Rob,

Could it be that the Washougal R. is a victim of "successful" hatchery management? I'm not personally familiar with that river, having fished it only once back in the 70s. But for such a small river, it has received some of the most massive hatchery smolt plants of any place in the state. That, and heavy fishing pressure, and no wild steelhead release regulation until perhaps the wild fish were pretty well gone. It seems to me that WDFW has been far less protective of wild salmon and steelhead in SW WA, compared to the positions it has taken on the Puget Sound and coastal drainages. I'd hate to think this was the case, but could it be that since there are no treaty Indian fishing tribes on the SW rivers, the WDFW allowed more liberal recreatiional harvest policies on SW rivers than they have under the watchful eyes of treaty tribes on Puget Sound and coastal rivers? It seems to me that's where all the sport fishing salmon and steelhead closures have been. Maybe WDFW, lacking a "resource first" policy just let us fish the wild fish out of existence on some of the SW rivers, especially the Washougal. What do you think?

Sincerely,

Salmo g.