At the risk of getting my head handed to me, I'll wade into this discussion with a different take on the settlement and the Cowlitz Rv.

I agree that the steelhead on the Cowlitz are probably nowhere near the native stock that existed prior to Mossyrock/Mayfield. The true native stock of steelhead are probably long gone. The best thing WDFW can do is estimate what was there 100 years ago and do the best they can with the stock they have now.

But my main point is that the number of steelhead produced on the Cowlitz in the future is not expected to change. What's going to change is the ratio of hatchery fish vs. wild (non-hatchery) fish. If the plan goes as expected, the number of wild fish will increase. If an angler is fortunate enough to catch an unclipped (wild) steelhead on the Cowlitz, returning it to the river is likely to be required. The end result should be more wild steelhead. What's wrong with that? The effort to get away from hatchery fish and produce more wild fish is not confined to the Cowlitz Rv. or Washington or the Pacific Northwest. It is going on all across the country. Don't be surprised if this change in stocking policy will eventually hit most rivers in Washington, including my favorites, the Kalama and the Lewis.

But CFM raises a very interesting point. Most anglers believe that more wild steelhead is a good thing. But what if the price of more wild steelhead is fewer hatchery steelhead; and therefore, fewer opportunities to put a steelhead in the freezer? Would the angling public (us) still support wild steelhead, to the degree they do now, if it means fewer hatchery steelhead and fewer opportunities for harvest (but the same fishing opportunity)?

Personally, I would still strongly support wild steelhead even if it means fewer hatchery steelhead. Would CFM? I don't know but I will let him answer that. What do other folks think?

I believe that not all anglers on the Cowlitz Rv. are focusing on providing meat for the freezer; but rather, the opportunity to catch (and release) a wild steelhead. But then again, I don't spend alot of time at Blue Creek.......