I will tell you Grandpa that the WSC is not a flyfishing group. There are lots of gear guys(Todd and I included) and we believe that wild steelhead need more protection because the runs are in trouble.


"That's because runs on rivers such as the Hoh, Bogey, Calawah and others are at all-time highs, according to Bob Leland, steelhead program manager for WDFW., In fact, WDFW staffers seem to be surprised , if not shocked and dismayed, at the cecision by the commission. If these rivers are in such excellent steelhead shape why the ban? Moreso, why the ban now, when WDFW is still at work on a two -year steelhead stewardship management plan for these rivers?"

How can the Hoh be at an all time high when it won't make escapement this year? The Quillayute system is declining for the 6th year in a row and according to WDFW's own numbers are not at an all time high. Frankly I don't trust some of what I hear from Bob Leland and Bob Gibbons(they did speak at a WSC meeting), if steelhead numbers are declining under their management plans then maybe they are wrong.