Kudos to Nooksack Tribal Enforcement

On Wednesday, February 6th, Ed Megill and I met Nooksack Tribal Enforcement officer Mike Hammell for some coffee. At the meeting we provided Mike with 8 GPS coordinates for derelict gill nets between Hwy 9 and Nugent's Corner on the Nooksack River. We expressed our concern for these nets and especially for two that would be endangering wild steelhead if the rivers were to come up again.

Mike listened and told us he would see what he could do. The next day I received a call from Officer Hammell. He said that he and his boss were gearing up to go out and remove nets with a jet sled. Later that afternoon (March 7), Officer Hammell reported having removed six of the eight nets and that they would go back out the next day to get the other two.

You can only imagine how excited I am by this course of action. Nothing speaks better than action. What can we all learn from this? Sitting down for a one on one, making the extra effort, and doing your part will all pay off to make this a better fishery for everyone. Thank you Officer Mike Hammell and Nooksack Tribal Enforcement.

I know there are other derelict nets out there on sections of the river that I don't fish regularly. If you see one, take the time to GPS its location and report it. If you don't have a GPS, let me know where it is and I will get it GPS'd.

I like what Ed had to say in the last blog entry. Joining CCA is so important for anyone who cares about our fisheries. Please come and hear Gary Loomis speak on March 11. I will have a location this week.