The Selective Gear regulations (single, barbless, no bait) were in effect from 1981 through the 2009 season with zero evidence that fishing had any measurable negative effect on runsize. Selective Gear on the Skagit and Sauk is an accepted tradition at this point. I doubt WDFW wants to mess with success right off the bat when the Skagit is re-opened. Face it, the Skagit steelhead is the only PR success in the Puget Sound region for the Department since the Baker sockeye come back in 2010.