I'm no expert... nor am i arguing your point Ralph.
Just would of thought that with more nutrients (Eggs, Dead Fish) in the system ... you would think that the steelhead would THRIVE!
Interesting to know why it would be the other way around? Appreciate the discussion...
I suspect gillnet fisheries for pink and chum are part of it. Nothing survives once it hits a gillnet. Watching the test fisheries they get a steelhead once in awhile. Hardly ever says released.
Chinook stocks have been doing okay too since we have seen bad sockeye run and hardly any commercial gillnet fisheries for sockeye. I also read a report that stated chinook stocks that are part of a river system that has a lake have been increasing over recent years.
When sockeye and pink gillnets are down they clean up everything.
I am sure there is so much more to it
.