Originally Posted By: gw
Like it or not, having opportunity to harvest is mandatory. If you don't people are going to want to harvest the Nates. The broodstock program supplies that.

How many broodstock pair are needed for XX river? A couple hundred? How many Nates would be taken from that same river through harvest? No question the Broodstock program is the lesser of two evils.

I've got no interest in bonking a native steelhead, but I know lots of people that wouldn't think twice about it.


ODFW's mission statement says they will manage native stocks so limited harvest is possible.
A good example can be seen in many Southern Oregon rivers.
The rub is the habitat must be in good enough shape to support this management goal.
Sadly most rivers in Oregon have severely compromised habitat, like on the Northern Oregon coast, so harvesting wild steelhead is nothing more than a dream.
And one more time for AuntyM "It's The Habitat Stupid".