Challenged-
I am not one to speak on specifics of the age composition of the Sod Duc native return but small fish are not necassarily bad.

We must understand that a healthy population will always have large amount of variabilty as it is what protects populations from large scale natural disasters.

Comparing the Snyder Creek program and the Chambers Creek brats is like comparing apples and oranges as one program is using natural broodstock while the other is overwhelmed with intrabreeding, very little genetic diversity etc.

And because the Snyder Creek program is designed to propograte the early returning wild fish (which have been decimated all over the state) these fish may have historically been smaller fish and not as large as late-Feb, March and April wild fish.

Take in mind though, that my knowledge of the Snyder Creek program is limited to what I've heard and is not based upon anything published.

But my point is, that small fish aren't bad. The Chambers Creek brats are not flawed because they are small but because they aren't as aggresive, do not fight as well and do not have any of those traits of wild fish that so many of us love.

I have had small 6 pound natives tear me and go nuts that are the same size as your typical Chambers Creek brat.

[ 12-30-2001: Message edited by: RPetzold ]