I've lived in Elma for about 12 years now, and I've seen a lot of changes on the local rivers in that time. I can't say I had the same experience with the locals that bankbum noted when I first came; folks seemed pretty nice to me. I've noticed, like he did, that the Puget Sound closures brought the biggest changes, not only in terms of the crowding and the ethics observed, but also in the demeanor of the other folks fishing. Seems burning $40 on gas and $20 on a shuttle to go boat racing from hole to hole, only to find two boats in every one, makes folks crabby. And that's on a weekday.... I don't blame the Puget Sounders for crowding the rivers, but it definitely ain't what it used to be.

I still love the Satsop, and having a pontoon boat gives me a few options for finding less crowded water (if not biting fish) but some days, you just have to grin and bear it, and be glad you're not working instead. It really is a shame that so many folks' best option these days is to chase whatever recruits (from runs that are marginal to begin with) that manage to sneak past the gillnets on rivers 50-100 miles from home. Hardly seems like meaningful opportunity for the cost of a license plus a Discover Pass. At least I don't have to drive 2 hours to join in the carnage. And now they're closing the hatchery on the Green.... What a punch in the gut.

The quality of the steelhead fishing has been dismal for me this winter, and I hear the same from a lot of acquaintances. At this rate, it can't be much longer til' the Satsop and Wynoochee are shut down, too. We better smoke 'em while we got 'em.