Salmo....I think what I got out of listening to Cahill on the radio was that the fly fishing groups have been the most vocal at the meetings. I know the meeting in Port Townsend which I attended had a lopsided presence of fly fishers and WSC members. Ok by me but I think Cahill was saying that the arguments never change and minds are never changed it is just which group is most persistent. He also said that Koenings is the trump card when it comes to science...He expects more fact based info to be introduced the next time this is discussed.

One of the elements of this debate that doesn't get much play is the motive of some of the advocates to clear the river banks of the "crackers"....NO question in my mind after seeing opinions from across the board for months. Many WSR advocates make no bones about how things would be much nicer with fewer fishers on the water....No quibble there. Sure it would be nicer. There are so many people taking part in every fishery we've got that I can't see how we can sustain this level of pressure.

Yesterday I went out in search of ling cod and saw a massive participation...same with shrimping a couple of weeks ago..massive pressure.

Maybe we should give up and turn over the fisheries to the indians. They could run the whole state like the Quinault. No native guide no fishing. That would cut down the pressure and get us out of the fish recovery business. Let the tribes handle every body of water in the state..set all the policies and seasons and limits....Charge say $150 for a permit to fish for a day anywhere in the state....lakes too. And they could enforce it too....$5,000 fine for fishing without a tribal permit. Fly fishing permits would cost $500 a day so only the guys with the fancy waders and Sage rods could participate. That would really cut down on pressure...So the ones who could afford it would have the peace and quiet and the quality experience they long for. Why not? The tribes pretty much control things now...