I just don't think you want people moving toward a C&K mindset in regards to native steelhead. With the increased population, increased development, degradation of riparian zones, and all the other negative factors facing these fish, why add ourselves to the list of obstacles for them to overcome?

If the run size exceeds the maximum carrying capacity of the system, then natural forces will dictate how many fish migrate out and return. We are an "artificial" force, with seasons and run sizes estimated by ever-so-faulty humans. We have shown our inability to forecast runs sizes and survivability rates numerous times. I look at C&R regs as sort of a "savings account" of fish. Spend your savings in times of plenty, and there's nothing to pay the piper with when times are tough.

As for the notion that we should go ahead and kill "our" half because the tribes are going to kill "their" half is pure nonsense. An eye for an eye, and sooner or later EVERYONE is blind. Let the tribes figure their own strategy out, we can't tell them what to do. But we also can't criticize them if we are out there whacking natives ourselves. Hello pot.....meet the kettle.

I am concerned about the anti-hatchery stance adopted by many C&R advocates, though. Hatchery fish aren't a bad thing.....the WAY our hatcheries have been operated in the past is the bad thing. Without any harvest opportunity, I could see things getting pretty sparse for the WDFW. The loss of license sales revenue would surely lead to cuts at WDFW, most likely in the form of eliminating essential personnel. Enforcement is already virtually non-existant, any cuts in personnel would be detrimental to all of our fisheries.

Old habits are hard to break. We're just now getting people into the habit of releasing native fish. Let's not give ourselves a chance to step backwards in our ateempt at breaking the bad habits of the past.

JMHO