Winter habitat preferences of juvenile salmonids in two interior rivers in British Columbia

The winter distribution and abundance of juvenile salmonids was investigated in various main channel and off-channel habitats in the Coldwater and Nicola rivers in the southern interior region of British Columbia. Catches were generally low in all main channel habitats, with coho salmon and steelhead trout being most abundant and chinook salmon and Dolly Varden char being present in smaller numbers. Coho salmon and steelhead trout catches were generally highest in pools with abundant instream and riparian cover. Steelhead trout was the main species in riprap bank protected areas, although catches were generally low. Highest overall catches were recorded in side channels and off-channel ponds, where water temperatures were usually several degrees higher than in the main river. Coho salmon was the main species in the two Coldwater off-channel ponds with overwintering populations of approximately 4000 and 1000 in 1- and 0.1-ha ponds, respectively (0.4–1.5 fish/m2): overwinter survival of coho salmon in the p...