I got a call back from Brett Barkdull at the WDFW. He said that last year the sportfishers on the Nooksack caught 89 steelhead while the people that were netting only caught 10. He did say "at times communication has been poor with the tribal fishers". He explained the lack of enforcement is due to there only being two WDFW officers working 40 hour work weeks to enfore all of the freshwater regulations. For Area 7 in the salt water there is only two guys based out of Bellingham and one new guy based out of Anacortes. Brett did say that the situation does suck but the tribal people have the right to net Dec 15 through January 15 five days a week. Supposively there there is only one guy working the upper part of the river with three guys working the lower part of the river. I do have to say that Brett was a very nice and receptive of my questions.

At this point it is hard to figure out what to do to try and make things better. There is not any money to hire more people to do more enforement so people will just continue to do whatever they please.

Like others have said, we need to document what we see and foward it on to the WDFW.

Originally Posted By: fishhog
As long as nothings done about it, they WILL NOT change.

I've pulled more than a few nets, most had dead and rotting salmon & steelhead. Whole thing is just SAD!!!!!


I would be careful on pulling nets. I know a guy that was pulling one out of the river and got a few "warning" shots fired over his head.

If anyone else would like to contact Brett here is his information.

Brett Barkdull, 360-466-4345 ext. 270 barkdbcb@dfw.wa.gov