Northwest Fishing Reports

I was driving past the lower part of the puke today and the natives were neting the river. What would they be neting for and wouldent the emergency closer count for them to.

I would guess netting for any springers that may be showing and summerun steel. Emergency closure not in effect where rights protected under the Boldt Decision apply. Natives are allowed fishing right in "usual and accustomed" areas. Generally they cooperate with the state, but special circumstances are routine.

Shane wrote:I was driving past the lower part of the puke today and the natives were neting the river. What would they be neting for and wouldent the emergency closer count for them to.

The Puyallup River is under emergency closure? When did that happen?

Matt wrote:I would guess netting for any springers that may be showing and summerun steel. Emergency closure not in effect where rights protected under the Boldt Decision apply. Natives are allowed fishing right in "usual and accustomed" areas. Generally they cooperate with the state, but special circumstances are routine.

I called 253-845-7747 and listened to the recorded message. The tribal elders aged 50 and above, are gill netting May 14,18, 21, 25, 28. No eggs or fish will be sold.

its been closed since feb and the native i seen was in his 30s

February 12, 2010




Puyallup River system to close to fishing


Action: Close the Puyallup, Carbon and White rivers to fishing.

Species affected: All game fish species.

Locations and effective closure dates:

Puyallup River from the 11th St. Bridge in Tacoma upstream to Electron Power Plant Outlet, Feb 18 through June 30, 2010.

Carbon River from the mouth to Voights Creek, Feb. 18 to August 31, 2010.

Carbon River from Voights Creek to Hwy.162 Bridge, Feb. 18 through June 30, 2010.

White (Stuck) River from the mouth to R Street Bridge in Auburn, Feb. 18 through Sept. 30, 2010.

Reasons for action: The closure will reduce incidental hooking mortality on wild steelhead. The 2009/2010 forecasted return of wild winter steelhead to the Puyallup River system is expected to be below the escapement goal of 2000.

Other information: The rivers will reopen to fishing as listed in the 2010/2012 FISHING IN WASHINGTON sport fishing rules pamphlet.

Information Contact: Mike Scharpf, District 11 Fish Biologist, 360-902-2710, Mike.Scharpf@dfw.wa.gov Kirt Hughes, Region 6 Fish Manager, 360-249-1204, Kirt.Hughes@dfw.wa.gov

I get off at Portland Ave in Tacoma to go home and a block up the road is a new sign for salmon @ 2.00 per pound. This is on Puyallup tribal land. I was wondering where they were getting the salmon from... now I know.

There must be Springers ans late winter run steel comming in.

Tcc, acording to tonis post they cant sell the fish or eggs not saying there not doing it illegelly. racfish, I never heard of a spring run in this river maybe late steelhead. So I wounder if there is a spring run and wdfw or the hatcheres dont say it so the natives could net. and dont u think that if there was a spring run it would b small and they wouldent want natives to net.

Shane, they must be doing it illegaly or getting it from somewhere else. The sign was out there this morning again... FRESH SALMON 2.00 per pound. Hmm maybe some members didnt get the memo that says they cant sell the fish or eggs.

... Or the fish are coming out of the salt. I know Neah bay and some other areas are open for commercials.

Everyone is too quick to pass judgments and assume foul play with no evidence to back up these accusations. Go ask the sign guy then come back and report. Or call the tribal committee and see what their rights and intentions are. The netter being 30 in no way reflects anything illegal, it is common for elders to have designated harvesters due to the fact that they are ELDERLY and many of them cannot fish for themselves. As I said, rights to fish in "usual and accustomed" areas (AKA traditional fishing rights) are protected under the Boldt Decision passed down by our very own Federal Government.

The netting was supposed to be for ceremonial/subsistence purposes only. I believe they are targeting the spring run of chinook heading for the White/Stuck river.

This special fishing season is open only to Puyallup Tribal members aged 50 and older. There will be no helpers allowed and no exceptions to the rules, “They have to be tribal elders to be on the river.”

The area for the fishing will be on the Puyallup River between Clark’s Creek Bridge and 11th Street Bridge (also known as Murray Morgan Bridge). Those participating can only use drift nets, and they must have a minimum seven-inch mesh size. Chris Phinney said this is to allow smaller steelhead to get through the nets. This will be for spring Chinook salmon.

Matt, im not passing judgment but when u sit and watch these natives cut the eggs out of the fish and throw the carcus its hard not to. another thing is g-man post greft nets only they had them tied up on the river rd side just down from the 66th st bridge and the native clearly under 50.

im sickened by netting....cant believe we cannot stop them. Id rather pay them extra than see the nets go in. Its mind boggling to think they can make any money off it i mean there is just not enough fish anymore.

Shane wrote:Matt, im not passing judgment but when u sit and watch these natives cut the eggs out of the fish and throw the carcus its hard not to. another thing is g-man post greft nets only they had them tied up on the river rd side just down from the 66th st bridge and the native clearly under 50.

I am not saying anything either way; for or against. All I am saying is just be fair before making assumptions. I have seen my fair share of legitimate as well as illegitimate tribal fisherman and fishing practices on a daily basis, I understand people's concerns and am with you 100% regarding the mitigation of proper fisheries control. At this point it is really unclear what they are doing down there and I just don't think people should get too upset and start posting this that and the other without any solid proof of whats going on.

Its hard not to get upset when u can go to the puke or nisquilly and c natives not going by the laws. I belive that if they closed some rivers to neting for a couple of years then the numbers would become higher. Now we have certen times to fish the lower part of the river because of last years carp with them drifting there nets n front of fisherman and geting tangled an then the fisherman get penalized by not being able to fish. I think this is bull.

It is what it is, might as well get used to it. I had no problem fishing the puke last summer, depends where you go. I fished every day and caught great fish, without a single problem just gotta go higher up.

If you see a rules violation, call and report it. Complaining here does you no good.

Now, a real question: Is there a way to find out when they net during normal season? (August 1st on?) Toni, does that number tell us when they net? I like to fish days they don't net, so the bite is better.

bionic_one wrote:If you see a rules violation, call and report it. Complaining here does you no good.

Now, a real question: Is there a way to find out when they net during normal season? (August 1st on?) Toni, does that number tell us when they net? I like to fish days they don't net, so the bite is better.

Yes it does. They can fish hook and line now as well but only in a certain area. Call it there isn't any commitment. It is just a recording. I have it on my cell phone.