Pattern, tied to my liking.Fishing was slow on the elk river that afternoon.

Tracey has been successfully filling the gaps in the river, thanks to the efforts of angling guides and their clients. She tagged 20 fish from Morrissey to Elko with Curtis Lamey and his client Peter Bauer, then she drifted Hosmer to Fernie with Duncan McNicholl and his client Bob Bahr of California on Tuesday, where they tagged 12 more cutties. Today, she will likely finish of that stretch with JD and his client Kay DuShane, who have already tagged 12 fish from Olsen to Hosmer. They are on the river right now and they only need to get 9 more fish to complete that section.

Thanks to Curtis Lamey of Home Waters, his bro Kevin, and his client Peter Bauer who came to fish from Nevada. They all helped Tracey on Friday, August 3rd to get 20 fish tagged from Morrissey to Elko (Block A). This was her most successful float to date! Curtis also reported a tagged fish in his catch that was tagged last year on the Fernie to Morrissey stretch (Block B) on Sunday, August 5th. It was caught in the same spot where it was tagged. Importantly, this is the first official evidence I have of a fish returning to the exact same spot after overwintering and spawning.

Unfortunately, we were unable to get all the fish tagged in July, so I have been forced to extend tagging into the first week of August. I understand that it has been super busy on the river for guides, but this is all the more reason to get these fish tagged now so they can be tracked. This is the last chance to get fish tagged from Morrissey to Elko and Hosmer to Fernie. Guides have mentioned that fishing hasn't been great from Morrissey down. Again, this demonstrates why we need to track this population.

Sparwood fishers have been helping out immensely to get fish in the upper section of the Elk River tagged. Tim Chala and Sean Taylor have managed to tag many fish in the Michel Creek and Line Creek to Sparwood sections. Thanks again to Sean Taylor and Shawn Gentile for helping out today by getting more fish tagged in the Line Creek to Sparwood section. Tracey and Sean tagged 7 fish and caught 8. The 8th fish was already tagged from last year (UBC-0120). Sean also reported to me that he caught UBC-0132 in Wilson Creek among a total of five fish. Sean and I tagged both these fish last year.