Cowlitzfisherman,

(FYI, love those jigheads. What's the next handful gonna' cost me?)

I don't think any of the Cowlitz steelhead are related to lynx, so not sure about that reference. If that unmarked steelhead shows up at the barrier dam trap, it will be transported to the upper Cowlitz River. If it is carrying a Tilton VI tag, it will get trucked to the Tilton. WD at region 5 agreed to change the February default date for hauling wild fish above the dams. I asked him to do so for the reasons I mentioned in my post above. Wild fish will expand their return timing in response to environmental influences, and we should let the fish decide when the appropriate time to migrate is, and not the calendar.

As you no doubt know, we really need good relationships with the guys at the hatchery, since they're the ones who are making the restoration happen. Fortunately, they seem more dependable than the regional office, cuz they sort the fish and drive the trucks, and that's what restoration depends on for now.

The upshot is that the unmarked steelhead these guys released stands a good chance of spawning in either the Tilton or upper Cowlitz. That is, unless he eats your jig before he makes it to the barrier dam.

And another possibility that one poster mentioned. That unmarked fish could have been a dip in from another river system, and could make its way back to wherever it belongs.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.