Am I confused? Is WDFW confused? Are we all !@#$%& confused? I’m a conservationist, but I want to fish during March and April. I admit that. Whatever I say is biased.

I would happily give up the spring fishery if it made a difference in the long term productivity of the native steelhead population. I would even, less happily, give up fishing for wild steelhead entirely if it made a difference in the long term productivity of the native steelhead population. But it won’t make any measurable difference, and thoughtful fishery managers know that. The C&R fishing on the native run is one of the least significant factors affecting the population. A reasonable estimate of incidental mortality during C&R is 3%; call it 5% to be conservative.

In yesterday’s rant I mentioned Deer Creek steelhead as an example. For further illustration it may be useful to examine the Columbia River spring chinook fishery that RT has brought to our attention. Wild spring chinook are ESA listed as endangered. That is, those fish merit the highest level of protection. Intermingled with those wild fish are a great many hatchery springs. For the purpose of harvesting surplus hatchery production, NMFS has approved the incidental harvest of 9% of the wild, endangered spring chinook. I can’t really judge whether this is right or wrong, but the harvest managers at NMFS appear to be saying that a 9% mortality rate, in addition to the dams and everything else, will not hinder the recovery of endangered wild spring chinook. Upper Columbia River steelhead that originate from the same watersheds as some of the spring chinook are also listed as endangered. Incidental mortality from commercial and recreational fishing in the lower Columbia is allowable; incidental mortality from C&R fishing in the Wenatchee and Methow Rivers is not. And now I discover that incidental mortality of wild steelhead release is allowable during the early winter season that targets the harvest of hatchery steelhead is also allowable, yet incidental mortality in a late season C&R fishery is not.

Does this look to you, as it does to me, that the least obtrusive form of fishing, C&R for wild fish, is singled out as unimportant socially and economically - and therefore can be blown off - while fishing that serves a higher and better social and economic good, that is, lethal fishing for surplus hatchery production, is so important to society that it justifies any incidental mortality impacts to the depressed wild populations, but the minimal impact C&R fishery lacks such merit? Whew! Long sentence; sorry. This makes me feel like fishery management regards those of us who revere the native steelhead populations, and think fishing should be wild steelhead release year round statewide, are freaks, totally out of touch with our society’s values, and that disregarding our interests is of no consequence.

We can appeal to the WDFW Commission, but I don’t envision a positive outcome. Probably see you guys on the ‘Duc and Hoh. Save me a rock to stand on, OK?

Sincerely,

Salmo g.