I want to watch trout run

March 13, 2017 4:35 PM

There's a park in the Bay Area that has a fish run to allow rainbow trout to migrate upstream. I've never seen fish migrating and I am oddly fixated on watching trout go up the fish run. Are there even trout in these streams anymore?

The park in question is Redwood Regional Park, in the Oakland hills. There's a lovely creek there that serves as a habitat for rainbow trout. Near the entrance of the park the creek passes through a channel that is designed to facilitate trout migration. There's an information sign that says they usually swim upstream between January and April, and spawn a couple miles upstream of the park entrance. The creek stops flowing after the rainy season ends, but small pools remain, and those are where the young trout mature. After a few seasons, they migrate back out to sea, only to return to spawn again.

In the years we've been going to this park, we have never seen a single trout. It's very disappointing. Part of it, I think , is that because of the drought, it seems like there haven't been too many small pools. Thanks to the recent rains, the creek is flowing just fine now. Does this mean the trout will migrate upstream again? Or did they all die out because of the drought? What governs trout migration? Has the weather been too cold for them, or has there been too much flooding? Did the all crazy heavy rainstorms wash them back out to sea?

Basically, I just want to see some trout, and it's not like there's a "Bay Area Trout Finder" site I can look up. Anyone know about this park, or about trout migration in general, so I can try to get a sense of when I might be able to see them?

posted by shapes that haunt the dusk to Science & Nature (4 answers total)

I'd call the park. I couldn't find a number for the park directly, but calling the East Bay Park system would be a good first step. Having worked in parks, there is certainly someone who'd be thrilled to answer your question.
posted by advicepig at 7:21 PM on March 13, 2017

The Russian River has a trout ladder, and it just opened a viewing gallery. You might not see them if the water is too silty.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:35 PM on March 13, 2017

Best answer: There is actually a salmon viewing map here. Lagunitas Creek is probably the best place to see salmon as they have guided walks and you might see trout too. Steelhead (the trout in your creek) are not as easy to see as salmon, being silver colored and more stealthy, so even if they are in the fish ladder you likely won't see them unless you spend a LOT of time just staring at it ideally in the early am. Better to wait till the water clears up and see if you can spot them near the spawning grounds.

Having said that there is a trout distribution map with locations of passage structures here
posted by fshgrl at 9:36 PM on March 13, 2017 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Basically, I just want to see some trout, and it's not like there's a "Bay Area Trout Finder" site I can look up.

CEMAR might be able to help you out. They have these handy maps by bay area region that show historic and current steelhead status for a number of creeks. Redwood Creek is indeed listed as a "definite run or population," although the data on that map seems to be from 2005. You can email them (questions "at" cemar "dot" org) and ask just what you've asked here.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 9:50 AM on March 14, 2017