Very eye opening. As much as I wanted a Winter Steelhead season, it’s hard ignoring this continuously mounting evidence that this closure may be just what the doctor ordered, both for Steelhead AND late Coho.

Definitely will be worth tracking Steelhead numbers as well as the season goes on.

I also have some hope that the major rain events this winter won’t be as detrimental as I first had expected. Summer chum outmigration surveys over the past few weeks have resulted in above expected numbers thus far. Granted, this is on Hood Canal rivers/creeks that drain much less water than say the Satsop or other Chehalis tribs, but still a reason for hope. Let’s hope some of these fall eggs made it through alright.