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Growth of PIT-tagged Wild Steelhead Recaptured 1 yr after Tagging

Notes:

Keifer et al. 2004 determined annual growth of wild St parr PIT tagged in Clearwater and Salmon river tributaries and detected one full year later at Snake River dams. Growth averaged 36mm ain the 100-150 mm range, 23 mm in the 150-200mm range, and 13 mm in the 200-250 mm range. These are typical sized steelhead smolting predominantly at age 2, and represent a typical size at age and life history pattern for steelhead. The data indicate that increase in length is approaching zero ffor fish above 250 mm in these streams, and suggests a limited growth opportunity (or poor suitability) for anything larger. Data in the Deschutes main stem show that resident rainbow in the larger size have a different diet composition than smaller fish, so the typical steelhead streams apparently don’t offer the habitat and diet options that produce the larger fish. Kiefer, R., J. Johnson, and P. Bunn, 2004. Natural Production Monitoring and Evaluation,2002-2003 Annual Report, Idaho Fish and Game, IDFG Report Number 02-24, Submitted to Bonneville Power Administration (BPA Report DOE/BP-
00005862-5).