Vulnerability to angling of hatchery steelhead

Genotypic data for natural origin winter-run steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) spawned at the Alsea Hatchery in 2015 and 2016, and their putative adult offspring. Parents (broodstock) and offspring were collected either by anglers or in-river fish traps. Method and date of collection recorded for all steelhead. Spawning date recorded for parents. Statistical tests were conducted to evaluate whether the offspring of broodstock collected by anglers would be more vulnerable to angling. Results indicated that offspring of angler-collected broodstock were more likely to be caught by anglers than trapped (significant difference in 1 of 2 years), but that trap-caught broodstock consistently produced significantly more adult offspring than angler-caught broodstock.