Washington Trout is a radical, left-wing organization that has no idea what the hell they are talking about, I am just waiting for them to practice PETA and ALF (Animal Liberation Front) tactics by burning or sabotaging a hatchery. Looking at their history, it appears that they sue to pad their pockets so they can afford more suits. They are basing their allegations on California rivers and one SW Wash. River. The recent results of a smolt trap done by a tribe found that NO hatchery steelhead or hatchery coho had chinook fry in their stomachs after they were pumped. Hatchery coho and steelhead were trapped 30+ miles away 2-3 days after their release from the hatchery that I operate and a state hatchery that we work with hand in hand. They caught Dolly Varden and Bullheads in their trap as well and they were the only species that had chinook fry. Why don't they sue the fish that is eating the fry rather than the alleged fish from a river 1000 miles away? Better yet, sue mother nature, in this case she is causing the problems.

Their research methods are faulty, no scientific review to speak of. When a member of our sportfishing organization called Kurt Beardslee, he basically couldn't back it up. He kept spinning his wheels and dodging the questions. I support a boycott of the businesses and drafted a letter telling those companies the potential impact of the lawsuit and that scores of fishermen will be signing it in May pledging our that we will not support or purchase their products and services.

WDFW finally got the clue that they need to fight this and my conversations with them (to some of the highest levels in the agency) provide me with confidence that their lawsuit is a joke. I just hope the judge agrees and they will run and hide.