Todd pretty much summed it up. This is a fish Jihad, a difference in ideology. This appeal has nothing to do with making things better for wild fish. There is only one mile of less than optimal spawning and rearing habitat above the barrier at Tokul Creek Hatchery; in a watershed with miles of good habitat that is currently way underescaped. There is no meeting in the middle, and unfortunately, the sports angler, and wild steelhead, are going to lose, its inevitable. As a sports angler in Puget Sound, you are now down to the Green (weak plant and poor survival), Sky (decent plant and survival), Snoqualmie (decent plant and survival, but is teetering on the edge of existence) Stilly (decent plant poor survival) and Nooksack (big plant horrible survival) for your winter time "opportunity" for Steelhead. We have already lost everything else. Assuming these programs all get their required HGMP's to continue, you are still looking at several years for the facilities to bounce back from planting all their smolts in lakes this year, save for the Sky.

The WFC would love to end these programs, as would others with pragmatic viewpoints simply from a cost/benefit ratio. Is it worth it to continue for such pitiful results? If you want to be able to wet a line after work in the greater Puget Sound, then the answer would be yes, because most rivers are going to be closed after salmon seasons end. Whats it worth for that opportunity? How many like to swing a spoon or double haul a fly for a couple hours after work without having to drive 5 hours, even if the chance at a fish is slim?

And if we do get rid of the hatchery programs, and go to wild management, the only river even close to consistent escapements is the Skagit. Do you think it can handle the pressure being the only river in PS that would be open?

Think Sky type pressure on opening weekend. Can the wild fish handle that? Do we want them to? Which gets right to APs point, and I think hes spot on. Its simply history repeating itself. Look no further than the east coast or Europe to see our angling future for steelhead. Better hope you got a trust fund because thats the only way your going to be able to afford a lottery ticket, "beat", destination steelhead spot, or guide with a "limited entry" permit.