It appears that Region 6 doesn't look out for the interests of the constituents who pays their salaries. It isn't necessary to close the Wynoochee to all fishing in order to protect wild Wynoochee coho. Closing the river to all fishing means a decision was made to leave a few hundred hatchery summer steelhead to spawn naturally in the system instead of removing as many of them by sport harvest as possible.

And the idea of leaving the Wynoochee closed until the steelhead egg take is reached doesn't pass either the red face or chuckle tests, not to mention the professional ethics test. How many salmonid populations does R6 manage on the basis of "no fishing until egg take is met?" For hatchery fish, that would leave only an abbreviated season on fish nearing sexual maturity, and for wild fish that would mean no fishing ever, since "egg take" would mean no fishing until after the spawning season is over. Matt should call the office again and ask for a professional answer.