Salmo G. I don't think the deschutes could sustain a natural silver run, or a natural steelhead run for that matter. I son't see why the hatchery doesn't just plant more fish? I remember back in the mid 70's and all through the 80's that the river had good runs of both silvers and steelhead. It just seems like if they were able to get decent returns back then why not now? One thing i found interesting when I volunteered at teh Tum. Falls hatchery? Is that they silvers that did come back, all were of hatchery origin, buth they still had all of their fins intact??? The state is trying to make that a natrual silver run, when it never was? So why not just up the smolt release and do like the past? I realise that there were other parties involved back then, but it seems like there is enough egg take through out the rest of the state, to make up for that short fall?

Also on the Hatchery thing, I talked to Mary the lady that runs the Falls hatchery, and she said that the new one is slated to produce steelhead, they just aren't sure about how the parasite thing will affect that?

As for a king fishery on this river? there is No way. I wouldn't even think about taking one of those home for anything besides fertilizer. They start turnig greeen way out by Johson point, by the time they hit Capital lake, they aren't table fare at all. The kings are mainly for the black mouth seasons, and some fall oportunity throughout puget sound.
Buck