I think it's easier for poachers when there is any fishing open. They can say they are C&R steelhead or fishing for dollys or whatever and when they get an illegal fish they hide it in the bushes until they leave or run to the car and take off. When the river is closed anyone walking around with fishing gear is recognized as a poacher.

I have been hearing all this talk about declining fish runs for many years now. All the things that we know will help recover runs never seems to get done. The general public doesn't want to make the sacrifices required. Pretty hard to be optimistic that some big turnaround is going to happen.