Well, believe me, if I ever catch a hatchery Steelhead, it is coming home with me!

Anyhow, it was interesting to read all the posts as I have heard so much about these wonderful "native" fish that I started to think about if they actually knew the difference (the fish). They have the amazing ability to find their own birth places and I wondered if they actually could sence another native or would just go to town with any fish. We joked about the mating ritual and of settling for a hatchery mate. Maybe their are fish cliques too! Thank you for all the research and my question was also asked be FDB. Aren't they all originaly native? I could see how the hatchery fish are babied and may not be as strong as the fish that survive in the wild, but aren't they still natives? Oh well, I will read on.