I think ReiterRat has a point. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

If the GCH is managed properly, it shouldn't have a critical impact on the wild fish. To me this means that all hatchery raised fish are "marked" and raised in ponds until they smolt. If they are raised to smolt then most should exit the Skagit upon release and have minimal impact on wild juveniles. If they are all marked, then they can be harvested selectively when they return as adults with minimal impact on returning wild spawners.

The key here is the tribes. Will the tribes fight 100% marking like they have on the Skykomish summer chinook? Will the tribes EVER try harvesting selectively via traps or fish wheels? This could be a good time to start pressuring the co-managers in that direction.

If these minimal conditions could be met I would buy in and let the meat fishers, guides, restaurants, hotels, gas stations...... have their day. Then rest of us can maybe have a little more solitude up river while fishing C&R.

Beezer