Until the mid-1990s WDFW was putting around 30K smolts in the Dungeness. Then they dropped to 10K. Now we're trying to build that back up by using "locally adapted" Dungeness-Bogachiel-Chambers stock. The 23 last year was the best return ever to the Dungeness Hatchery. I'm hoping that we'll get enough again this year to meet the egg take goal.

Some things are in the works for the Straits steelhead. WDFW and HSRG want to get away from importing fish from out of the basin and building the stocks with locally adapted fish. It is my understanding that the Straits rivers will see a decrease in early run (hatchery) stocking while the new plans are being developed. More information will be coming and I'll try to pass it along.

In the meantime, I'll keep fishing the Dungeness and making trips to other rivers in the area. So many places to go and right now, not enough time......