People around here have short memories. Shutting down all puget sound rivers on Feb 16 was proposed in the rules for 2010. The state has already said, if adopted it could be expanded to include the rest of the state rivers.

Problem is, we still have a run of hatchery fish that are going to pair up with wild fish, if they dont make a bee line for the traps. It would seem the excuse for closing more hatchery production has already been written.

A gillnet is a gillnet. Saving steelhead, while throwing salmon under the bus, just to keep anglers on the columbia smiling is messed up. So, how many of you are still smiling? Protect hatchery springer harvest at all cost. Just keep wishing you will be supported in banning gillnets on the columbia. Fat chance of eliminating commercial harvest on the columbia after 140 years.

Take what you can get and then get ready for the next battle. Whether that battle is further restrictions on the columbia or fishing off shore is anyones guess. The fact is, the Green was already seeing wild fish in the system and people were catching them. The state comes along and closes the rivers to protect against the incidental sport catch.

Why is the incidental gillnet catch deemed less destructive and less important to the department and the legislature? You have to change the laws on the books that requires the state to support commercial harvest. You have to give the dept and the commission more tools to make those decisions. Read the bill, 2266 makes several changes. Once you get the legisature turned in this direction, the next change will be much easier for them to support. I can tell you for a fact, that legislators who go to Olympia, to change education or other subjects, are completely unaware of these issues. Ive heard the same exact story in meeting after meeting. That includes legislators, who hunt and support the gun rights in this state. Unfortunately for us, those who are educated enough to communicate with legislators on fishing issues, do not have access to legislators in other districts, unless they go with you. Every election brings in new people and the process starts over.