As a Sportfishing Advisor, I went to the Preseason Forecast meeting in Olympia yesterday that starts the salmon season setting process. Here's what I heard, with my spin added...

- Forecast method uses outmigrating smolts and previous year jack returns to estimate run - sometimes erratic, so DFW keeps forecast very conservative

- Smolt outmigration in 2000 (which would come back this year) is highest EVER recorded

- 2003 Jack counts in line with 1999 numbers

- Current estimate is 485K fish = 135K harvestable = 67K sport = about 6 days fishing

- Tribes current estimate is 700 - 900K fish - hang onto your seats!

- Over 750K MAY bring commercial nets in to LW due to Commission policy

- DFW will try to run the season as early as possible to minimize impact on Cedar River chinook - may be as early as July 1st

- DFW will convene a subset of Sportfishing Advisors to craft seasons as we get closer to July - try not to have a "surprise" season like last time

- DFW is planning on a season - probably not in regs pamphlet - issued via web & media

Looks good!