quote:

ORIGINAL: Grendel

Jiggie,

I agree with all that you have said.  I believe that if PA wants to have larger fish, reduce the number of fish it puts out there.  Make the game more challenging.  I might be of the minority opinion that PA should up the creel limit by one.  It is almost sickening to see all those fish trying to survive low/clear conditions.  I practice catch and keep!   lol

Doc

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stillhead

okie dokie, I'll play the same old tired argument too.


I still think the "big" fish we catch (12lbs and up) are 4 1/2 year old fish, that never made a spawning run before. Staying in the lake,unmolested, and feeding.  I do think we have repeat spawners (a small number) and I don't think they are all that much bigger than the first time they ran. The dropbacks first have to put back on a pound or 2 before they get any bigger than they were.

I do know that I fish several times a year after just about everyone has long forgotten about steelhead, and I find plenty full of fight,mostly healthy looking fish. Most of them have wounds/scars/rubbed off fins and tails that I think will eventually due them in to disease (I ain't no biologist or marine proctologist though).  If 4 to 8lb fish making it back to the lake after they spawn are what lead to our big fish in following years, I'd think there would be lots more of those big fish returning each year.  I've happened upon holes full of dropbacks long after everyone forgot about them in past springs that several days later went to the lake after a rain.

I say less fish equals more big fish. More food, less competition, less work for each individual to eat= more pounds put on.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Kokanee Killer

yeah how many times i seen an anglers boot them to shore,let them roll around in the dirt,(look like they were rolled in flour) then the guy reaches for the hemostats twists it off pushes the dirt coated steelie back in the drink,then looks at you funny when you decide to rope a fish,lol,