Given that wild steelhead release has become the statewide normative regulation for quite a few years now, it's puzzling that steelhead seasons should need to be closed unless the pre-season abundance forecasts are far below desired spawning escapement goals. A minor fishing regulation change to Selective Rules of single barbless hook and artificial lures only limits harm to the fish encountered, and with the conservative incidental mortality rate of 10% that the state and federal fishery agencies use, it would take an incredibly high encounter rate to measurably reduce spawning escapements enough to affect subsequent adult steelhead population abundance.

The Skagit River is a well documented example where CNR fishing seasons have been practiced since 1981. Runsizes have been good, and there have been poor ones as well. And through it all, the recreational CNR seasons have had zero measurable effect on population abundance. That's about as good a testament to a successful management strategy as is possible.