Todd -

Status of the Methow wild steelhead - ESA listed as endangered - that is likely to go extinct.

Status of the lower Columbia River wild steelhead - ESA listed as threatened - that is likley to become endangered.

Just to check my facts I quickly referred to WSC's draft steelhead white on steelhead status and the authors confirmed my recollection of the status of the two populations. So in short the status of the Methow fish is in worst shape than the LCR populations.

As I recall the sport fishery on the Methow was a selective fishery targeting the hatchery fish returning to the river and it was to last until the number of wild fish encounters times a hooking mortality yielded an impact on the wild population of 1.8% (I may have a detail or two wrong as I don't following things on that side of the state too closely).

The commerical impact on the lower Columbia Fishery was to be capped at 6%. Given the Status of tne Methow fish (ENDANGERED) versus the status of the LCR fish (THREATENED) I have at least as great of concern about the 1.8% impacts on the Methow population as I do about the 6% impacts the LCR population. You of course are free to feel differently.

Again I feel strongly that if one is to lobby for the fish we need to do so consistently across all fisheries if we are to maintain our creditability. Given that belief I will continue to point out what I consider to inconsistent positions as my primary concern is the fish - sorry if that offends you.

As always I'm more than willing to explain and/or defend my position or to supply information so that others may make their own informed decsisions.

Happy Holidays and my the New Year bring you tight lines
S malma