colbypearson said:
they hit it out of instinct but they have no knowledge or idea of what it is? hmm this might get tough, do you know if they may prey on smolts or suckers or pikeminnow on their voyage upstream?
In a previous report, i mentioned how i hooked a salmon smolt about 5 inches long. While realing it in i watched the jaws of a steelie open and take the smolt that was hooked on my lure. So i set the hook hard and had the steelie on for 3 minutes or so, yeahhh it broke my 6lb test and was one big ass hatchery steelie.
After experiencing that, i do think they eat smolts when back in the fresh water. Heck in my most recent thread "11th steelhead this season." I forgot to mention that, that fish had a 1" x 2" peice of wood chip in its stomach. They will eat anything that irritates the.