On Sunday, the 11th of February at 6 p.m., the 3rd meeting of the General Membership of the Wild Steelhead Coalition will take place.

Catalyzed by closures of the World-Class steelhead fisheries in Washington State, the Wild Steelhead Coalition was formed to put a halt to the declining runs of wild steelhead in the Pacific Northwest. By changing management practices, fighting for habitat and doing anything within the power of the Wild Steelhead Coalition, the Coalition will fight to increase the numbers of wild steelhead returning to the waters of the Pacific Northwest.

The interim Board of Directors has been working very hard to put together by-laws, a membership structure, an action plan and a communication plan for the Wild Steelhead Coalition.

If you are at all interested please attend the meeting on the 11th at O.B. Williams in Seattle. The address is 1939 1st Ave South, which is 3 blocks south of Safeco Field on the Westside of 1st Ave. And please, bring your own chair.

At this meeting the Board of Directors will present by-laws and a membership structure. An action plan will be discussed as will the status of the Wild Steelhead Coalition as a non-profit organization.
This will also be the first chance for anyone interested in saving the wild steelhead of the Pacific Northwest to join this new and promising group. All attendees will also be given the chance to ask questions and present their ideas and comments.

Please join us in the fight for the World’s greatest gamefish so that someday we may see the abundance of wild steelhead in our rivers that are forefathers enjoyed.

If you have any questions please email Ryan S. Petzold at ryanpetzold@email.msn.com or at 425-438-8504 or Duggan Harman at dharman@onemain.com.


------------------
Ryan S. Petzold
aka
Sparkey and/or Special

[This message has been edited by RPetzold (edited 01-31-2001).]

[This message has been edited by RPetzold (edited 01-31-2001).]

[This message has been edited by RPetzold (edited 02-01-2001).]

Sorry, but you guy's are dreamer's. Got to get Mr. net's off the river 1st. & how ya gonna do that? Bolt's got you by the sack!

How about catch and release on wild steelhead?...or changing the state's management pratices away from MSY to maximum recreational use (the manner in which our Wilderness Areas are managed and the manner in which our national forests are attempted to be managed)?...or improving habitat?

Because we are controlled by a federal ruling, does that mean we shall give up and let our wild steelhead become extinct? Not to alot of us and alot of us our willing to fight and put forth everything we got to restore our wild steelhead runs.

The trick is to work with the Indians and not against them.

Come stop by and see what we are all about. You might be pleasently surprised.

------------------
Ryan S. Petzold
aka
Sparkey and/or Special

[This message has been edited by RPetzold (edited 02-01-2001).]

Like it or not, the tribes have a right to fish. For the rest of us, we only have the privilege.

The WSC was founded to make sure that sportsmen, sportswomen and the businesses that benefit from them gain a voice in deciding how the privilege to fish is managed. The tribes are only entitled to 50% of the runs. That will not change no matter how much people complain. What we do with the other 50% is an issue that can be influenced. To do so though, will require a coalition of all types of sport fishers: fly, gear, etc. We must put aside our differences and focus on what we all treasure; the fish.

The WSC believes that a wild steelhead is much too valuable a legacy to ever be harvested. If you agree with this, the WSC invites you to join us and start making a difference.

Duggan Harman
WSC Board President



[This message has been edited by Sinktip (edited 02-01-2001).]

I'm there, gotta start somewhere.

Hey that rhymes and I didn't even need a beer chromer/22

A small correction. The tribes are guaranteed 50% of the harvestable surplus of the runs, not 50% of the entire runs. The key words are "harvestable surplus". Since this is basically the total projected run minus the allotted escapement, this is where I believe groups like the WSC can make the greatest positive impacts on wild steelhead populations. By making a strong case that escapement levels are too low to sustain healthy runs given fluctuating and largely unpredictable environmental conditions, the WSC may be able to effectively lobby for increases in escapement and, therefore, decreases in the harvestable surplus. A decrease in the harvestable surplus is the only way to decrease netting that I can see.

Mandatory catch and release of wild steelhead may give us a warm feeling, but due to foregone opportunity it will only have a significant effect on a few river systems, chiefly the Skagit, the Quillayute, and possibly the Hoh and the Snohomish. If statewide recovery is a goal of the WSC then this should be considered.

In October, Bob Gibbons of WDFW gave what appears to be an alarmingly biased presentation to the F&W Commission on the possible effects of a statewide C&R regulation. Mr. Gibbons pretty much slammed C&R, but despite the bias he did have some points, mainly having to do with foregone opportunity reducing any real effects of a C&R regulation. On another point, one of his conclusions is interesting. He said: "the department has quality information and conservatively manages wild harvest". He and others at WDFW probably believe this to their core. Basically what the WSC is saying is that they are wrong, that wild fish management is not conservative enough. Considering the egos and politics involved, I would expect considerable resistance.

Mike,

You are right about the 50% of harvestable surplus. I apologize that my post did not make that clear. The WSC is certainly interested is statewide recovery.

The issue of forgone opportunity is tricky and I will be the first to admit that I am not the best educated on it. Thankfully, the WSC does have some sharp individuals in this area that are examiningthe options available should this be invoked.

Thanks for you support of the WSC!

Sincerely,
Duggan

Just a reminder that the WSC is meeting at 6:00 tonight in Seattle. See the information above for the address.

You guys might want to think about raising the escapement goals.Unless you want to sit on the bank until the numbers go up high enough to fish,Lk. Wash. sockeye for example.Even if it is c&r no fishing till the goals are met.Some rivers can only support so many fish with the habitat in the shape it,s in.Just something to think about.