Offshore netting, natural predation, inshore netting, pollution, clear-cutting, disease, sportfishing, flooding, landslides, mismanagement, drought, infighting, poor science, ignorance, apathy, stream degredation--it's all too much for a Steelhead to survive. It's a miracle there are any left. And, unless a miracle occurs, there will be fewer as time passes until the noble Steelhead is just a fond memory. Even if I had a magic wand, I couldn't think of a solution that would change the fate of Steelhead in western Washington. In seven decades of life I've seen too many wild things go away and rarely do they come back in a lifetime. It's just plain sad! However, I would welcome any feedback from my fellow-Steelhead disciples.

Yes, it is a miracle that any are left. And with all of those reasons why there aren't many left, what makes you think they have a chance of returning? Would there not have to be a change in all of those detriments? Is that going to happen? I started back in the late 50's for steelhead and I can't remember when I had to start looking for that extra fin, but I think it was already too late. We can all get that warm and fuzzy feeling about a day when wild fish rule, but with all of those reasons why they don't. FAI.

I'm pushing the "submit" button reluctantly. But....

It is a lot like Jurassic Park except mosquitoes don't bite wild fish.
As in "Frozen", "Let It Go"

Well thanks for the news flash there Captain Pessimistic! You give us all great hope!

Ike

They will survive but our love is lost love. I keep trying to figure out if I've been lucky to see the end or if it is cruelty to force the watching of an oxygen-deprived flame sputter to darkness.

what a buzz kill.

With all the reasons listed above on why steelhead are suffering, there is no way to quantify each effect on the steelhead population. We are doing a great job of removing tangible effects on the steelhead like implementing CNR since the mid 90's, and now removing all hatchery fish. Its the accumulative effects of 70+ years of development, pollution, netting, predation, etc that we cannot account for and rectify overnite.

CNR and removing hatchery fish aren't going to bring the fish back overnite and everybody knows that. When somebody figures out whats going on in the ocean and we gain back all the spawning grounds/tribs will things improve.

I'd like to think there are ways to have sustainable fisheries for hatchery fish and continue to protect natives, but that is just a pipe dream...

enjoy it while it lasts!

Thank you, Alevin---I think that no one can save the noble Steelhead but us anglers who worship them. Not the bureaucrats, not the WDFW, nor the politicians or biologists or fish managers. Remember---no one can protect your loved-ones like you can! Not the hired help who you think will protect you. So wake up! Stop infighting and focus on possible real solutions. Use your common sense. We know what it takes to help Steelhead to survive. We know what it means to have clean water, sanctuary and limits. We must courteously educate our fellow-Steelhead anglers to do the right things. No more litter, no more discarded mono, no more killing Natives or Wilds. Once the Steelhead populations rebound (if ever), we can re=evaluate the rules. In the meantime, Steelhead Brothers, please do what's right!