The Forks Smith River

FAMOUS FISHING STREAM The Smith River, long noted for it's huge Steelhead (up to 25 lbs.) and Chinook salmon (up to 65 lbs.) is the third largest stream in California, A major route for migrating  adult fish to reach their spawning grounds

Andrew Van Scoyk, Hatchery Manager with 23lb. Steelhead - 2006

Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery is in operation 365 days each year. Numerous school children visit the hatchery and several of the local schools have developed classroom incubation programs. This technology allows each student a hands-on opportunity to experience the wonder of nature. You will find fish at the hatchery during the entire year, during the spawning season the activity is greatly increased.

CHINOOK:  (King Salmon) The fall spawning season of adult Chinook, usaually November and December, is charged with excitement and biological interest. Spawning usually takes place on Monday and Thursday mornings. Both the fish trap and the fish ladder are checked and the adult fish are transported to the holding ponds. Females in one pond and males in another. Each new fish, as well as those in the holding ponds, are checked for readiness to spawn. The "green" (not ready to spawn) females are returned to the holding ponds. Each adult female will yield approximately 3500 eggs.

Bill Nunley, fish technician with 53lb. Chinook salmon -- 2006

   STEELHEAD: 

Adipose Clip

Steelhead, unlike the salmon, usually return in the Spring months of January through March. Also, unlike the salmon, Steelhead do not necessarily die after spawning. They may return to spawn several subsequent years. Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery raises over 100,000 Steelhead each year. While the majority of returning fish are either native fish or  "Rowdy Creek" fish, occasionally fish from other areas will migrate into Rowdy Creek. When a returning adult fish has no visible clip-markings, the scale-sample when viewed under a microscope, can determine whether or not the fish was raised in a hatchery or developed in the wild. All the data on spawned fish is kept at the hatchery and this information is compared with previous spawning years.

DONATIONS BUILD AND SUPPORT HATCHERY

The Rowdy Creek Fish hatchery was built entirely with donated funds, labor and materials. The property was donated and the hatchery sets at the confluence of Dominie and Rowdy Creek. The California Department of Fish and Game provides technical support. 

The hatchery is located at, 255 N. Fred Haight Dr. near the post office, in the historic town of Smith River. The town is located only eight miles south of the Oregon border and 13 miles north of Crescent City, Situated adjacent to U.S. Hwy. 101, the hatchery site lies three miles east of the mouth  of the Smith River.

ECOLOGICAL PROJECT SPARKS INTEREST NATIONWIDE

This is one of the largest non-profit ecological projects ever undertaken on the west coast and we  continually need your help. It costs 17 cents to raise a fingerling compared to 55 cents for a yearling, but we feel the extra expense of raising a fish at the hatchery is justified by the higher survival rate of these larger fish. This, of course, requires additional money for fish food. Fish food is our single largest expense incurred at the hatchery PROGRESS DEPENDS ON YOU Rowdy Creek Fish Hatchery is moving ahead, but construction projects, maintenance, grounds keeping and general operations depend on your generousity in contributions. All donations are tax deductible.  The year 2006 set a new hatchery record for returning adult Salmon and Steelhead. Broken again in 2009/10 for Chinook Salmon   2009/10 2006 2005 Chinook   2775 579 383 spawned females  37 41  68 Steelhead   2,231 564 spawned females   51 59

$40.00 will raise approximately 50 yearlings $80.00 will raise approximately 100 yearlings $750.00 will put 1000 Steelhead or Chinook salmon yearlings back into the Smith River and it's tributaries.  Smith River is the last free flowing river in California.

ROWDY CREEK FISH HATCHERY (255 N. Fred Haight Dr.) PO BOX 328 SMITH RIVER, CA 95567-0328 Tele: (707) 487-3443   Fax: (707) 487-4133 Andrew Van Scoyk, Hatchery Manager email = Andy@RowdyCreek.com Judy A. Smith, Business Manager Blog