Well, I didn't quite get all my thoughts in before I ran out the door this morning to meet my fellas (rivers are kinda pukey so we're gonna do it in April instead), so now that I'm home, I'll add a little more here
Yes, some of the folks I have to lobby. Many of the local folks that I fish are fairly knowledgable and have kicked back the kings on their own. The group I mentioned are some fellas that come from Tennessee every year and don't know a lot about salmon and steelhead, but they're learning and came to the decision on their own and asked if I thought it would be beneficial and okay to do so.
Salmon and steelhead are viewed in very different lights, as I mentioned, one to most as a gamefish, the other to most as a foodfish.
To get a little different perspective on the issue here Smalma, visit:
http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/EarlyRunKings/ERKhome.htm to see some of the comments regarding possible no kill on kings in an area where C&R for all steelhead and nearly all rainbows is in place.
I also wanted to point out that should king retention be closed here, that I would support it. However, I would ask again, "Where was the middle ground?" Where was a reduction in limits over the years, where was a (new concept here) a C&R fishery for kings??
Once again, it looks like a situation of we going from kill 'em all to no fishing at all ...