Originally Posted By: Salmo g.
FF02,

"Why is game fishing so much better in places like MT, ID, and Utah?"

Trout fishing is so much better in these states because the rivers are inherently more productive than our coastal rivers are. And the management agencies don't spend license and tax dollars to raise hatchery salmon to be caught in Canada and commercial fisheries. The money is all spent to manage and enhance sport fishing, unlike in WA.


I agree with all those points. As usual, I wrote too much, and I fear my point got lost. I should stop doing that, but I can't seem to help myself....

Certainly, the Rockies are more productive trout habitat than Western WA. The comparison I intended to draw was a more general one between fisheries managed for sport (MT, ID, etc.) and fisheries managed for harvest (ours). Clearly, the ones managed for sport are higher quality and more sustainable over time.

What made me want to fish in this state was the variety of fish, plus the fact that many of those fish are big and cool. We still have that, but it's so limited now that I, like you, have started spending more and more time fishing out of state. WDFW really does crap all over us with their harvest first mantra, and it ticks me off, but darned if I don't keep buying their license. Maybe I figure it's a license to complain or something....