I know Woodchuck...and he's no John Kennedy...or is that DanQuayle? Anyway he has a point. Politics and politicians and laws do more than all of our protests, meetings, letters and emails. Until we get some of the laws changed and some of the politicians changed
( Gary Locke) and until we get a real voice in Olympia and Washington DC forgetaboutit....There will always be narrow agendas from interest groups but in the larger picture all sportsmen and women need to figure out how to change the laws and the politicians. Does Patty Murray fish? Maria Cantwell? Jim McDermott? Gary Locke? I don't think that was a pink fishing shirt Jim wore in Bagdad.....I think the Recreational Fishing Alliance has a good shot at becoming a voice here in Washington state as it has back East.

<img border="0" alt="[santa]" title="" src="graemlins/santa.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[santa]" title="" src="graemlins/santa.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[santa]" title="" src="graemlins/santa.gif" />

.....in the mean time we will persevere and push for change and a voice to politicians as diverse organizations and clubs work together on issues regarding steelhead preparing for Summit 2. Look for a full report on the Summit on WSC website in the future. If your organization or club is interested in participating please contact the WSC.



Rich Simms
WSC 1st VP of Membership
wscmembership@yahoo.com

Hello, Bob. Just have a few minutes to post again, between holiday activities...

You seemed to accuse me of hiding my identity?? I don't get that, as my profile has as much info as yours, and my name's been "out there" plenty for last six months, as the contact point for the Steelhead Summit!

My name is Dave Bailey. I was the founding secretary for WSC, and have been active in TU, B.A.S.S., and others for the last 20 yrs. No apologies; I look at the 99% good work that groups do, rather than the occasional error.

As for CPR-Fish, you'll have to pardon me/us for not knowing that group. I don't doubt that you've posted information on it, but ya know... I can't remember any of your posts that weren't totally negative (Graemlins too), and I guess I just skip over most of them anymore. Mean time, I'll see that you are invited to the next summit, and you might do some more P.R. for CPR.

We tried very hard to locate and invite every possible group that has any interest in steelhead! We need ALL the groups we can get, to make changes in fish management, so we tried to gather folks from one extreme to the other, like WA Trout to the Wildcat Steelhead Club. BTW, RFA wasn't there, but only because Mike Gilchrist had to work that Saturday; he's still involved.

The only "rule" was that we had to agree to disagree. There was plenty of disagreement, but believe it or not, there was much more to agree on! We are moving ahead, and any other groups are most welcome to jump aboard at any time. Just write me at captain@olypen.com.

I'm not sure why you wrote all that history about the FOC, except maybe to explain your apparent bitterness toward the rest of the world? [We'd still like to have some current contact info for them.]

Anyway... I wish you peace!

Sincerely,
Dave/Scaly