June 1st

[Ian Horning]

Don't get too exited... but remain hopeful. Both the Tribes and the WDFW are currently jointly considering opening sections of the puget sound and the rivers... it looks like their proposals would potentially open limited fisheries on the Sky and tributaries, as well as the Stilly and Skagit. The South Sound still sounds bleak... but potential openings.

Fingers crossed y'all. Hopefully we can reach a decision that will be the most beneficial for our fisheries as well as the many people who depend on them.

[Let's_Go_Fishing!]

The have to bend somewhere or something will give (meaning already rising tensions). Let's hope common sense prevails.

[riverhunter]

I'm fine with the south sound being closed as most snaggers and poachers come from those areas. Just look at the green or Puyallup during pink season. Every unethical fisherman comes out to poach on those little guys and any fish that connects with their hook. Liphooked or not. Now I'm not trying to say everyone living down south can be categorized as snaggers or poachers as I personally know of a bunch of great anglers from that area that have respect for nature but the sheer number of ppl in the metro Seattle to Tacoma area will always bring out the bad apples of the bunch. Biggest issue I have is enforcement as some of those ppl might just not know better and for those who do, shame on you!

[jonb]

The puyallup is flosser/snagger heaven. Im sure not everyone is a flosser/snagger down there, but the sh#t show that goes on down there is well known and to epic proportions. The natives are right to want to close that river down. Many people down there actually somehow think flossing (forcing a hook into the mouth of a fish) is ok. Its not ok. Its snagging fish in the mouth which is just as bad as snagging a fish anywhere else.

[riverhunter]

I agree with Jon the tribes are not the problem. We need to learn to work together. I feel if us as fishermen taught the tribes that there is more money in big robust runs where they can charge good money to take tourist for tribal guided trips on our Washington waters and that commercial fishing is hurting everyone in the community who depend on salmon runs. Let's make Washington a world famous fishery that could compare to those in Alaska but first we need to work together to eliminate corporate greed such as commercial fleets in our waters. Depleting our natural resources!

[Let's_Go_Fishing!]

Your post accurately sums up the bigger picture, now and for the future. Until we ALL pull together, our fisheries will never level off for the better. You hit the nail on the proverbial head River Hunter. The same applies to the political divide in this country.

I agree with Jon the tribes are not the problem. We need to learn to work together. I feel if us as fishermen taught the tribes that there is more money in big robust runs where they can charge good money to take tourist for tribal guided trips on our Washington waters and that commercial fishing is hurting everyone in the community who depend on salmon runs. Let's make Washington a world famous fishery that could compare to those in Alaska but first we need to work together to eliminate corporate greed such as commercial fleets in our waters. Depleting our natural resources!