Iron, I have a real strong will to spawn also. I'm a repeat spawner. That has nothing to do with feeling pain. As a matter of fact, I'd bet that even right at the golden moment that if some being stuck a sharp hook in my mouth and yanked my head around I'd not only feel the pain I'd probably lose the moment! As for those 2 fish together in the feeder creek, was it the one that leads into the hatchery ponds (those, and other spawning creeks, are usually closed). And did they have their adipose fins clipped. It is quite possible that you killed a nate mate before they could do the right thing. If so, ouch! Painful in more ways than one. Now take this as "constructive" critisism; if you see another pair of spawning mates in a tributary creek likely ready to spawn together, please don't harrrass the buck into trying to protect their chosen spawning territory. Even if they were of hatchery stock they could have spawned a lot of progeny. ..shtick

[This message has been edited by Fishtick (edited 04-09-2000).]