TK,

If they had a crystal ball, they wouldn't have picked this weekend to have the derby. However, these things need to be planned so there really isn't any choice. People have to plan ahead so you can't change dates and expect people to adjust. Usually the salmon shootout is done earlier and is for hatchery coho, but when the planning was being done, it didn't look like there was going to be a coho opening this year.

The guys in Sky Valley T.U. are all VERY good about preserving resources and there won't be fish bonked unless they are potential derby winners. Not only that, we're talking about a derby that maybe has 20 people in it...not exactly a huge impact. Besides, I'd be willing to bet that once we get our first rain, there will be more chum in the Snohomish system than you know what to do with. I hear that WDFW has done some sampling on chums in the salt water and are expecting a huge run - and I believe that Curt Kramer WOULD shut it down in the numbers were extremely low.

It's OK to worry, but I don't think this derby even registers on the worry scale.

Thanks,

Kevin