Quote:
Originally posted by Smalma:
Thought this would have generated more discussion!.

Why do you think the management of the steelhed resource should be any different that salmon or other trout management?

NM raises an interesting point. The pre-season forecast are often wrong because survivals vary so much. How do you think that variability should be incorporated into the management (see comments on the Escapement goals and WSR discussion post by FishnPhysician)?

Jacob - regarding your concern about shorter seasons. One of the early hatchry/wild issues recognized was the spawning of hatchery fish with wild fish. To reduce the likely hood of that occurring WDFW over that last 20 years or so has reduced the latest portion of the hatchery spawning until today the early-timed hatchery females have completed spawning by the end of the February - 20 years ago they spawned through most of March. This change has greatly reduced the spawning between the early-timed hatchery and wild steelhead. Most would view this a postive step.

A result is that the hatchery run is done by the end of February. Thus in rivers where the fishery is targeting hatchery fish only there is no need to have a longer season to access the hatchery fish. If the wild fish are going to be underescapement and there are no hatchery fish would you adovate continuing to fish on and impacting the wild fish?

Tight lines
Smalma
I would advocate a C&R fishery on the wild fish because the impact would be minimal to none. Let's face it, even if a river only had 50 returning wild steelhead, the odds of actually hooking one would go way down. The river would get very little fishing presure. If a person was able to land a fish, the odds of it being killed during the realising process is almost non existant.

Now, before someone makes the claim about people who drag fish on rocks and kick them back into the water, I don't buy it. In a situation like the one I am describing, only a hardcore angler who actually cares about wild fish would even bother fishing. The people who do not care about fish only go to places where they can expect to catch lots of fish.