Hey cohoangler, I was wondering the same thing as to why retention of fall chinook would be allowed in the N. Fork this year, so I emailed WDFW and asked. This is part of the reply I got...

"...Chinook may be retained in the mainstem lower Columbia plus the Lewis River,
including the North Fork, this fall. Unlike the past several years when chinook
retention was not allowed in the mainstem Columbia near the mouth of the Lewis
and within the Lewis itself because the natural spawning escapement was not
expected to be met in the North Fork Lewis, we expect sufficient numbers of wild
fall chinook will return in 2001. We expect about 17,000 wild fall chinook
will be heading back to the North Fork Lewis this year. The escapement goal is
5,700 fish. Therefore, some fish are available for harvest.

Lower Columbia fall chinook are listed as "threatened" under the Endangered
Species Act. The North Fork Lewis River wild fall chinook is the largest
component of this stock. Because the escapement goal for the North Fork Lewis
is expected to be met and probably exceeded even with a typical sport fishery,
it was decided during the North of Falcon Process this spring that sport harvest
would be allowed this fall. ..."

(from program fish management)

[ 09-07-2001: Message edited by: Krome Brite ]