Aton said:
Fish tend to engulf bait Tom, and the hook with it. Which leads to mortality. Yes winter run steelhead are on the endangered list in the UWR( Upper Willamette River) upriver to the Calapooia river. Not all adipose intact fish have to be released. Always check regulations for the body of water you are fishing, and furthermore, what section of a body of water you are fishing. For example, sections of the McKenzie have regulations requiring no bait, and limited hook sizes, in order to protect native cutthroat. Some sections require larger hooks. I don't even pretend to understand it all. Keep a copy of regulations with you(smart phones are great for this...download and save file).
I do keep a copy in my truck cab, even though after reading them I get the distinct feeling that they are written specifically to enable the writing of citations for misunderstanding them.
Smart phone? What the heck is that? My cell doesn't do internet access, I only use it to text message, no voice calls, I'm too deaf to hear them, and to take the occasional photo when I remember it does that and how to do it.
I was asking about the circle hooks for the very reason that you mention while bait fishing.
My experience with them is that if they are used properly, they will almost ever time hook a fish in the corner of the mouth. It does take a bit of relearning about hook setting but they have allowed me to release hundreds of fish unharmed, caught using bait, that were either non targeted, undersized, or protected while fishing in Ca.
I would like opinions as to how they work on steelhead and salmon. I have a tendency to believe, based on what I've read, that they may be effective on steelhead as my reading leads me to understand they tend to eat what they bite. Where salmon usually bite and spit out what they go after more as a territorial or competitive adaptation.
opcorn:
