You hit the nail on the head with 'dollars on the line'. IMHO
If the lake fisherfolks are anything like the SR fishing folks 'ethics' are few and far between.
Unfortunately.
 
Not to start another argumentative issue but--
Ya might think that with all the 'global warming' talk we wouldn't be having a fishery issue caused by recent super cold conditions on the lake.
Food for thought---
 
Please don't misinterpret recent posts- I have great respect for the Fishery folks in their constant efforts concerning this fishery we all think so much of.
 
Merry X Mass to all

So food for thought.

Why not make a boat limit ?
Let's say 10 salmon, 3 trout ?
The per man limit remains in effect unless you hit the boat limit.
I guess this seems to difficult to understand if the tribs returns are dropping and the stocking is being reduced to an all time low.

The charter guys on the west end think the solution is 5 silvers per person to reduce predation and help the alewife recover some.  And some of them want the SR closed when the kings are spawning.

They could start a war-----

Well you know the lake will run the fishery. I just think tough times are ahead for at least the next 3 salmon runs in the tribs . It will hit the lake hard by 2003 then everyone will be crying wolf.

As you may tell, I'm a meat hunter. Not a wasteful so called sportsman but one who will harvest the foods we will consume.
I'm all for keeping your regulations rights as long as it goes towards a purpose.
Fertilizer is not a sportsman's purpose in harvesting game imo.

Could you possibly imagine the fiscal impact on the Pulaski area with no river fishery ??
Gas stations, eateries, hotel/motels, tackle shops, DSR, guide services, etc. are all generally business on a certain profit percentage and one bad season will close them.
Also the 'down the line' services like grocery stores, package stores and local tax base impacts leading to property tax issues  will be severely impacted.
When business leaves suddenly the homeowners are stuck with a larger percentage of school and local tax responsibilities not to mention some will move from the area with fewer job opportunities when the fishery closes leaving even fewer to have to pony up for local expenses.
Look at any community where a major employer has left.
State will loose several thousand fishing tag sales as well.
When and if the fishery responds positively in a few years these places will be gone and others may not be so quick to invest in such a volatile environment at least in the short run. 
How many will go back w/o motels or eateries for a few more years.
Also gotta remember that many fisherfolks go up and spend a day on the lake and several on the river- many simply wont be back thus hurting the lake fishery pros to some degree as well..
Many of these places also serve the winter snowmobile community as well as fisherfolks- most don't see that but as a past part time resident I would say its sizeable- but not large enough to keep those places going w/o both the fishery and snow folks.
Just another group who will be gone---
Good luck with all that.
( some of us live a couple of miles from SALT and have big fish alternatives.  LOL)
(sold my boat and got the Pulaski place-might hafta reverse the process)

Trevor, the internet is keeping the fishers hungry. The sleds are filling the tug as always. It's really a winter wonderland up there , I've stayed in many lodges years past that wanted fishers, not sledders.
Total 180 now.
The money to be made is winter. The money spent is spring, summer and fall.

Family went X country skiing for bout a week up on Tug every winter I had my NY place.
Wasn't a bad daily drive from Richland where my place was near the river.
Your right- its great.
Most sledders I know from Ct have been there often- many have stayed in Pulaski and run up daily..
Really different going past a gas station and seeing a couple of dozen sleds in line at the pumps and the heavily travelled road sized sled trails crossing the paved roads.
Fella told me he does Poker Runs up there that are a hundred miles long for the day and heavily attended.
A part of the area sporting adventures most fisherfolks never see.

Tailwater is booked solid on weekends once the trails open. Last time we stayed there were easily 75 -100 sleds in their huge lot.

Cannons and Mid river both rent campsites or trailer sites on a seasonal basis, and at least some of those folks are using the camp as a "home away from the city" in the summer.  The smart businessmen up there are always looking for buffers.  If Mike at the Midriver had to live on income from fishers alone, he'd have gone under this past fall, his cancellation list was on a couple of sheets after the interweb lit up about the poor run.