Whew! It would appear that this is a rather hotly debated issue among the users on this board.

• I guess first I'll clarify a couple of my statements. Rather than call it a river with a viable population I mean a river with no hatchery program ie. North Fork of the Lewis. What then this river becomes C&R only?

I must agree with flyfisher 1066 that no river in WA supports the wild runs they once did. But I disagree that over harvest is what is choking off these rivers. Distruction of habitat, weather pattern changes (water temperature and flows) have much more to do with these declines than sportsman over harvesting fish. Also flyfisher what science is it you choose to believe if not the WDFW biologist and where can I get ahold of this information? I would like to read something that doesnt contain the WDFW slant.

• Superfly, enforcement in this state is a joke because that where they choose to cut the budget when they feel a cash crunch in our state government. Although there is a program out there called "Eyes in the Woods" that will bring in a member of the WDFW enforcement division and teach you how to record evidence of a fish and game violation so that they can investigate and prosocute. We must police ourselves and as sportsmen do our part to protect the resource. As for getting the Indians to the table I think your right, but they dont answer to the same laws we do so they dont have to bargin and will not have to until Washington (DC) says enoughs enough and puts and end to Indian commercial harvest. If the Indians want to fish commercialy they should follow the same restrictions as the other commercial fisherman.

I have to go to work now so I'll finsh in another post later. Thanks for all your replies, and I think I would like to fish with salmonbelly and Rich G as they both seem passionate about their beliefs and bullheaded I can relate to both of those things.

This thread is getting scientific in itself, I personally release all wild steelhead and really enjoy watching that fish swim away knowing that I have done the right thing. Hell I don't even keep that many hatchery fish. Any ways we do not have healthy river systems down here. I wish we could get 14,000 wild fish back to the sol duc, but I think hell will freeze over before that ever happens. Everyone's points are somewhat valid and this is a very emotional issue with everyone. Now we need to take this passion and energy to a new level and band together and take some action, so I suggest everyone work together with groups like the WSC and make a difference and quit talking about it here.
Peace Superfly