Whiskey Creek Hatchery Volunteer Project Fin Clipping Day April 12th, 2003

Over 100,000 Spring Chinook Salmon fingerlings have their adipose fins clipped by volunteers from all over Oregon and as far away this year as Texas!

The fingerlings are in a large tank (above)-over 100,000 of them! The man with the screen  pushes them toward the man with  the net.  From the net they go into a little "sleepy water" which makes them easer to handle.

After the fingerlings have been sedated (sleepy water) they are distributed to the volunteer fin clippers!  Their fins (adipose) are then carefully clipped. They are then placed into the  water flume (red pipe) in the middle of the table for a ride to the holding tank.  Next stop for the young salmon will be either the Trask or Wilson River!
In 2 to 4 years they will return to the  rivers as adult Spring Chinook Salmon ranging in weight from 12 to 30+ lbs.!

Two hard working fin clippers!

We had a great time!  My sons (pictured above) clipped over 200 fins!  There are free donuts and coffee and drinks for the kids. We had to leave early but we heard there was lunch later and that the governer might show up to try his hand at fin clipping!

What is Whisky Creek hatchery?
Located on Netarts Bay, 2 miles north of Cape Lookout State Park, the Whisky Creek hatchery is an all volunteer Salmon and Trout Enhancement project. Tillamook Anglers obtained a lease from Oregon State University to renovate the hatchery and raise 100,000 Spring Chinook smolts annually for release into Tillamook Country streams. The old, deteriorated  rearing ponds have been removed and replaced with a modern enclosed facility. An incubation room, work room, and storage room have been added, along with an existing classroom/meeting room that provides an educational facility for the public and school groups. A new water intake structure was built along with an expanded parking lot that has a park-like setting with picnic tables, hiking trails, informational  signs and a viewing area where people can watch returning Chum salmon. The hatchery sponsors an annual fin clipping day in April where 400 volunteers work throughout the day clipping adipose fins for 100,000  Chinook salmon smolts. Lunch is provided for all volunteers by local merchants from surrounding communities. In September, the hatchery sponsor a Fishing Day for kids with disabilities. Upwards of 600 kids  come from all over the state of Oregon with each child being allowed to catch and keep 4 Rainbow Trout. 300 to 400 volunteers assist in providing the special day for these special kids.

Netarts Bay RV & Marina is a Proud Member of Tillamook Anglers.

http://www.ifish.net/Tillanglers.html

Whiskey Creek Hatchery is located about 2 miles South
of Netarts Bay RV Park on Whiskey Creek Road.

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