What amazes me is that CA, at least until really recently, still had some real toads. While in college, we visited a Chinook spawning channel up near Red Bluff, I think. They were collecting data from the spawn-outs and I asked what the biggest was. They had handled a 70+ pound male. Dead and spawned out. Had to be over 80 when it hit the Golden Gate. A few years ago a huge (dead spawn-out) was found in a stream. Huge as in the 80 or so range.

For some reason, the Sacramento stock, at least, goes somewhere in the ocean that trollers and sporties don't.

Having fished a lot in both states I think that a case can be made for either. If you love boat-based fishing, WA offers, I believe, a lot of quality opportunity. The non-boat-based angler will probably find more in CA. Not too familiar with CA fishing politics but doubt that they approach WA.