Update ... everything officially turned out as I heard, with one exception that I saw, the Upper Hoh remaining open through the 30th of Novemeber for fall fish ... limit 2.

I'll have to admit, I'm pretty ticked off about this whole deal. It is one thing to close all the southern streams to king and wild coho retention ... no problem ther, in fact hurrah on the wild coho ... but now they have opened up a whole section of the Hoh for clubbing fish. Now this stretch of river was closed to salmon harvest about five years ago to limit harvest a little, and suddenly, in the midst of a predicted poor fall run of kings (and wild coho in many areas), they (WDFW)have reopened this stretch. What gives??

This state seems to take one of two positions ... kill 'em all or close it. There never seems to be any middle ground ... why hasn't the state ever gone to a one fish limit?? All the Kenai Peninsula streams I fish in Alaska do ... in fact, on the whole peninsula, you are limited to no more than five kings per year ... the Kenai itself no more than two! The state of WA needs to watch other areas for some suggestions in management to BOTH help protect the fish and maintain opportunities.

Now, I wouldn't be suprised to see the river traffic at least double or perhaps even triple on the Hoh and Quillayute systems ... yet the limit remains the same? How many fish does the state think will make it onto the beds with a combination of probably effectively doubling the sport harvest and the Indians taking their "half" ... regs as written now, will probably wipe out the Forks area streams within a generation or two.

Need proof? Look at the springer regs this year!! Didn't take long since all the SW streams closed and the pressure shifted up to the Hoh to place that run in some pretty dire straits! How dire? Word has it the Indians are even considering asking for an ESA study on that run ...

I'll try you one thing ...I will be on the phone and emailing to see if we can't get the limits reduced ... if you like to fish the Forks area rivers, and like to take a salmon home now and again, you might think about doing the same!

PS Bruce... I hope the sledders have lots of pigtails for their trailer lights and canned air for the trailer tires!! Tempers will be short around here this fall ... I've seen it before, and I'm sure I will see tons of it this fall ... of course, I'm not condoning it, but it won't break my heart either!