Wild steel appear in good numbers in december and still enter my favorite river into late april. Since the removal of big creek hatchery fish ( which are early returners like chambers creek junk stock) the early wild fish numbers have increased steadily. With wild broodstock programs, less smolts are planted than generic stocks and a much higher return rate occurs. Less smolts are needed to have good returns. So saying generic stocks are better because they don't return at the same time is a hoax. Also if less hatchery smolts need to be planted to get a decent return, the less the competion between hatchery and wild smolts for food and habitat in stream. Planting 50k wild broodstock smolt is far less impactful than planting 180k junk generic, poor returning chambers, big creek, alsea etc.. Trash strains. The wilson r. Program has it right. Come fish it if you don't buy it.