I want all gillnets out of Washington waters, too...but I don't want to give the commercial guys another tool, one that will kill more hatchery fish, and just as many ESA fish...it makes no sense whatsoever.

My plan is to get the non-tribal commercial guys out of the LCR altogether, not help them make a better living at being there, especially at the expense of sportfishing and sportfishing dollars.

Here's where the old adage comes in about knowing the difference between interests and positions.

I have this as my "interest"...to save more ESA fish, and have better sportfishing.

Any "position" I take will be in furtherance of those interests, and if my "position" fails to serve them, or acts to their detriment, then I will change my position. My position is not my interest...my position is the tool I will use to further my interest.

If your "interest" is to get gillnets out, then you are serving that interest.

If your "interest" is to save fish and have better fishing, then your position is worthless towards that interest.

People get so wedded to their position that their interest and position become as one, and the original and laudable interest gets relegated to the dustbin.

That's what's happened with this whole LCR purse seine bullchit.

A bunch of folks had a common interest...to put more ESA fish on the spawning grounds, and to improve sportfishing.

Excellent...we're all on the same page here.

Then they came up with a great idea...let's get gillnets out of the LCR!

Also excellent...we're all still on the same page here...gillnets kill ESA fish, and hurt sportfishing, so getting rid of them will help ESA fish and sportfishing.

Next part of the plan...let's have the commercial guys fish more selectively so that they can kill less ESA fish!

This is a position...a tool used to serve the interest of more ESA fish spawning, and better sportfishing.

The problem is that this position doesn't serve those interests. It results in the same amount of ESA fish dying, and sportfishing will suffer because of it.

Those who came up with this idea had a laudable goal...the problem is that they didn't know how LCR fisheries work, or do the math regarding the spawners or the hatchery fish being harvested.

Their "position" does not serve their "interest" any more.

This is usually not a problem, as those who are goal-oriented (i.e., wish to serve their interests first) will easily ditch a position that no longer helps them achieve their goal...

However, in this case, it has become a huge problem...the problem is that there is a large group of CCA supporters who feel that whatever the CCA says or does is 100% the best thing ever, all the time, no matter what, and that those who disagree are gillnet lovers, bigots, or tribal fishermen.

They have become so emotionally entrenched with their position that they have replaced their interest (better for fish and fishing) with their position (selective fishing on the LCR)...no matter how easy it is to see that their original interest is not being served, no matter how many people with greater knowledge and experience tell them, and show them that their original interest will not be served...they don't care.

It's the CCA and Selective Fishing on the LCR, 24/7, do it or die.

It has blinded them to reality, and rather than ever question the CCA or the efficacy of this position, they attack and question everyone and everything that doesn't support their position...they adopt victimhood as their rallying cry, and martyr themselves on the altar of the purse seine.

For those who haven't drank the Kool-Aid and climbed up on that cross, it's pretty disenheartening to see so many obviously passionate people completely and utterly bamboozled by themselves...they've been told, and have told the lie so many times that they have actually come to believe it with a Faith that would make the average jihadist look like a piker.

Unfortunately it looks like there is no way to reverse this self-brainwashing, and that the end game is to either beat them back and let them wallow in self-pity and martyrdom, or watch them steam off into the coming storm...

And tell them "I told you so" when it is all over.

Either way, they're screwed...and they'll find someone else to blame it on, someone else to call names.

I've come to the conclusion that waiting to say "I told you so" while continuing to fight my own fight (all the non-tribal commercials out of the LCR completely) is the best way to go about it...hell, they and the CCA can have all the credit for that, too, when it happens...I could care less, I just want to see them gone and see the Columbia River return to what it used to be, the salmon and steelhead capital of the world.

I don't need a "win list" to wave like a banner in front of an army...I just want better fishing.

Fish on...

Todd