Stonefish-
I ready admit that I'm a fishaholic and will continue to fish; just not as much as normal. I have and do fished for a wide variety of fishes and will likely spend some time fishing for kokanee, bass, salmon in the salt; heck might even make a trip to the east side for carp. There a fishaholic like myself there are no end to potential opportunities however none of those present the world class fishing that I find in the Skagit basin.

What is particular galling is that my fishing records/experience shows that on years when coho are closed on my local waters I encounter less than one coho a year. Assuming a 10% hooking mortality (and I doubt that it is that high given the gear I use) on the Skagit I might catch 2,000 to 3,000 "trout" for every coho that die. Are there many fisheries with that low of by-catch?

The real concern is not whether I fish or not but rather what will happen to the more casual angler. The concern is that as they loss fishing opportunities the switch to other activities and many will likely will never return to the sport. Can WDFW afford to continue to see an eroding of its user based? especially when that is self induced?

Without recruiting new anglers or keeping new anglers engaged the sport is doom.

Curt