I think that in a way this fishery for this surplus of wild steelhead on the Chehalis system might do some good. Everybody is looking at the negative side of this fishery but could there be a positive side to this....
I think so, being one of the thousands of steelhead fisherman west of the mountains here is a thought to ponder... with the mass increase of steelhead fisherman this past few years, I don't think the O.P. rivers will be able to keep producing wild fish in fishable numbers being that those rivers are still open to catch and kill fisheries so late in the season all this "surplus" of steelhead anglers are going to fish somewhere right? And where will that be if the only rivers that are open are on the O.P.?
I guess most people won't agree with me but if the biologist are predicting Wild steelhead returning in fishable/harvestable numbers than why not take advantage of this and take some of the pressure off some of the other rivers.

This is the worst case of backward thinking I've ever heard

What is so wrong with just prohibiting the retention of wild steelhead statewide, so we can all catch the released fish over and over again, leave the season open longer, and increase fishing success dramatically? Doh

So lets protect the Chehalis system while we deplete all of the OP systems!
My post is the most backward thinking you have ever heard... How is that?

Mini, 2 wrongs to this day of political crrectness ,still never make a right. You can't honestly tell me you believe that a kill fishery on nates for the Chahalis will have any effect on the wild fish slaughter on the oly pen streams.

Sky

I agree with spawnout and many others that wild fish release is the only way, I am simply stating close them all or open them all, not for a kill fishery but just to keep the mobs of fisherman out there these days off any selected rivers to deplete them next, balance out the pressure what is so wrong with that?