fN, I vote for keeping the hatchery winter steelhead seperated from the wild fish in their run timing. I also think that "imprinting" should be looked at closer. I've mentioned this on other threads however if there were more concerted effort to imprint the hatchery parr/smolt to specific return sites the adult fish could be collected or harvested at these areas much like they do at terminal areas like Reiter or Blue Creek. This would further reduce interaction with the wild fish. Another advantage, if the tribes would agree, would be to do all commercial harvest at these return sites via traps rather then netting mixed stock (hatchery & early wild) fish in the lower portion of the rivers. I realize that some straying will occur however I think "imprinting" the parr/smolts to specific sites rather than releasing them all over the drainage would help minimize hatchery and wild interaction.