03-26-2010, 02:57 AM
I've got to agree with the SHKid. Hatchery steelhead are a poor imitation of their wild relatives. The are poorer fighters, don't bite lures as readily, are less fit, and would never survive without hatcheries.
I for one support this new regulation. The more hatchery fish that are bonked, the less there are to try spawning with each other or worse, with wild fish. Recent studies show that hatchery salmon and steelhead have nearly 0.0% recruitment (producing young that survive to adults that return). In addition, hatchery fish that spawn with wild fish drag their young's recruitment down to near 0.0% also.
There is also the problem of competition (food and space) between wild and hatchery fish.
Keeping the two populations segregated is the only way to go and the State of Idaho appears to be encouraging this. This providing us with a fish we can target and harvest while also helping recovery wild stock.
So do your part and whack em and stack em and feel good about doing it.
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I for one support this new regulation. The more hatchery fish that are bonked, the less there are to try spawning with each other or worse, with wild fish. Recent studies show that hatchery salmon and steelhead have nearly 0.0% recruitment (producing young that survive to adults that return). In addition, hatchery fish that spawn with wild fish drag their young's recruitment down to near 0.0% also.
There is also the problem of competition (food and space) between wild and hatchery fish.
Keeping the two populations segregated is the only way to go and the State of Idaho appears to be encouraging this. This providing us with a fish we can target and harvest while also helping recovery wild stock.
So do your part and whack em and stack em and feel good about doing it.
[signature]