I believe the WDFW's first priority is to appear as good wildlife stewards to the general non-fishing public. This is the only reason I can see for closing the Lake Wa. sockeye season after only 3 days when nearly 400,000 fish were present and destined for one itty-bitty river.

To recount this sockeye fishery, every summer the drama builds as everyone wonders if there will be a season. And 4 out of 5 years the answer is no because the 350,000 fish escapement rule has not been met. So, WDFW, what is the big worry anyway??? What happens if you make a huge miscalculation and the sportsman and Indians catch every single fish and wipe out the run? Well, you could simply re-introduce it as was done when the locks first opened!!!

The Lake Wa. sockeye policies are one of the reasons I sometimes wonder about the WDFW.
Closing down hatcheries is another. The death of Eastern Washington pheasant hunting is a third.