I don't think that we should be surprised, we were warned that these closures might happen and it may be the first of several to follow in the Puget Sound region. The quote is from a thread discussing the WSC meeting last November where Heather Bartlett talked about the state steelhead plan.

 Originally Posted By: Jerry Garcia
It was good to see you there. I wonder how many people read this in your post and if they thought about it.

"The first is that because the process of writing the 4(d) rules and getting them approved will extend well into 2008 some fisheries where a "take" of listed steelhead can occur, spring chinook and summer steelhead are examples, may not be opened this year.

A second point that was made in a lively discussion of hatchery/wild interactions is that there are several rivers in the region where no steelhead fishery would be allowed if there were no hatchery fish. In other rivers a CNR fishery would exceed the allowable "take" in 3 to 5 days."

You would think it would generate some thoughts.


If the Skagit is closed I doubt if it will be the result of a tribal fisheries, WDFW, and indian casino plan to screw sports fishermen. It is more likely related to ESA listing of steelhead in the Puget Sound region.