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[Nicole]

Hi,

So yesterday I hooked 11 coho, and 9 of them were jacks... I just don't get it!

So far out of the 19 coho I've hooked this year, 14 of them have been jacks... Is anyone else finding this as well?

I wonder why there are so many this year, normally i'd catch 1 or 2, and mostly adults.

Ideas? Anyone finding this on other rivers?

Cheers,
Nicole

[Sterling C]

Maybe ocean conditions are so bad that the fish just decided to pack it in a year earlier 

[GoldHammeredCroc]

So far out of the 19 coho I've hooked this year, 14 of them have been jacks... Ideas? Anyone finding this on other rivers?

Isn't this meant to be an excellent sign for next year's return?  Lots of jack coho means lots of adults returning? 

[*Lil Fisherman*]

So far out of the 19 coho I've hooked this year, 14 of them have been jacks... Ideas? Anyone finding this on other rivers?

Isn't this meant to be an excellent sign for next year's return?  Lots of jack coho means lots of adults returning? 

If it is...then keep em coming fish gods!!!!

[Big Steel]

Well, I haven't hit a Jack yet!!   Just 1 hatchery which I let go and 4 decent wilds.

[allwaysfishin]

back when i first began the move from bar fishing coho on the fraser to float fishing them in the vedder/chilliwack ( my god .... it's been 25 years since then), there used to be loads of jacks caught regularly, especially bar fishing. I don't know if it is a sign that next year will have a higher number of adults, but jacks can spawn with full size females so in low water years, seeing lot's of jacks is probably a good thing. I don't know a whole lot about what biologically causes a jack to be a jack but it's my understanding that jacks are almost always male fish. someone correct me if i'm wrong.

[Nicole]

Yes I've never caught a female jack in my lifetime...

I was checking the regs, and it says that retained coho need to be 25cm or more in length, some jacks yesterday were very small, but I think they were all bigger than that.

I have another question, the jacks are not mentioned in the regs at all, and I was wondering if 4 jacks are considered a limit, or are you allowed 4 adults and 4 jacks? I'm assuming a combination of 4 regardless of size.

I'm heading back out there right now, I'll let y'all know how I make out this afternoon...

Cheers,
Nicole

[Fish Assassin]

Limit is 4 regardless whether they are adults or jacks.

[GoldHammeredCroc]

There are female "jacks" out there.  They are called Jills actually.  With coho, its 99% a male but other species like sockeye can have Jills and Jacks.  The industry terms them these names when they are just under a certain size limit.  Systems like the Chilko has a numnber of smaller sockeye that spawn in it.  Other systems have bigger fish like the Adams.  They are just big and small but they are all capable of laying eggs or fertilizing them.

[jetboatjim]

its only the small fish that can make it through the nets.

[Hook Set]

Thats true. Im still looking for my first coho of the year, so ill take any

[leaping steely]

Nicole, I find it interesting that you've hooked so many Jacks. All the Coho I've hooked or seen this year have been pretty big, being the average around 10 lbs. As well, have seen a few monsters lurking about, just can't connect with them yet. 

[Fish Assassin]

I agree with FishFreak. Jacks are delicious tasting. I much prefer eating them than the big ones.

[Stratocaster]

Yup,  I've hooked 30 jack coho this year.  More than in any other year.  They do love roe though and boy are they ever stupid!  The only adult cohoes that I have caught this year have been on another river.

[Long_Cast]

Nicole, what method did you use to catch the cohos in the Vedder this time? Flyfishing, drifting bait with a float or casting lures?