Kyle:

I have never caught one of these fish in the Skagit...but believe me, it is tempting. I sit on the deck and watch them rolling just across the river..BIG fish..not like the Sockeye which were in the 6-12 lb. range...these guys make a heck of a wake when the jump and roll!

Maybe I'm ignorant, but I have to think these wildlife biologists have some smarts, and know what they are doing. When they say there is enough for a season, then I'll be in there with the rest of the crowd fishing for them..but until then (in my thinking) it's hands off.

99.5% of the posters and visitors to the PP board are straight up fishermen (and ladies), and the majority of the ones targeting these fish are probably locals...but they are not ignorant of the laws....they just choose to ignore them, and there is not sufficient enforcement personell to police the entire river.

I caught a 35 lb. springer in June on the Hoh, and can't wait to get into another one...but I'll be glad to wait on the ones here in the Skagit if a season is in the future.

Mike