......"as it is, there is nothing we can do." (Steve Ng)

Now Steve.....Think about that statement! This decision proves there is always something we can do. I know you were referring to the tribes but if I remember right the WSC guys and others were saying that "we", the sports fishers, need to get our house in order before throwing stones at others. Well now atleast concerning steelhead we have what so many have asked for...Catch and Release on all wild steelhead statewide in ALL waters. As Jacob says we have been restricted and closed and regulated to the point that our house in definitely in order unless your definition of in order is total ban on fishing for steelhead.

So if I read this correctly it appears to me to be a measure taken for conservation purposes and is designed to minimize impacts on wild steelhead. So my question to all you smart guys is this: Why would this ruling not be applicable to commercial netting? I submit that there is something that we can do. We need to make an issue out of the fact that this step in the right direction needs to be followed up with steps to curtail the mortality of wild steelhead on ALL waters by any means including tribal gill nets. Down Mexico way they call it having cajones. In my opinion you cannot have a serious effort to limit mortality on a species and allow it to be indiscriminately harvested. The argument that there is just nothing we can do has to be challenged.

The Green river for example is netted and yet is closed on a emergency basis. How is this fishing "in kind". The original treaties could not forsee the Endangered Species Act or casinos or the BIA or DSHS or any of the other crap we have today.

Finally I agree with Dave..We owe Pete pat on the back for standing up for sports fishing. He works with a tough crowd.