When I moved to the northwest and began trout/salmon/steelhead fishing 6 years ago, I did so without any preconcieved ideas about what my river(s) should be like. I explored a lot and had many fishless days. Now, I usually return to places I know and usually enjoy good fishing. I have avoided the places I didn't like and stuck with those I like. I wish there were more wild fish overall, but I'm not one who thinks we should shut all the hatcheries down. Here are my main rivers:

1)Clackamas: They need to renovate the fish ladders. Biologists have done radiotracking studies which show the adults have a very hard time finding their way on these especially long/steep ladders. I believe this is going to be done to some extent along with reliscensing. Also, more law enforsement is necessary here to protect wild fish. Lastly, I wish Metro would aquire more public access to the lower river.

2)Deschutes: They need to re-establish anadromous fish passage over Pelton and Round Butte dams. Again, I believe a requirement of reliscensing is requiring this. Continued habitat/riparian restoration needs to be done here with fencing off of cattle on tribs.

3)North Coast: I'd like to see some hatchery production, but the hatcheries (which may be shut down completely) need to be renovated or modernized if they stay. They also need some source of funding other than state. More law enforcement is necessary here too.

That said, by doing my homework and not limiting myself to one river, I've had some excellent fishing success the last several years and I'm happy with "my" rivers. I drifted the Clack yesterday and caught 2 hatchery steelhead. I banked the N Coast one day last week with a friend and we went 8/10 on natives. The last time I went to the Deschutes (last November), I caught several trout and one steelhead on flies. There's good fishing out there if you are willing to look for it.