NM --
regarding "over-escapement" being a problem. What I said in the other discussion was
"5) Regarding over-escapements - In the past it was common to consider that managment of a run that had escapements larger than its goal to be considered to be a management failure. Genreally today that is not the case. Most would consider goals to targets to match of exceed."
I for one don't view any "over-escapement" as a problem.

I would certainly concur with your statements regarding the need for protecting diversity of the populations. However you did mention that current management does not account for the complexity of the real world. In reality fising is one a small part of the assault on our steelhead's productivity and diversity. Water withdrawls, power generation, forestry, agriculture, and fishing all are taking a piece of the resource.

To totally reduce any impacts on the diversity or productivity of the steelhead populations from fishing really means no fishing! Even a CnR fishery has some impact on the resource so that ultimately management is a question of risk assessment. Are the risks from fishing worth the potential benefits - man days of fishing/ #s of flesh etc. Those of issues for each of us to wrestle with and decide for ourselves.

My purpose in starting this thread was not to adovcate a position but rather raise some of the complexities of these issues for our collective thought and discussion.

Tight lines
Smalma