Bankwalker, your idea is one of many versions of 'privatizing' recreational fisheries. They do this alot for Atlantic salmon and sea-run browns in Europe and it seems to work. I would prefer some type of purchased tag for the entire river rather than just for Reiter for the reasons that Stlhead pointed out. Making one stretch proprietary and exclusive could make for some bad attitudes. It would also be important to spellout how the money would be used, and that it would be used only for enhancement on the sky, so that people paying extra would feel they're getting dollar value.

Alas, though, privatizing fisheries have not gone over big in the U.S., despite the success in other countries. Another alternative would be to privatize the hatchery. The commercials often form coops to manage their own hatcheries. I've heard of this in Alaska and Oregon.

I've often thought it possible to form a fishing club with the dues provided directly to the hatchery. A small amount could also be used to produce a monthly news letter providing hatchery progress reports of number of fish in the traps, etc. But since there would be no exclusivity (anybody can fish), the incentive to keep up dues would only be the dedication of the anglers, which could really drop off during a poor survival year.

I guess we just have to keep emailing the right folks to get permanent funding for Reiter. I'm sure we'll have to start doing this again in the winter, since current funding is through 2001 only.