An unfortunate mix:politics and fishing. I didn't know the two had anything to do with each other until I moved to the NW 6 years ago. Since then, it's practically hit me in the head. To all you "Bushers", if you are conserned with native fish issues, he couldn't be a worse president. He's done nothing to help, and many things to hurt native fish causes. If you don't care, bonk-on and don't even bother with the rest of my comments...... If you do care about native fish, either write the administration and tell them you want them to protect native fish, or vote him out in 2004. If you are republican and like to catch wild fish, your politics are ruining your fishing! You're also a hypocrite! If this sounds cut and dry, it is! The biggest opponent to initiatives launched by groups like Trout Unlimited (in which I am active) is the republican party. Seems protecting fish costs money. I bring this up not to inflame people, but because a lot of people don't know what's going on. For more info, check out the League of Conservation Voters. I know the Oregon group puts out an annual report card on how all state reps and senators voted on environment-related legislature. The republicans vote anti-environment/fish about 90% of the time in Salem. I don't know the percentages nationally, but I know it's similar.

On another note, while openly opposing almost all pro-wild fish legislation, vice president Cheney is an avid fly fisherman. I guess if you're a multi-millionaire, you can buy your own fish to catch!