I just got off the phone with ODFW main office. The guy I talked with said he was aware the runs were really low and they feared shutting it down because of the limited opportunity there is left in the State. He said, Now that the Columbia is closed below Bonneville, they need to keep the Willamette open to give something for the sportfisherman. They are getting a ton of pressure to make some inseason changes anyday now. They really need to close it in an effort to get enough fish back to the hatcheries to meet spawning goals.

That wouldn't have been a bad first post on that "other thread." It might have portrayed a bit more clearly what you didn't get to until PAGE 99!

When the fish are present in big nubmers, i'm all for taking what is there to be had, but when the chips are down, its time to give them a break.

Amen!

Shut'er down.... at least until they have a better handle on how many are comin' and how many have already been whacked.

Given that this is the first weekend of opportunity after closing the CR, probably won't happen until sometime next week at the earliest.

Wont argue that the Willamete should be closed, or at least limited day's per week.

But if they do, they better consider doing the same thing on Tillamook bay and the other coastal rivers.

People want to fish, closing the Willamette will put that much more pressure everywhere else.

Willamette never should have opened up for salmon to begin with this spring.

Fish on...

Todd

Well, if it makes anybody feel better...

There has been no where near the pressure on the Willy this year compared to last year.

...Yet.