12-09-2010, 09:35 PM
I haven't steelhead fished in Idaho yet so I really don't have a say of what I do or have done in the past.
What I will say is that from what I have now read and researched, if you keep that steelhead or not 98% of them are going to die. Seems a waste to release a hatchery fish if you can to use it, whether smoked, baked, or whatever. The hatcheries get their quota and that is it -- it doesn't matter if you release the fish it isn't going to improve the gene pool, or make lots of little steelies. So fish until the end of the season, just be gentle on releasing the wild fish. Maybe don't even lift them out of the water. Give them every chance you can, but you might as well keep the hatchery fish.
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What I will say is that from what I have now read and researched, if you keep that steelhead or not 98% of them are going to die. Seems a waste to release a hatchery fish if you can to use it, whether smoked, baked, or whatever. The hatcheries get their quota and that is it -- it doesn't matter if you release the fish it isn't going to improve the gene pool, or make lots of little steelies. So fish until the end of the season, just be gentle on releasing the wild fish. Maybe don't even lift them out of the water. Give them every chance you can, but you might as well keep the hatchery fish.
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