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[CohoMan]

I have caught my share of steelhead over the last 20 years and find it difficult to tell from the fight whether it is a wild or hatchery fish.

Some fisher people swear that they can tell. Sometimes the fight is so intense and in your mind you start thinking this has to be a wild fish but it ends up being a hatchery.

[milo]

An old-timer once said: "Wait till you hook into a Thomson or Skeena wild fish.
Then you will know what wild steelhead means".
Still hoping.

As for the Vedder and Stamp fish...no difference from my limited personal experience.
It varies from fish to fish.

[alwaysfishn]

The hatchery fish probably fight better because with the removal of the adipose there is less friction as they move through the water.....   

[CohoMan]

So scientific of you...lol!!!!

[Every Day]

I have quite honestly in the last 5 or so years found that MOST (not all) hatchery fish do fight less hard, generally giving just headshakes, and occasionally one or two jumps at most. Most of my wild fish go crazy and throw up multiple jumps and big time runs. I'd say I could guess around 80% of the time if it is wild or not before it hits the beach (dumb luck maybe?). Like I said though, could just be a mind set. They all had to go through the same obstacles and such.

Now comparing different rivers to each other. Thompson fish fight crazy, Gold river fish fight crazy, other island flows that have a long distance to travel with canyon water/other obstacles I find fight insane compared to Vedder, Stamp fish. To be honest I think Vedder fish fight like slugs compared to most other rivers, with exception to a few (had a couple really good fights this year).

[awurban@msn.com]

I think the question is more about what the fish has to have in its genes to make it to its spawning grounds for how strong it is. Every fish is different but I would rather catch a big wild fish, but I have a better question Does a hatchery fish know its not wild? lol
by the way Everyday. I love the gold

[fisher man]

The hatchery fish probably fight better because with the removal of the adipose there is less friction as they move through the water.....   

you beat me to it! lol

[Sterling C]

Ceteris Paribus there is no difference.

Of course a Thompson, Babine or Dean river fish will beat the living snot out of a C/V hatchery brat but you would expect the same thing of a wild C/V fish too.

Don't believe me though, I don't catch many fish, nor have I ever been to the Thompson, Skeena or Dean.

[Dave]

This is a tough call as there are so many possible variables, the obvious few being water temperature, well rested or quickly migrating fish, fresh run and therefore metabolically fit or at the other end of the scale, closer to spawning, etc …  you are hooking.  Over 50 years of fishing the C-V  I've caught a lot more wild than hatchery steelhead so my opinion is obviously biased but my best memories are of wild fish.
Having said that a 13 lb hatchery female did herself proud this morning …

[kingpin]

Ceteris Paribus there is no difference.

Of course a Thompson, Babine or Dean river fish will beat the living snot out of a C/V hatchery brat but you would expect the same thing of a wild C/V fish too.

Don't believe me though, I don't catch many fish, nor have I ever been to the Thompson, Skeena or Dean.

you post this everytime someone asks about steelhead, we get it, you dont catch fish

[Sandy]

Skeena Sustat or Bulkley-Thompson aside as I feel that there is a difference pound for pound in both take and fight from those rivers, can't speak of the Dean as I have yet to have a go that one.

 My experience is that where mixed stocks reside and where I have caught enough fish to have a reasonable sample in the same river to distinguish between the two.
 I have had many hatchery fish that have made a good account of themselves and also a fairly good number that were slugs. The rest were sort of middle of the road, fun but still not the one to marry .  A ratio 10/75/15 A+/ B-/C.maybe?
Where as with wild fish, I have rarely found that I can distinguish between the two without first seeing them but in the fight it usually becomes apparent. with ratio's 20/70/10 A+/B+/C.Maybe?
 However, I also do not believe in using overly light tackle in order to give the angler the better experience or fight. I feel that we should be able to swiftly play a fish to hand, especially so when there is a possibility of hooking wild and or releasable fish.

edit to add

the grading of the satisfaction in catching fish or angling experience is a pretty subjective subject. Many variables will come into play, such as : mood , expectations, you name it,. Does catching a cracking fish bring you out of a slump, or does a less than expected performance put you in one, and does that effect your view of the over al fishery?

[glx]

I have good and lousy fights with both wild and hatchery. 

[yoda]

Ugh! why was this thread started!
you asked and answered your own question in the first two sentences
I did like allwaysfishin's scientific response as well

[norton]

there is no difference between h or w   . ive hooked and landed wild fish in the 1960s and 1970s before any hatchery fish were in the vedder. and ive hooked lots of hatchery fish since. there is no differance. alot depends on the individual fish , how big it is , river condition,  water temp. volume of water. if the fish has been on the move at time , when it was hooked, whether its been hooked before by someone else.  etc.  missing adipose fin doesnt meen didly, lol.

[Sandy]

good points whats the difference in hooking a good condition 18lb'er and a slinky 18lb'er , what tackle , what skill level. who has actually tested the theory ? it all boils down to an opinion.