I was just thinking about something that has me puzzled. If the hatcheries relased steelhead smolts at different times of the year whould they come back with the regular brats or wait for the time of the year that they were planted to come back? Have the hatcheries tried this yet? What would be some negative/positive aspects to this?
Just Wondering
Thanks
Tyler

Tyler -
Returning timing of steelhead is controlled by genetics; not time of smolt release.

If fact steelhead smolts have a relatively narrow window in which they can successfully make the switch from fresh to saltwater. That window is generally from late April to early June with the optimum time in early to mid-May. Smolts planted outside of that period will not migrate and if forced into marine waters they will die.

Tight lines
Smalma

i see...
thanks
tyler

Why the Hell would you want to have brats around year round!?!?!?!

Their couple months spent in our local rivers are 2 month too many!!!!

Ryan -
Does that mean we should not expect to see you on the upper North Fork Stillaguamish in the summer or at Reiter elsewhere on the Skykomish and Snoqualmie?

Are hatchery summers different than winter "brats"?

tight lines
Smalma

Smalma-
My remark was more of a joke then anything...

But yes I do believe, that summer hatchery fish differ from winter 'brats.'

Obviously, water temperature makes a large differance but at the same time, I just do not get excited fishing over 6 pound cookie cutter fish that you must bounce your offering off their nose 500 times before they will bite and when they do, they just wallow around.

Hey! The cookie cutter fish were 8 - 9 pounds this winter!

We can inject some steroids into smolts and they may migrate any time any where and they will fight like hell look at WWF.

You know what? Some of us have busy, busy lives and rarely get a chance to get out there. Frankly, I like to eat fish, won't kill a native one and can't stand Atlantics, so I'll take what I can get, when I can get it!

I think this is a very timely question. I was suppose to go Sturgeon fishing yesterday. But, my partner came down with a bug. So we postponed our trip till next weekend. Anyway I thought I would hit one of my favorite SW rivers for possibly a Nate, or some colored up Brats. To my surprize the first fish of the day was a chrome brat! Didt't see any Nates. But, did hook a few recycled brats as well. I wouldn't mind winter brats all year. What a kick on light gear.