Kid Sauk -
If you go to the following -

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/papers/steelhead/index.htm

Go to the appendex list and click on the one with the Puget Sound data and scroll through it to the Skagit system you will find all the data you need.

My understatnd in talking with both guides and WDFW staff that last year there were very few 2-salt fish in last year's Skagit returns (fish that were smolts in 2005). Do you happen to remember that little flow event that happen in October of 2003. Because of the timing and size of that event the young fry hatched that spring would have taken a very large hit so it did not surprise me that year class of fish did poorly.

The poor 2-salt returns last year leads the biologists to expect to see few 3-salts this year. That coupled with potnetially fewer repeat spawners due to the low escapement last is likely more than enough explaination for the expected poor return.

You guys tear me up - constant whinning about mis-manage and the need to take better care of the fish but whenever some one does step up to the plate to err on the side of fish you come unglued.

Todd -
The old steelhead management plan talked about the 80% of the escapement level to allow such fisheries as CnR fisheries. Many thought that was pretty liberal.

The new FEIS on the latest steelhead management plan calls for no fisheries that are essentially targeting wild fish whenever the expected escapement of the Management Unit (MU) is below the goal. Apparently with the ESA listing the State has opted to use the latest draft as a guideline.

If folks have issues with that approach maybe they should hvae been providing that input during the process that developed that plan.

BTW -
Less anyone thinks I'm happy to see this situation think again. I put a lot very hard work into those CnR season long before such things were fashionable and it saddens me greatly to see those opportunities shrinking or going away but as I mentioned early we are now in new era.

Hopefully by step up to the plate now that State's plan will have some influence if marine survival improve and we see stronger runs and we'll be fortuante to see future opportunities and not have to wait until the fish are "offically de-listed" to see such seasons.

Tight lines
Curt