Hey spawnout that is a great point about no transtion point for the smolt. This could be the problem. I think it isn't the ocean conditions, because the puget sound river that I fish had the best hatchery return in recent memory and the amount of smolts planted has been the same. Also the Nates have arrived in decent #'s right on time. We also saw a larger # of wild fish in Dec. and Jan. I was talking to the hatchery manager and these could be hathchery fish offspring. Just had to post a reply since I couldn't go fishing today.