Bait is a excellent lure for fish. It can be lethal when used improperly because the fish will swallow the bait. But then again so can any kind of hook. I use bait regularly and personally have no trouble with deep hookings. Oregon has a minimum hook size so the smolts can't swallow the hook. I use large hooks and still kill smolts on accident with and without bait due to there sharpness. It is fishing that kills fish with or with out bait we have a impact on our environment. I would like to see some studies done with circle hooks for salmon and steelhead using bait to keep fishing opportunities open. A circle hook doesn't get caught in the stomach when swallowed. It gets caught in the corner of the mouth as it slides out.

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Marty
Steelheader.net marty@steelheader.net