Sometimes we have to take a step back in life to have the chance to take two steps forward and I know it sucks considering some of us enjoy fishing so much but let's be honest. Fishing is nothing like what it used to be and we're hanging onto memories. These hatchery fish are inbred so much that you see high light reels when someone posts a pic of a hatchery fish over 10 pounds and you'd think someone hit the lottery if the scale tips past 15... They've all but bred them to cookie cutters..

Sure, right place and right time can produce ample opportunities but the epic days are long gone in most places out there.

If I had a choice, I'd eliminate the winter hatchery steelhead production and plants, period... That means no more brood stocking and all, just get out of the winter steelhead hatchery game.. Get them off the spawning beds and eliminate the constant straying you see with these inbred fish. They simply are the #1 demise of our native steelhead populations, that simple.

Keith