It's interesting how everyone sees the same thing differently. I haven't kept a salmon or steelhead for years. I do get some flak for tossing hatchery fish back. But on the other side of the argument, some years the hatcheries don't get the numbers back that are needed for future plants. I've also stated here before, that I was told by a state worker that he suspects people are catching native smolts on the Peninsula rivers and clipping them to appear as hatchery fish. It came up when we were pulling the boat out and talking Tom asked if we kept anything. We told him we had caught some nates and released them and that we caught a beautiful 15 to 16 pound hatchery hen. But it was not a Snyder fish as it was the adipose fin that was clipped. We took a picture of it and released it. He was shocked that we let it go. I caught another one a couple of years ago again on the Duc and it was clipped the same way. It too was a hen. I know that they could be from the Bogy hatchery but brats of that size aren’t usually caught on the Bogie plus the fish was caught in March of last year. That would be long after most hatchery fish arrive, especially Bogy fish.

Actually I think damming a river in several locations is more like playing God. Filling said river with hatchery fish is an attempt to right a wrong (i.e. Dams).

FnP's list is pretty good and sound thinking. I fish the same system, our boat has the following rules for the 2012 season:

1- Don't fall out.
2- Release native salmon, unless you don't want to.
3- See rule #1.

Fact is I will only judge you, and report you to the internet if you break rules #1 or #3, because it is likely that our fishing day is over because of it.

I personally release all native salmon that might taste gross, and keep hatchery salmon that might taste gross. By the time I see them most of the kings will probably taste gross.

Does GMC count?

Thanks for sharing your rules...I won't even try to get a ride....

I am not a tan-shirt that drank the koolaid, I release fish I don't want to eat and I don't like rules...

I still respect you though...I always have and always will!

Team Hatchery.

Mf

No disrespect Doc, but as I read your post an image of a sheep came to my mind...

Keith

This thread is worthless without bikini pics.

works for me!

You guys are a bunch of sexist pigs.



Fish on...

Todd

Well I have kept chrome hatchery steelhead for reasons other then to eat...

Eggs

and

Crab bait

Looks cliped I'd put it in the box

I'd agree... clipped.... but which "it" and which "box"?

Captain always calls the shots. Play by the captain's rules always, or you're done.
BTW, Captain Eye, where's that bikini rule?

I'd buy her a CCA card just to get'er in Doc's boat...

Like the rules, love the truck. I have the same truck

I am just glad Doc does not wear a bikini when he is swimming at B-10.

You missed the thong picture?

"Francis. You are ruining my Alaskan Wilderness Experience!"