We have a put-and-take fishery here in Steelhead Alley, yet many of our fishermen practice C&R for steelhead. Personally, I hate the taste of any trouts, so I fish exclusively C&R.

We lack the impediments that western rivers have, and steelhead are at the top of the foodchain here. Lake Erie is rich with forage, so steel grow quickly. Biggest threat is the lamprey eels and the bucket fishermen who feel the need to limit out every trip. We see the same ones day after day, so you know they are not eating that many fish. Also, we have a strange vermin here that zips hens just for eggs or skein to catch more steelhead. We see a lot of zipped fish on all of our rivers.

Joe