It depends on what factors are limiting, like that isn't a statement of the obvious. However, context means a lot. Wild PS steelhead populations were down beginning in the late 1960s through mid-70s. Harvest restrictions went into effect, and coupled with good ocean conditions, the wild steelhead rebound of the 80s has now become our "good ole' days" benchmark of what good wild steelhead populations look like. Same harvest restrictions, or tighter even, and poor early marine survival condtions, roughly the same freshwater habitat conditions, and these same wild steelhead populations cannot even make their escapment goals, let alone provide any fishing opportunity.

LCR wild steelhead are a different story. Gillnets are no friend to steelhead, but the amount of net soaking time in the spring isn't enough to be the limiting factor preventing recovery, but it's a contributing factor. Most of the LCR steelhead tribs have trashed habitat (logging and other development), and who knows what their marine survival conditions are like, but it sure doesn't seem to be the same feeding grounds as the above Bonneville summer runs visit. What the harvest restrictions tell us is that over-harvest isn't the limiting factor for LCR wild steelhead. It's habitat, either freshwater or ocean, or both.

Sg