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[Jewelz]

This is possibly a really dumb question but does powerbait work on hatchery raised salmon and steelhead the same way it does for hatchery raised trout?

[Fish or cut bait.]

This is possibly a really dumb question but

There are no dumb questions, just smart *** answers.
Hatchery fish have a slightly more refined palate and therefore prefer the fresher (pre-expiry date) baits.

Seriously,  You might be thinking or equating power bait with freshly stocked trout ponds.
Where a newly stocked pond will get the trouts attention with green powerbaits and such due to the fact that they were raised on green pellets up until the time of their released
These same fish will acquire a taste for natural food if they aren't caught so soon after their stocking and will actually grow,  taste better, and put up a better fight....
but you ain't gonna find that in the lower mainland.....

Hatchery salmon and steelhead have spent most of their lives in the wild, surviving on the natural foods they can find and though they might have some imprinting I highly doubt after a few years at sea they'd be hankering for anything more than an opportune snack/meal or aggresive response of any kind.

[Jewelz]

So that's a no then...

[bunnta]

salmon (steelhead are somewhat an exception)...are not hungry when they are in the river. So a pellet of food is not going to really entice them to eat it, think about what you are doing when you are fishing. Salmon will attack things that annoy them or feel threaten in their area they are spawning. Your going to ask why coho and some salmon will take roe? Well because they want their offspring to be more dominiate and more of them to survive, killing other salmon's potential baby will ensure their surivival of their offspring.

[cutthroat22]

So that's a no then...

yes

[Jewelz]

Your going to ask why coho and some salmon will take roe? Well because they want their offspring to be more dominiate and more of them to survive, killing other salmon's potential baby will ensure their surivival of their offspring.

What about the powerbait that is meant to imitate salmon eggs?

[nickredway]

Steelies seem to like those power bait formula pink worms so I can't see why the eggs wouldn't work too. Whether the bait formula actually catches more fish than an unscented worm or plastic egg I have no clue.

[Jewelz]

I've seen on the web people who use those pink worms attached to their jigs. Didn't know they were powerbait worms. Interesting...

[Blackgivesway2blue]

there not always powerbait worms

[Fish or cut bait.]

does powerbait work on hatchery raised salmon and steelhead the same way it does for hatchery raised trout?

NO!
Could of typed that first but I knew a "No" wouldn't explain too much

I've seen on the web people who use those pink worms attached to their jigs. Didn't know they were powerbait worms. Interesting...

POWERBAIT  worms ( and some other companies products) are scented and therefore considered BAIT and are therefore not allowed if a bait ban is in effect! .
The use of worms, scented or not, adds a visual aspect to the presentation.


The use of powerbait adds scent to the presentation sometimes (or often; depending on the scent of the day) increases a fishes response to said presentation.

As pointed out above, Salmon and Steelhead that enter a system tend to react out of aggression and/or instinct.
They are not neccessarily looking for food like a trout in a pond trying to fatten up for the winter would.

[Sterling C]

I'm going to go partially against the grain on this one and say that you can catch steelhead on powerbait.

Perhaps sometime in the future I'll make it a challenge to myself to catch one on it.

[Jewelz]

Sounds like ima have to do some experimenting!

[Fish or cut bait.]

POWERBAIT is a brand! they make worms and bugs and that egg shaped scented and coloured stuff.
They make stuff for bass, trout, salmon and what ever else swims in the water....

Sounds like ima have to do some experimenting!

Steelheading is one big experiment.
A green corkie = a green powerbait egg thingy.

I'm going to go partially against the grain on this one and say that you can catch steelhead on powerbait.

Perhaps sometime in the future I'll make it a challenge to myself to catch one on it

Yes you can! and POWERBAIT is on your side.
They want YOU to post that picture with the byline "caught on POWERBAIT"
If you can catch one on anything  you can catch one on powerbait.
If you can't catch one on powerbait wait till salmon season.

SERIOUSLY!!!!!!
Anything presented properly, in the zone will catch fish.
Presenting properly and finding the zone are a couple things that can't be explained; they have to be practiced, shown or repeated to be fully understood.
Good luck,
There are no magic baits, just well timed  and well presented ones.