Big Bob - I rarely disagree with you on the issues discussed on this BB and it's even rarer than I would write about it. But this is one of them. I will try to do so politely.

It is likely that Mr. Freymund was only following agency protocol. Face it Bob, you are not just a fishing guide on the OP. You are also the proud owner/sponsor of a well known and widely respected website on steelhead/salmon fishing. As such, you can disseminate information quickly and widely. Therefore, to a government employee you may be no different than a newspaper reporter. In fact, when you obtained quotes from Mr. Freymund and put them on your website, you did what any reporter from, say, the Seattle Times might do. But your media is electrons, not paper and ink. Plus, your media is accessible to anyone in the world with a computer and a modem. Free of charge. Can’t say that about the Seattle Times. Indeed, your website is a very powerful tool for dissemination of information. In some cases, more powerful than a newspaper.

Most government agencies have very strict protocols regarding information provided to the press. Since Mr. Freymund appears to consider you a member of the press (rightly or wrongly), he was just doing his job. From what I can tell, Mr. Freymund did not say that said he would not provide you with whatever information you want. He just said you must provide your questions in writing. It seems like a pretty extreme response to me but before we get too wound up over this issue, perhaps you should get a copy of the WDFW policy for media contacts and see what flexibility it contains. I know nothing about their policy, or even if they have one; but if they do, I’m sure their intent is not to prevent the free flow of information but to make sure the agency speaks with one voice on important management issues. I’m sure we can all agree with that. After all, there is nothing more confusing to anglers than getting two different answers to the same question from the same agency.

Just my .02



------------------
MSB