Marty ...

Yes, I run worms behind a diver from time to time and plugs too .. but these ARE NOT bait divers. There is a big difference in how fish are most often hooked on the different riggings. Illegal?? No, I never said so. But as I have learned over the years, if you're going to let a wild fish go, it is by far in the best interest of the fish not to run a BAIT diver (eggs / shrimp / etc.). It's a matter of ethics, respect of the fish, and a responsibility to the entire fishery. It's taken some effort to find a way to hook as many fish in certain water conditions as I could on a well-presented bait diver, but I have found methods that work equally as well .. with LESS damage to the fish. None of us have ever said zero ... but less. That's the bottom line.

In an average rainfall wild steelie season, maybe 1/2 of my fishing takes place in selective fishery waters .. the rest in std. regulation waters. Not really sure what was meant by your mention of this, but I thought I'd clarify this for you.

As to your markers on the rivers, I give you you another huh?? Of course most of the fish in the 'Duc spawn above Whitcomb-Dimmel ... that's because the VAST majority of the 'Duc watershed is above this line!!! In fact, the VAST majority of the watershed is ALREADY closed to ALL fishing. Ever been up to the Salmon Cascades this time of year?? If not ... go watch how many fish are dozens of miles above the fishing deadline! The same can be said for all the lines you've come up with.

Spawning water is not always clearly defined as fish spawn in different water levels and what is shallow one day, might be deep the next. It is the responsibility of an ethical angler to know where fish spawn in a given river and leave those areas alone. Anglers that don't know, need to go out and look! Looking for something to do when the rivers that you fish close?? Go take a float and learn these areas! You just can't say tailouts as many tails don't have the bottom structure favored for spawning ... and rarely do you find beds in soft water as flowing water is essential for proper oxygenation of the eggs.

As I've said many times in the past ... if we don't do our best to protect the fish (appropriate tactics) and continue to club fish, then we're going to face either total closures, or restrictions such as putting all anglers on a river in a couple of miles(boy, doesn't that sound like fun!). It's time to start managing with the first priority the welfare of the fish, the second priority opportunity and economics and lastly, harvest. There WILL be a day when this will happen, maybe not in my lifetime, but I cetainly hope it's before the fish have to disappear!