It didn't take long for the new steelhead to show up in anglers' catches. Creel census results indicated anglers harvested an estimated 1,324 Arlees in 2001. Of those, 1,262 -- or 95 percent -- were caught by shore- and pier-anglers. The rest were caught by boat-anglers. By July, those fish measured 10 to 14 inches, and by September, some had reached 18 inches.

In 2002, anglers caught an estimated 1,605 Arlees, most of which (1,116) were stocked that year. When caught, the 2002 fish averaged 18.7 inches in length and weighed 2.4 pounds. The 2001 Arlees averaged 21 inches and 4.8 pounds. That year, boat-anglers caught 1,259 (78 percent) Arlees, while pier- and shore-anglers caught 285 (18 percent) and stream-anglers, 61 (or 4 percent).

In 2003, anglers harvested an estimated 859 (76 percent) Arlees and 267 (24 percent) Kamloops. Arlees stocked in 2003 made up 58 percent of the catch, with the remainder evenly split between fish stocked in 2001 and 2002. That year, as in 2001, 95 percent of the Arlee harvest was taken by pier- and shore-anglers, and 5 percent by boat-anglers. Arlees from the 2001 year-class averaged 25.9 inches in length and 6.8 pounds in weight. Fish stocked in 2002 averaged 24 inches in length and 5.3 pounds in weight, while those stocked in 2003 averaged 16.3 inches and 2.4 pounds when caught. All Kamloops reported caught in 2003 were taken by pier- or shore-anglers. Those fish measured an average of 14.1 inches and weighed 1.5 pounds.

In 2004, anglers caught an estimated 953 (59 percent) Arlees and 659 (41 percent) Kamloops. Arlees stocked in 2004 made up 46 percent of the total Arlee harvest, while fish stocked in 2002 made up 15 percent. Those stocked in 2003 were at 31 percent and those stocked in 2004 at 8 percent. Fish stocked in 2001 averaged 27 inches and 9.8 pounds. Fish stocked in 2002 were 25.8 inches and 5.8 pounds. Fish planted in 2003 were 20.5 inches and 3.4 pounds, while 2004 fish were 12.7 inches and 1.1 pounds. Of the Kamloops caught in 2004, 78 percent were stocked in 2003 and 22 percent in 2004. Pier- and shore-anglers caught 78 percent of the fish reported, while the remainder was divided equally between boat- and stream-anglers. Kamloops stocked in 2003 and harvested in 2004 measured 16.7 inches and weighed 1.9 pounds on average. Creel census clerks measured and weighed only one 2004 year-class Kamloops, which measured 21.8 inches and weighed 3.5 pounds.

"Results from the first four years are encouraging," said Hogler. "Since the beginning of the project, 66 percent of the nearshore rainbow harvest has been by anglers fishing from piers or shore."

In years when both strains were stocked, anglers have caught them in similar numbers. Arlees are larger both when stocked and harvested, but historically, Kamloops are longer-lived, so it is not yet clear which strain will provide the greatest return to anglers.

Your best chance of catching either strain of nearshore steelhead is to fish from piers or from shore. The best times of year are from ice-out through May, and again in September and October. Every port where these fish are stocked has at least one public fishing pier. As Ivan Stross and others have proved, these fish may also show up miles from where they were originally stocked. Invariably, however, they will be close to shore.

Time-tested methods for catching steelies from piers or shore include casting big spoons or soaking an alewife under a bobber. You'll generally have the most action early and late in the day. Like other rainbows, many Arlees will run up tributary streams in spring to spawn, so stream-anglers will also have a shot at them.

Arlees tend to be shorter and fatter than the three steelhead strains anglers are used to catching, while Kamloops are more streamlined fish. If you're old enough to recall the Shasta strain of rainbows that Wisconsin stocked prior to 1984, you'll find Arlees similar to them in appearance. "They're shaped like footballs," said Hogler. "Short and chunky."

The fish that Ivan Stross caught was larger than the average 3-year-old Arlee, but there is considerable variation in the size of these fish, as creel records show. The Arlee you catch may not win any fishing contest, but it will certainly put up a good fight. And the best part is that you don't have to own a boat to catch one!