Sinktip, Double Haul and Jerry -

I think that WSC's position on wild steelhead release has been pretty clear. Traditionally WSR has been used to supply access to hatchery fish while minimizing the impacts on wild fish.

Curious as to what your thoughts are on what conditions are needed to support a Catch and Release steelhead season when there are few or no hatchey fish; say March and April in Puget Sound?. At what population level (abundance)is it OK to allow some mortality to support a CnR fishery? How sure do you have to be that the returns will be at that level before you fish?

What would be your guidelines?

Tight lines
Smalma