Thanks for putting my spring break in the toilet. Your so-called management of the north sound rivers has been astounding. Maybe the kill fisheries of the past weren't such a good idea, eh?

Actually, Stilly Bum, I was thinking the same thing about the state being $#%&(@! and after attending the last WSC meeting I learned a lot about the current situation. Apparently there has been poor ocean conditions which are not allowing good smolt mortality and this is one of the main reasons for declines in the last few years. Now please don't quote me on this as I am only passing along what I've been told. C&K seasons and tribal gillnetting has definately not helped, but there may be more to it than you think. It was really interesting to learn about how escapement predictions are made and unless the WDFW is full of it, which they might be, then we just have to hang on and hope for the best. Until then, I still belive the state has followed the "too little, too late" principle. This wil be the first year that I have not done C&R on the Sauk in almost 15 years, it sucks, but if the run is truly depressed then maybe it's for the best. Peace

I hear ya--BUT, it did not prove poor fishing to me the last week Sauk/Skagit were open. Even if they made a $100 C&R license availible which in turn would fund recovery projects and river enhancement.

I would pay $500 for a C&R permit if I knew the money would go back to fisheries or river and stream enhancement,but it would go strait to the general fund.

If the closures are needed then fine. I'm pissed that they still allowed C&K over the last few years even though the runs were going down hill. We are now seeing the problem of MSY. By keeping the population down they we get screwed when external factors such as ocean conditions (and low, low river flows) go out of wack.