Change the focus of the grass roots campaign to "No More Bets". I imagine a 10-20 percent drop in casino revenues, along with a marked increase in resort room vacancies, would cause considerable consternation amongst the elders. Here's your bumper sticker, "When you're netting, we're not betting!"

Unfortunately, most casino regulars prefer a sedentary life to an active one, first and second hand smoke to fresh air, and could care less about the origin of the fish on the buffet table. Forget the joyfully celebrating twenty and thirty somethings depicted in the casino ads. The reality is oxygen tanks, mobility aids, no hair/gray hair, and more collective sadness than you could find anywhere, except in a Cougar crowd leaving a bowl game.

The hit 'em where it hurts method only works when you have the means to hit someone and make it hurt. Right now, about the only way we can hit the tribes is with verbal slander, and it doesn't seem to hurt much.

You can write all the letters you like to legislators, but you might as well go in knowing that a lot of campaign funding is what earned the Tribes the exclusive slot rights they hold, so you're not likely to get much sympathy from them.

Want justice? Bring your wallet or stay home. The Tribes understand this, and they're holding all the cards because of it.

So, it seems our sports fishing community remains too fragmented and unable to agree on a course of action. I realize that the problems facing OUR fisheries are varied and requires more than a single small action to correct ( if it even can be ). But in microcosm, the direction and comments on this thread reflect why it has been so easy for the sport fishermen to be ignored in the decision making process regarding fisheries management in this state.

Guess it's better to do nothing and keep hoping "someone else" will do something.

Thank you to all that took the time to express your opinions and thoughts.

You know, Bay Wolf, considering everything that's gone on in my local waters this salmon season, it's probably a particularly bad time to pay much attention to my responses to questions about citizen action to change fisheries politics. I'm more than a bit disillusioned at the moment, and as you can see, I'm having a hard time convincing myself there's really anything that can be done. Eventually, I'll calm down and get back in the game (the cause is too important to me for me to be able to walk away). In the meantime, I'll leave you with these thoughts:

1. Keep up the good work. We may never be able to see any of our small efforts making a difference, but the sum of many small efforts is bound to start looking like progress eventually.

2. Get involved with a couple conservation/sport fishing groups (if you haven't already). The money you contribute and raise will be used to lobby for meaningful, if painstakingly gradual, change. If you don't see your organization of choice pushing for the changes you want, understand that's normal. Lobbyists for CCA, PSA, etc. understand how the game works, and they also understand what initiatives are most likely to be successful, as well as which ones won't see the light of day under the present circumstances. Even if it isn't exactly what you hope they would be doing all the time, they will be doing things that are productive and timely, and that means a good investment of your time and money.

FF has it right!

I will add that having lobbyists is critical as they have eyes and ears on what is occurring in Oly allowing time for the various groups to have an impact on the outcome rather than simply complaining after the fact. Also, active members of the various groups have developed name/face recognition and credibility with the Commission and some legislators which has value.

You have PSA in Oly or Gig Harbor (actually Tacoma at TOA) and most recently CCA meeting at the Tacoma Sportsman Club. If you are not currently involved with a proactive organization I urge you to do so.

Baywolf,There is maybe 10 members left here that care about our fisheries and are already knee deep in the fight.As you know there used to be a lot more.I would have to say the value here,for your purposes is in the views.It is too bad that the few over on the dark side have almost destroyed this board.Just look at any response for action here anymore,hell even the famous SRC is done.It became apparent to me when Andy asked for help cleaning a Bogie access and and got shunned.hardly see him anymore.

With our current politicians the tribes will do what ever they want. Untill we have a Governor and senators that actually respect there constituents,meaning the voters will hold them accountable,nothing will change.For some reason the WDFW is not hiding the lie that is co management. Do not know if it is arrogance or a plea for help from us ,but I fear it is not good.It certainly has come on the coat tails of inslee. Arogance to me means they have found a replacement for the funding from our user fees .

Thank you all.

I'm afraid I went the route of the "Organized Groups" and was sadly disappointed as far as their ability to make decisions and act quickly (if at all) Recently for example, they were worthless in the struggle to get Rep. Blake enough pressure to move HB 1660 out of committee. They were as blindsided and hopeless as everyone else when Phil sold us out to the Weasel and the WFC, and I've not heard of any action out of them concerning what is taking place RIGHT NOW on the Chehalis! No, I don't think the organized groups will be our savior's. Contrary, I think betting on them is futile. They are just too big and to ingrained in the politics to bring any measurable difference. Yes, they will say "It takes time to turn a ship" I counter that the tribes seem to do a very good job of making radical changes to our fishery management very, very quickly. In a season in a lot of cases. How long did it take the tribes to boot fishermen off the river while they net? ( a move to reduce accountability, not conflict I might add) And now it is spreading to other systems and different runs without contest!

What we need, as I see it, is not organization's that are founded to enhance the pleasure and promote sport fishing, like most of these major clubs do. But rather grass root movements that will gather and peacefully assemble. To use methods like social media to educate the public. And to use the power of numbers to get the message out that things are not good and getting worse!

But then, of course, that would require individuals to get involved, and we see where that go's...

A few cannot carry the burden of many. It will take many, many sport fishermen showing up in mass to effect any major changes. But, I honestly believe any small effort is better than nothing.

Pick a cause, put some effort into making it better. Educate your friends, family and anyone else who will listen. Light a candle rather than curse the darkness!

I believe the groups are only now, gaining traction with the General Fund shrinking.

WDFW is like a drug addict, dependent on the Legislature to keep it's cowboy fishing going.

Since "Bolt" why is there even a cowboy fishery? The tribal fishers sell off the boats and at local seafood places. That would meet the obligation to provide a "Commercial" fishery?

What really irks me is the netting of sockeye of the Frazier and the related mortality of our inbound stocks