A good question Smalma, plus more ...

Why are even counting redds before March 15 on these streams if they're only hatchery fish?

Why are we marking every single scrape on the bottom of the river as a redd? Obviously, many are test reds, yet they're being marked with ribbons?

It probably cancels one another out ...

What I'm trying to get at is that you CANNOT judge the health of any run by the final number you get at the end of the season (thus my mention of the Pilchuck) if you've simply wiped out the early portion and boosted the latter portion.

That's not good for the fish or the fisherman ... both an important part of the management circle!