I wish the WDFW would abandon winter steelhead plants and pump up the summers. I have got a couple out of the Cowlitz the last couple weeks. Before the water dropped it was a boater boat launch show, fish stacked in front of that, what I call, that stupid new hatchery outlet. Why did they ever change that? Blue creek bar/wall was the show. Liked that better. After the latest drop to summer levels some fish to be found/slowed down downriver. Seems plants are the same, 660,000 smolt plant returning, but survival sucks? Is it outward smolt survival the issue? Did they used to plant more? I remember for acouple years it was a 6 fish limit, so many returned. It used to be loaded!
Still trying but so dissapointed. Retired buddy pest inspector hitting it frequently with minimal success. Do you have to plant a million to get a return? Surely not a return on the investment.