Important Information on Netting

This morning when I floated the North Fork Nooksack there were two "eddie" gill nets upstream of the Hwy 9 bridge. One on river left was full of fish because you could see the bouys being tugged down and a few splashes. I went and looked to see what kind of identification was on the bouy. There was a number which I believe was 48102.

Not knowing tribal regulations I decided to call Nooksack Tribal Police and see what I could learn. I got hold of Tribal Police officer Mike Hamill (sp?) who was extremely helpful and grateful for my call. It turns out that the Nooksack Tribe has to follow statewide regulations on river closures. So, the two nets upstream of Hwy 9 were illegally placed by a legal netter because the North Fork is closed to fishing for salmon. The South Fork and main stem are still legal for netting. My conversation was brief but I intend to follow up with Mike and learn more about the regulations. Mike said he would follow up with me after checking out the netting situation. Thanks Mike.

Mike Hamill's number at Tribal Police is 360-592-9065 and his cell is 360-305-9374. Plug it into your cell phone so you have it when you need it. It is also important to report first (call) and possibly remove nets that have drifted due to high water and may cause a wildlife hazard. Mike will be able to assist you if you come across derelict fishing nets or gear.

The Nooksack Fisheries Hotline is a good number to call to get the netting schedule. Call 360-592-5140 before you go fishing.

It is important for all of us to follow and respect regulations whether you like them or not. I would love to see our fisheries rebound and I intend to help work towards a unifying change that will help bring us there. Knowledge is power and change is often good.

Holiday Shopping

Don't know what to get your spouse that has 9 fly rods and enough gear to fill up two closets? Well, how about a gift certificate for a float trip on the Nooksack, Skagit or Sauk Rivers. It's easy, just give me a call and I will mail it out to you. Shopping done!

Bit by Steelhead!

Yes, yes, it's almost here, my favorite time of year. No, it has nothing to do with the weather. I would be elated for a huge summer run of these anadromous rainbows on the Nooksack, but it is said to consist of 30 individuals. Man that is sad! What did it used to be and why did the summer run disappear more than the winter run? Or was it never strong on the Nooksack.

Anyway, steelheading is not to be understood until you immerse yourself in it. When I ran a trout guide service on the Colorado River in Tabernash, Colorado I would spend every fall at the Fly Tackle Dealer Show. You could almost pick out the steelheaders before you met them. It was like they had been bit by a radioactive steelhead. They would walk around in a magical daze like they had virtual steelhead hooked on the neuro-tippets of their brains. I didn't quite understand it. Then I moved to Washington.

Once you hook your first steelhead, you are forever in search of the chrome. I think it is partially because you work hard and when your perseverance pays off, you never forget the experience. I can go on and on continuously fishing, analyzing, worshiping, reminiscing over one solid hook-up. But why are they more amazing than salmon? Because they do it again. Some steelhead will spawn up to three times, avoiding the perils of fishermen, nets, seals, orcas, pollution and more. Simply, incredible.

What can we do to save this fish? What can we do to increase its numbers? Apparently, we can no longer rely on hatcheries. Please read the article below. What will happen in the next ten years? Will we see the removal of hatcheries? Will we see a change in how hatcheries operate to enable greater success in the genetic pool? I would love to hear your thoughts.

I come from a background of keeping fish as a child. Then I found myself in Colorado where catch and release is the norm and is often the regulation. My ways changed as did my beliefs. Then I find myself in Washington surrounded by the idea of harvesting meat. Slowly I have opened my mind to keeping hatchery salmon and steelhead, because that is what they are there for. It has been shown that hatchery fish sometimes spawn with wild fish and weaken the gene pool. Are we going about this all wrong?

An interesting book for people to read is the Founding Fish by John McPhee. One chapter is solely dedicated to the argument for and against catch & release. I am spell bound by the discussion in my own mind that this created, opening my consciousness to both sides of the argument. So if you get a chance, pick up the book and let me know what you think.

Thanks for reading my blog.

Sincerely,

Jason Cross