Why dont I belong to the WSC?

Because the rivers I fish are already manditory release of all unclipped fish (ie. wild - native)

I dont support C&R fisheries because I see it as an excuse to harass wild fish. How can anyone say they only want what is best for Wild Steelhead advicate any fishery that targets wild steelhead.

Is $40.00 dollars to much for dues?

Probably lets see what other organizations charge and what they provide for the dues / contribution.

DU (Ducks Unlimited) provides a magazine with stories about ongoing projects in habitat restoration and other things related to ducks. They also provide finacial statements to show where your money is being spent. They have local chapters you can be involved with. Oh they also advicate Duck Hunting and this costs $25.00 per year. There work directly benefits you the Duck Hunter as well as the Ducks.

REMF (Rocky Mountian Elk Foundation) They to provide a magazine with information on the enhancement activities as well as hunting information and stories. You can see there habitat enhancement in your local area's. They also release finacial information so you can see where the money is coming from and how it is being used. They have local chapters you can be involved with. They advicate Hunting and Harvest of Elk. This organization charges $35.00 per year and their work directly benefits you the Elk Hunter as well as the Elk.

WSC (Wild Steelhead Coliltion) They provide a web site they lobby the wildlife commision for state wide C&R that the majority of the fishermen in the state dont want. This organization charges $40.00 per year.

Yes I think it might be just a hair to much.

I am not bashing the WSC I am only answering the questions posted. I do believe that Cowlitz has brought up some very valid questions that I would like to see answered. Specificaly the one about managing hatcheries by science not politics, it seems to me that there are quite a few people advicating the elimination of hatcheries because they say studies show them to be detrimental to wild fish recovery and weaken wild fish populations. Personnely I do not care if I was ever able to bonk a wild fish again but I do want to be able to bonk a brat when I want to eat a fish.

Also some of your members need to tone it down a notch or two. I cant tell you how many posts I have read on this board where they jumped down someones throat for saying they didnt have a problem with bonking a native where it was legal to do so. Maybe just maybe the WSC should have stepped into the public spotlight by working with the WDFW on enhancement projects and such rather than pitting themselves against them as the advicate for wild steelhead and pushing for statewide catch and release right out of the gate. You as an organization may have shot yourselves in the foot before you ever got your gun out of the holster by alienating the majority of fishermen and fisherwomen in the state with the C&R issue.

Again before the flames start I am not bashing the WSC I do not know enough about the organization to flame them, I am only answering the questions posed and offering you my opinion based on what I have seen posted on this and other boards.

Now I must go to bed I've been working all night and I'm afraid my spelling has suffered some because of it.