I agree that initially the Baker sockeye were pretty good biters for sockeye.

A couple things have changed since those first couple years. First the fleet as whole as become much better at catching those sockeye that would bite. As a result the biting fish are removed more quickly but on the plus side the are being spread over a higher portion of the fleet.

The second factor might be more critical. The brood stock is always collected at the Baker trap. The first couple years that meant that all the brood stock was collected before the population was exposed to a hook and line fishery - no selection against that portion of the population that for what ever reason were willing to bite. Now there is an in-river recreational fishery targeting those sockeye before they get to the trap or before brood stock is collected. While the over all in-river recreational catch is pretty small it is unknown whether that is affecting future generations of sockeyes wellness to bite. Do know when that in-river fishery was being first being considered that potential impact was discussed.

Curt