A culture war.

Perhaps.

Elitists.

Perhaps.

But when all the anti-WSR folks whine about the loss of "opportunity" for them, remember this as fewer and fewer streams have healthy runs and viable fisheries:

WSR only forces an angler to change one thing, harvesting the fish.

On the other hand, harvest-based fisheries have infringed upon many's "rights" by forcing the fisheries into complete closure.

Naysayers frequently point out the lack of turnaround a number of areas. It's true. However, I believe the Nisqually thread that is currently undergoing discussion shows how slow a steelhead stock can be to rebound even with no fishing.

Thus my drive to protect what is left becomes even greater knowing that when things finally collapse, it's a very long climb to get back above the clouds.

Steelhead are not salmon, the life histories are too diverse and I belive that's one of the reasons we've had so much difficulty in their management.

I believe it's also the reason that their road to recovery has in nearly all instances, taken much longer than most salmon species.