Robert,

I am compelled to let the "common fishermen" know the truth!!!

For one, WE are not talking about Coho here, but "WE" are talking about steelhead, right? These are two species that may have some things in "common" but they are pretty much like too different birds, aren't they? For one thing and it's a big thing, Coho only return home once in their life cycle, and then they spawn and Die! As you know, steelhead can spawn and return numerous times.

Coho spawn in mainly side channels and smaller size streams, right? They (Coho) pretty much like the same types of water that cutthroat do for spawning, don't they? Coho, become one of the steelheads main food chains when they die and spawn, don't they? They (Coho) become one of steelhead best food sources for their fry, don't they? Steelhead spawners are NOT the main source of stream side food for Coho.

Even throwing all of that out, your posted study only "suggests" that there is a negative impact and interaction between wild fish and hatchery incubators. Let's not also forget that almost all "hatcheries" save the "best" fry for their own programs, and then dump the rest of the diseased, weak, and sub stander fry into every other "experiment". It's called "self survival" dump your crap onto everyone else, and lord and behold, your program always comes out on top! I have seen this done on the Cowlitz, time after time! And believe me; it's done the same everywhere else!

Furthermore, it appears that your "posted study" only applies to "costal streams" and then, only Coho. All one has to do is read DEEPLY into what you have copied and posted (i.e. STEP HATCHBOX EVALUATION). Again, read what this study says; "The purpose of the "STEP hatchbox" evaluation program was to evaluate the effectiveness of coho salmon fry that result from late spawning broodstock incubated in STEP hatchboxes, to rehabilitate wild populations of "coho salmon".."

Maybe this paragraph covers it all;

"SUMMARY"
" There is little argument that good artificial incubation techniques can have egg-to-fry survival rates of well over 95%, a significant increase over values reported for naturally incubated eggs. However, there is little evidence that egg-to-fry survival rates are "limiting the adult production of most salmonid fishes". (emphasis added) One exception to this may be with chum salmon, which migrate into salt-water almost immediately after emerging from the gravel. For salmonid species with extended freshwater rearing
(coho, steelhead, cutthroat, and some chinook stocks) factors other than egg to fry survival rate are probably more important in determining adult production levels.

Does the word "Ocean survival" ring a BIG bell to you Robert Allen3?

None of these "older studies" ever took, or has fully analyzed this into there study, or have taken this newly discovered FACT into consideration, did they?

So please, no more copy and pasting of "old" studies or "old facts" that only "suggest" what may or may not be happening! Let's talk "REAL TURKEY" here, and let EVERYONE fully understand what is really going on!

Cowlitzfisherman

Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????