Maybe this first time around the WSC was a little green. I feel we should have defened ourselves and explained that our stance was to help save wild steelhead and to keep people on the rivers with as little damage to the fish as possible. It was important to let people know the importance of saving wild steelhead by keeping fishermen on the rivers and interested in the fishery than to have it closed and people going off to other interests. But that's an afterthought when maybe with more help and experience we would have attempted more unifying.
Everyone in the WSC I know had a great deal of respect for those who wanted to keep it volantary C&R and practiced C&R on their own. But maybe we let those others that acused us of being selfish, enviros and only wanting the river for ourselves to get to us. Should have defended ourselves against them better because they were the dividers. To keep wild fish in the rivers and keep people fishing was the goal and that ment keeping those against us fishing a longer season also.
Hey we need people like you and teen Tyler in our organization even if your beliefs are a little different. That's what makes the whole thing work in the end. Some of our most dedicated members come from the Hood canal.