On the eve of the Puget Sound closures I'm wondering what I'm going to do until June 1st.

Actually, I'm pissed. I'd be even more pissed if I was a straight flyguy. Why? It's the ****ing inconsistency in which the WDFW "manages" OUR precious resources. Hey, the Dec. 1 - Feb. 28 closure on natives should have been 10 years ago around here, but cancelling the C & R season?

Let's take a look at the State's policies towards native steelhead the past 9-10 years, speaking for the Snohomish, Stilly, and Skagit systems. 5 of these years they shut native harvest down early, usually Jan. 3rd. Most of signs are still up in fact. 3 other years they closed 'em down somewhere between Feb 1 and Feb 14. Only ONE year did they stupidly allow native harvest until Feb. 28, that was two or three years ago. Now here we are this year with no fishing at all.

How 'bout the Hoh, or the OP in general. Three years ago I had a guide trip booked with Herzog on the Hoh for Feb. 14. I never got to go 'cause the State shut it down early, for sportfishing that is. Two years later, they want to abolish the new 2 native fish per year rule on the Hoh and go back to allowing the caveman-like harvest of 30 natives per year. Huh?

Would the fish be better off totally undisturbed during their spawning? Unquestionably. But I also believe the run could easily support a conservative 1-2% mortality rate, just like it has in the past.

Once again, instead of providing more opportunities, they are taking them away. I really don't know how they look themselves in the mirror knowing the native steelhead policies, and their successes, in Alaska, B.C., and Oregon.

I really feel sorry for the Penn. rivers. You could walk across the boats on a Wed. last March on the Hoh. This year?

On a different note, I just took Ryan's bait and visited [Bleeeeep!]'s site for the first and last time. She appears ignorant, arrogant, but most of all very childish. I have zero respect for her, and Mr. Mansfield as well.

Jerry Garcia, thanks for helping land that native hen on Saturday. I was the "small soap dish" guy.

TK