Salmo is right - It is possible that a fishery could continue and still retain the potential for re-establishment of a sockeye run. But how that would work has not been formally proposed by WDFW or anyone else. So benefit of doubt goes to the fish. If it was that important, somone should have thought it through.

For the local economy, it's not as though everyone in the area will completely stop buying tackle and licenses - there are other lakes, streams, and the salt nearby that offer great fishing. We've all lost opportunity over the years, and most of us have managed to figured out a way to keep soaking a worm.

For the people living on the lake who don't get to fish there for 5 years - Longer term, think about the INCREASE in opportunity afforded if they have a sockeye fishery develop in their (our) lake, along with the potential for a tremendous river fishery that is very likely to develop next door (assuming we don't totally screw that opportunity up by over-harvesting, polluting the gene pool, or other attempts to help mother nature). Five years is a blink of the eye, compared to the potential for restoring naturally sustaining runs for thousands of years in the future. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. So do your part to help make it a reality.