Jim,

You've got my support, I signed on. That the winds of change are blowing is an understatement. I see the day in the not-so-distant future when a majority of our opportunities will be gone. It's already happening.

I've waited for years for some kind of angler alliance to take shape and this appears to be a good attempt. Like it was stated earlier, "we have nothing to lose".

This is what I've observed over time:

1) WDFW is not aggressively committed in increasing angler opportunity much less keeping what we have. They talk the talk but they aren't walking the walk.

2) Most fishing groups are limited in effecting real change because of limited numbers and/or internal disagreement on agendas. Look at the noose around Trout Unlimited's neck when they came out "neutral" on I-696.

3) Sportfishers are famous for crying like a baby when they get shafted and then doing nothing to change the situation. I believe part of the reason for doing nothing is not so much a sense of complacence but that alot of sport fishers have seen for years the attempts of smaller groups with no real effect so the "what's the use" attitude prevails.

4) The tribe's are playing their cards right(they seem to have most of them these days)and are simply going after all they can because they have the tools to do so. We cannot do the same until we have more cards in our hand.

We are running out of time. I am actually questioning whether to invest in the fishing boat I've dreamed of my whole life because I don't feel certain there will be real opportunity 5-10 years down the road. I can finally afford it and I may have to look for a new passion-it stinks!

Large numbers may not be the only way but it's a heckuva way to start. NOTHING else has worked on a long term scale for us.....just piddly little victories here and there to keep us subdued.

It IS going to take a new innovative approach and I for one am more than willing to put my name on something that wants to pepetuate what I live for.

Anyone else?