If I correctly remember the results of the study that John Q references, the worst predator to our Columbia River salmon was the cutthroat. That didn't make me too happy, because I love cutthroat trout. It seems counter intuitive that smallmouth bass wouldn't be a significant factor in salmon depredation, but you only have to look at the strength of the summer steelhead run in the John Day River to begin to examine the factors. Then look at the building strength of the salmon/steelhead runs to the upper Columbia all the while swimming through millions of smallmouth bass and other fish like walleye that weren't there in nearly as significant numbers in the early 1970's when our upriver runs began to go in the tank.

If I remember correctly, walleye were a slightly larger consumer of salmon , than smallmouth. But I was really surprised at the study's findings of how minimally smallmouth affected salmon/steelhead populations - if you can believe the study.

Why not have out of state people come to Washington to fish; leave their money and go home? Sounds like good economics to me.