I, like the majority of you who post in this forum, am 100% for the release of ALL wild fish. Something came to mind when I was reading all of your posts about native steelhead. My very first steelhead was caught on the Hoh river in 1999. I knew nothing about the species and proceeded to harvest what was a "native fish." Before I went to fish there, I had heard that we should practice catch and release on all native steelhead, but had never really thought about it. I'll never forget that day for the rest of my life for two reasons: #1, I caught my first steelhead. #2 I will never stop feeling "guilty" about what I did. My question is this... I was down there recently and headed to my usual spot about 2 miles up from the mouth. It was an hour after high tide and within minutes there were multiple hook ups. I, unfortunately was not one of them. However, amidst the 5 or 10 anglers that were there, I saw 6 fish landed in a matter of 10-20 minutes. Every fish was a native, and yes, every fish was kept. I have only seen a handful of people release their native catch in this river system below highway 101. Are people REALLY practicing what they preach. I spoke with a man last year while I was fishing who went on and on about how we need to release all wild fish. As I was headed back to my car, I witnessed the same guy carrying out what must have been a 18 pound native buck. Coincidence, I think not.....He didn't see me as I left but that particular incident really made me think. Last night, I was looking at the fishing report on the WDFW page and couldn't believe that so many native fish were being kept. Where are all the guys who practice what they preach? I feel like I'm missing something.....
Cuthroat

Unfortunatly this bourd is not a cross section of the fishermen in this state,If it was our problems have all been solved! Ha ha

There alot of people that feel fishing and killing go hand in hand.I think there is a heavy catch and kill consensus out on the west end.They ars sick of other people telling them how to run there lifes.I do not blame them but unfortunatly alot of these ideas are not in the best interest of the fish.

I have practised c/r on my streams pretty much as long as I have been fishing them due the dismal condition of the runs and my absolute love afair for wild steel.so it is easy for me to vote for statewide c/r.
Other people put catching and killing together.Untill it is made ilegal then I will not put a man down for exersizing his rights.
I think there is alot of preasure from fish and game not to go statwide c/r because this IS going to stop a good number of people from buying liscenses and not going fishing.I think this argument was put up many times behind closed doors.We all know that money talks.
The debate is a little more heated than was portrayed here on this bourd!It was not so cut and dry on other bourds.Cudos to those who had the balls to leave the safty of this bourd and argue c/r!
Alot of people see the push for c/r as more of a ploy by special interest elitist than a tool to restore our salmon.
Fortunatly the kill numbers were cut which is better than nothing and we can still do our part by releasing the nates we catch!
Thank you Bob,Sparky and every body else that put so much time and money into the fight.

Cuthroat,
I am with you on everything. I release every wild steelie I catch. I don't know if you know but the Hoh has the doral clip, if it is less than 2 3/4 inches it is a hatchery. I an not sure if that is totally acurate.
Lil Cleo,
I know what your talking about I there are a lot of people out there that preach C&R and don't do it. I have some friends that catch and keep fish just to show them off. When I catch a fish I try to keep it quiet, unless I am about to the take out. I even release some of the hatchery fish I catch.

CUTT

Some of us do actually practise what we and others preach. Last year at this time I invited some friends to go fishing on the Hoh. We live in Lacey, since I was driving my rules were NO NATIVES. We are bank fishermen and were fishing below 101 bridge. I saw numerous boats drift by and I was asking them how they did. Most of the boats had fish but to my dismay, I saw several natives. I believe most of those fisherman think since they make that long drive out to the pennisula that deserve to keep a native. My friends and I do not have to keep fish, we enjoy the the thrills of steelheading and being out away from the wives ( we call them fishing widows). It seems like the past 5 years or so many so called sportsfishermen are getting really touchy about being told what to do. Some year if the returns get so low WSFD dont allow anyone to keep anything they'll look back at the stupidity of there greed.

To put it to ya truthfully guys like me who release all my wild steelhead are a minority out here on the OP. 90% of the people that live here kill most of them. 70% of the people that visit kill most of them. People that come to Forks just want to kill things thats just how it is.

Is it right "Hell No", is it legal "unfortunately yes". And while its legal unfortunately people are gonna kill lots of fish.

I really dont know why people do it. If you ask me winter steelhead dosent taste that great and it smokes too dry. When you cook it it stinks. I think people kill them just to do it, to bring home a little trophy from the great Hoh, Bogachiel, SolDuc, Calawah or the Queets. They say look at what I caught this here native steelhead from the Hoh. Then when they get back to seattle they realize that it been laying in the back of the Pickup too long and they throw it in the dumpster.

Most people see it as a resource they have the right to take from. I see it as a resource that I borrow a smalll piece of Joy and Beauty from and then put it back because thats the most important part of the beauty.

People say the OP runs are huge and we can never exaust them.

Thats what they said about the Skagit, Sauk, Sky. And yet now agian they see no reason to make it total CnR when they already had to shut the Queets down early.

My thoughts exactly Rich ... hope you're finding them out there!

We finally were able to get our SW Washington rivers into C&R before the last wild fish was whacked. Now that people are used to it, the great majority seem happy to bash their hatchery fish and release the natives.
Personally, I have always released wild steelhead everywhere (including Alaska) and the rule in my boat when I am in Forks is that no wild fish are ever allowed to be killed.

Double DITTO!

I know a few people that plunk the Hoh.I have talked with them extensively about releasing wild fish. Their answer is if the Indians get to net then they are gonna get their 50%. My partner and I have seen the light and started practicing CNR for the last 5 years or so. I just wish everyone out here would start doing the same. They would just rather cry, snivel and whine about how the fishing is going to hell and blame all the "outta towners" and indians for ruining the runs of fish.... Go figure!!!!