RT:

Thanks for your thoughts. There are two major studies I am refering to--I know there are others looking at non-anadramous salmonids. One was done in Michigan, by researchers at the University of Wisconsin (1990 I think). The other was done by NMFS staff and the University of Idaho (TC Bjornn) in the mid-1980's (I believe it was in the Clearwater and Pahsimeroi Rivers). In both studies (I'll see if I can get you the reference in the published papers; one was CJFAS or TAFS and the other was NAJFM) it appeared that hooking mortality was not related to the numbers of points or barbs, but rather water temperatures and handling time (R^2 values above .8 in their linear regression model!). The caught their fish repeatedly, and varied methods (including snagging), handling time, water temperatures, size of fish, depths, etc. Both of these studies were quite interesting.

It seems to me that netting a fish at all, holding it up for a couple of photos, unhooking a large treble, dropping it in a boat, etc, will all increase this handling time. In fact, I think that these fish should not be touched at all, much less targeted by CnR seasons.

Who should I contact at ODFW or NMFS with regard to the Willamette study? Or if you have a website, please let me know. I'm really interested in this topic, and would love to learn from the experts. Feel free to e-mail me at FishPirateynk@yahoo.com with any info, I'd apprecieate it.

If there is one thing that I've learned from these types of studies (and a background in statistics), it's that figures don't lie, but liars figure.

I'm not sure that anything has been learned in the last 50 years about wild steelhead. Please, if you know otherwise, let me know, especially with respect to CnR seasons. To me, it isn't the answer and it won't get us to where we NEED to go. We need action, based on facts not feelings.