Why not keep most rivers open until the end of March? Is there a difference between releasing a fish now and in January ?

I'm not too keen on changing regs/extending seasons on particular streams because people notice. About a decade ago WDFG extended the season on a certain stream and it got mobbed later on in the season. The same stream is closed in winter above an arbitrary point, cutting off a couple of miles of prime water. Another creek was (inexplicably) closed in winter completely recently. And there is another stream with a healthy run of wild fish (according to locals) that isn't open that could be. But I wouldn't want to see it suddenly opened for winter fishing because it would be mobbed.

Have a general stream opener until the end of March unless otherwise posted on the larger stream systems.

BTW Running sleds on a busy river has as much charm as a day driving on I-5. To each their own.

Blah Blah, have a nice day.