I was waiting for someone like mikvin to reply about the issue of privatization. He is flat missing the point.

This has nothing to do with "stay off my personal river". It has everything to do with serious overcrowding on a river that can't handle it. It's hard to talk about this issue coherently without coming across like a snob. Unfortunately, some people percieve it that way. So be it.

Steelheader69, you make a good point about growing up on the river and seeing the changes. You are justified to feel frustrated. It is a perspective that many cannot see or appreciate so they remain oblivious, resentful or simply join the flotilla down the river.

It's not just on the nooch. I'll bet everyone who reads this board and lives on or near an over-fished river is nodding their heads in agreement. They've seen it.

What do you do about it? Sadly, probably not much. The newspapers have an "obligation" to share with the masses where to go. Perhaps instead of naming rivers by name they can simply mention regions-force fishermen to re-invent themselves and discover the art of discovery and exploration. My most treasured spots were discovered by curiosity, dtermination and a sense of exploration. no one told me to go there.

Like I mentioned earlier, WDFW is slowly pissing away our opportunity with smaller budgets and smaller plants. Washington's population has exploded the last 20 years but the dept's. response has been to cut back or eliminate many programs. If those programs don't work (and it appears many didn't) re-invent hatchery practices so they do work. Don't cut them! Look at the snyder creek project on the sol duc.

I like being able to float or walk a river with a reasonable chance of hooking fish and not racing to a hole in the dark only to fish behind 10 boats the rest of the day. if that's your idea of a good time, have at it. I'm done talking about this and am going fishing somewhere in Washington!