When I started in WDF in 1980 river salmon fisheries were generally not favored; fish were supposed to be taken in saltwater. That mindset changed some as Boldt was more fully implemented. I think, now, that the agency has gone back to marine fisheries. Since they cost more to participate in (big boats) and they are easier to plan for. Plus, the state is moving towards closing rivers when tribes fish to avoid conflicts. I see a future with less FW fishing for Chinook and coho; chum, pink, and sockeye will be the exception unless marine fisheries really pick up on them.

It also hasn't helped that some of the most disorderly fisheries occur in FW, like Samish and Skok.

The future of FW salmon fishing will likely be Willapa and the Columbia below Bonneville as long as there is no tribal fishing on them (QIN expansion(.