I happen to be one of the guys that sent a personal letter and e-mail to the WDFW in favor of the Catch and Release of Wild Steelhead. I also happen to be one of the guys that is willing to travel great distances, save my pennies, and go home without having to kill a fish. It doesn't mean I'm better than anyone else, I'm just stating a personal choice I have made. Some would call me an elitist.

I want to encourage you to keep up the pressure regarding the release of all native fish on a year round basis. I happened to check out NW ******n.com and saw all of the negative comments regarding the CNR proposal. When properly done, catch and release does provide angling opportunity while allowing fish to succesfully spawn. It also provides economic stimulus to communities that have a viable fishery. If the numbers are so low, that zero mortality from human intervention can be tolerated, than the fishery should be closed. I fail to understand how WDFW can go from a catch and kill system to complete closures without any intermediary steps such as CNR.

For all of the Tar Heels that refer to CNR as an elitist sport, I say "GO POUND SAND".

If you doubt the merits of CNR, then, come to the Midwest and experience the numbers of fish that have resulted by implementation of total CNR on native fish. Perfect examples are the steelhead of the Minnesota North Shore, Ontarios' South Shore, The Brule River in Wisconsin, and the Pere Marquette River in Michigan. The most recent addition will be the Nottaswaga River in Ontario. I don't need a study, I have lived through 25 years of fishing highs and lows that were high lighted by a near decimation of the North Shore Steelhead in Lake Superior. Those fish came back with a total CNR sport fishery for the full duration of recovery. They aren't monsters, but sleek screamin bullets that are very special fish, and I'm damn glad that they are still here to hook up with on a frequent basis. It is still CNR on all nates, and I hope it stays that way.

I am one of the fools who will fly or drive across the country, and continue to pump money in to economies such as Forks, Concrete, Marblemount, Aberdeen, and go home without the need or desire to kill a fish. There is that elitist attitude again. If we are trying to justify the expense of gear for the trade off in steelie 'meat' we would all be fools. Fillet Mignon would be much cheaper.

If your runs are so healthy, why would you need to supplement them at all with hatchery fish? The fact of the matter, is that they aren't that strong, and neither are ours. With increasing pressure, habitat degredation, pressure in the Lakes and oceans, hatchery fish seem to be the only reasonable alternative for us to be able to keep a few fish to the grill. The native fish are simply a bonus that allows us to tangle with the Real Deal. You can't justify a "kill em all" mentality by pointing fingers at the tribes and commercial fisherman, or the charter boats. You have to make a decision whether to be part of the problem, or part of the solution.

In a Utopic situation, wild steelhead stocks will return to levels of 100 years ago, technology will go backwards and you will fish with antiquated gear, the fishing population will decrease ten fold, and the internet will vaporize, and we can all go back to keeping a trophy native fish, or one for grill fodder. Until then, pictures, reproductions, and brats will have to be our option. I wish you luck, and stay the course.