All of our steelhed go out in the spring with the peak out migration occurring in mid May. The release of the hatchery fish is essentially the same as that of the wild steelhead.

Whether a fish come backs as a 2 or 3 salt is basically controlled by the genetics of the population. Typically for the Chamber's Creek stock we see about 15% 3s and 85% 2s from a given release. Many of the wild populations have a much higher portion of 3 salts.

The size of the fish is influenced by the feeding conditions they find in the ocean. While the 5 to 6# size is typical they can vary quite a bit. A remember a period in the mid-late 1970s when the 2 salts averaged about 8# and show fish as large as 11 pounds. At times they can be small as well (3 to 5#).

Happy Holidays and may the New Year bring you tight lines
S malma