Is it true hatch fish are weaker, smaller, poor genetically than wild fish...... ?
At what point does habitat restoration and temporary closed upper river need to be a stronger emphasis ?
I don't know if it is 'true' but I think many anglers including myself feel hatchery fish on average are smaller and don't fight as well as wild fish. Sometimes they seem less inclined to bite. I recall back in the late 80s saltwater anglers on the East Coast of Vanilse late Sept and Oct (even November) complained despite their high numbers didn't bite as readily as wild fish and that they tended to stay quite deep compared to wild fish that were more surface oriented. Could that had to due with changes in the Strait at the time. I seldom hear talk of that fishery anymore. Maybe it is a thing of the past.
Many experts on salmon seem to agree that salmon overall have been getting smaller in the last several years. I didn't catch a hatchery coho bigger than 4lbs this year and the does I caught were like 3lbs...tiny compared to the past. A couple of the fish Rod and Nina (hope I got your wife's name right Rod) were a good size.
The biggest wild fish I caught this year was about 8lbs. Most were 4 to 6.
Best I know the Chilliwack still has a strong population of wild fish. I think most years it's about equal to what returns to the hatchery. I don't know if there are any studies that specifically indicate hatchery coho are genetically inferior. The big issue with that is relying on hatchery fish as brood stock for coming generations.
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Topic: Chilliwack River Hatchery Coho Salmon Spawning (Read 11492 times)