There is a time and a place for both types of fishing. I prefer to fish selective waters and rarely keep any, but when taking out a youngster or just plain cracker fishing, nothing gets then 'hooked' like catching a limit of trout to take home for dinner. Nothing wrong with that. Thats why they planted them there to begin with. Put and take fisheries are great for the local economy. Just imagine what opening day fishing does for the local sporting goods stores and many other businesses. Catch and release lakes/rivers are great resources too. I live on the middle fork of the snoqualmie and am very greatful that it is a c&r selective fishing river. At the same time, I like to take others to Pine lake in issaquah on for fishing for planted trout. We use powerbait, worms, flies, and various lures.

The issue here is that many of us question the resource management decisions that WDFW makes. I'm with you there. But they make many good decisinos as well.

Also, what are you talking about when you refer to folks being educated about what fish eat?? Most stockers on opening day have been in that particular water for only a few weeks if that. What do you think they've been eating for 99% of their life before they got dumped into that lake?? Powerbait is deadly on opening day and the weeks that follow because it does precisely what you're talking about - it provides them with a familar meal...

Don't think your better than others because of how they fish once in a while, or all the time. Just go have fun. Find a lake/river that is managed to your taste. If you don't like the way a lake is managed, talk to the WDFW.