Andy - Your idea is a bit far-fetched but you've hit on the major negotiating tool for the States on the Columbia River harvest discussions. That is, if the States are zeroed out of the allocation because of ESA (or whatever), why should they continue to produce Chinook at the State run hatcheries and elsewhere? If State-licensed anglers can't catch Chinooks, why not switch to raising fish that the Tribes don't target in their harvest? (e.g., coho/steelhead) The Tribes are clearly concerned about linking production with harvest and are therefore willing to negotiate harvest levels with the States for Chinook on the Columbia River. The quid-pro-quo is that the State will continue to produce Chinooks for everyone to harvest.

Remember, you don't always get what you deserve, you get what you can negotiate. This year, the States negotiated 9,000 Chinooks for Buoy 10 which should be caught by this Sunday. Hope other folks have more luck than I. Fish on.....


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MSB