CFM -
You seem to be saying that the drop off in fishing in the Cowlitz this year is due to reduced hatchery plants. However when I looked at the smolts plants on WDFW's web site I see that 720,000 winter smolts were planted in 2002. While that is down some from the 10 year average of 790,000 smolts there has been a couple years in that period will lower plants.

I seem to recall you telling us last summer that the settlement agreement called for a reduction in the number of "early" fish planted. Does that mean that there has been an increase in the planting of "late" fish bring the numbers planted up to about the normal range? If so haven't we gotten a more consistent fishery in exchange for the 2 months of hot fishing that was the norm in the past? In addition there is a chance for some natural production and perhaps less stacking up of fish at the terminal hatchery areas. At least for the short term that appears to me what is occuring.

tight lines
Smalma