Cowlitzfisherman,
I'm not so sure I want the Deschutes, Sandy, Nehalem, Trask Rivers, etc. to be another Cowlitz. Maybe I should come up there and fish? I've fished the Kalama and Klickitat several times and was impressed with the numbers of hatchery fish on the Kalama (not the way they fought...pretty average brats, though it was fall). I did catch a hot wild steelhead and a hot wild coho on the Klickitat last November. I was much more impressed with the Klickitat's fish, access, scenery. Is that what the Cowlitz is like?
Here in beaverland, the last time I fished was on the Nehalem. I had my favorite series of pools to myself and caught 3 wild steelhead in 3 hours, inc. one that jumped 8 times in the 40 degree water. Is the Cowlitz like that?
I don't mean to be cocky or a smart ass, but I like the priority wild fish have been receiving more and more and I'm happy with what changes in management I've seen from ODFW, Mt. Hood N.F., PGE, and many other players here in Oregon. I'd fish more in your state and spend more cash while there if more WA rivers were managed for wild fish.

On the subject of local fisherman making management decisions, be careful what you wish for. Noone can screw up a situation better than a self-ascribed expert with a little bit of knowledge and a lot of incentive. I see that all the time in my work as a veterinarian. The sick animals that get cared for by their know-it-all owners instead of vets are rarely as well off. Sometimes they die. I don't want that type of scenario on my rivers and fish, thanks.
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If every fisherman would pick up one piece of trash, we'd have cleaner rivers and more access.