CTS,

Indeed, hatchery steelhead do spawn naturally in many rivers. However, in places where it's been studied, the hatchery spawners are not very successful reproducers. Either the fry don't survive well to the smolt stage, or the hatchery-gone-wild smolts don't survive well to the adult stage.

I think it may vary, and those hatchery steelhead whose spawn timing is the same as their wild counterparts, might be more successful. Something's different, as the late-run hatchery winter runs from the Cowlitz are creating some naturally spawning wild winter runs for the upper Cowlitz now. They may not be as successful after 30 years of hatchery culture, but they seem to be able to catch on.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.