No one saw redds at Leo Cronin on Monday, so first thing Tuesday, raced off to find -- yes!!!! hooray! -- the first redd of the season on that part of the creek. Right across from the culvert, just above the riffle, and just at the bottom of the deep pool where we saw the four spawners on Sunday.
Looks as though Al was right and at least one was a female. (Or maybe a new one moved upstream on Monday....)
First pass through, no fish on the redd, but when I came back after a hike to the dam, a fish moved like a rocket from the redd back into the pool. Whoosh!!!! Being chased by another male? Spooked by an otter? We don't know, but Al had exactly the same experience an hour earlier -- fish speeding like a bullet off the redd towards him and the pool.
As I watched for a while, I saw two males (?) chase each other in the pool. But no female on the redd...
It will be interesting to see if the redd grows over the next few days (which would mean there is a female in residence, even if she's not sitting on the nest steadily).
I obviously need trained eyes. I spent thirty minutes at the inkwells this morning around eight and didn't see anything. I will try again tomorrow
ReplyDeleteHi Melinda,
ReplyDeleteThe Inkwells are most fruitful within 12 to 24 hours after a big storm. Where we have been seeing fish is up from the Leo Cronin viewing area parking lot towards the dam. As you walk up, you will see a beautiful little creek cascading into the main creek. There is a big silver culvert right there, and opposite that, on the far side of the creek just above the riffle, is the redd with all the action.
Good luck!