Stocking springers in Willapa Bay would be poor fisheries management. Sorry to be so direct, but spring Chinook need cold water all summer so they can spawn in late August or September. The Willapa Bay tribs do not flow off the Cascades (like the Cow, Lewis, and Kalama) so they get really warm during the summer. That would be a death trap for springers.

I agree with Slab on the Kalama River. Back in 2007, they got 7000 springers back to the rack. That was twice as many as they've ever seen. Plus the recreational fishing was outstanding that year. Off the charts. Since then, they've closed the season early every year because they're not getting any fish back. That happened in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and again this past spring. In fact, this year the Kalama Rv hatchery did not make their egg take for springers, so they got some from the Cowlitz hatchery.

What's worse is that since 2007, Kalama Rv spring Chinook don't show up in any fishery - recreational, commercial or Tribal. So whatever they're doing isn't contributing to the fishery resources of the State of Washington. I'm hoping they change back to Carson stock, if they haven't already. I'm not sure springers were ever native on the Kalama Rv so I'm not sure why they're concerned about wild fish.