I don't think they are "fudging" the Skagit numbers at all. The return last year was pretty strong, and this year is doing just fine if you know where to catch them. I've heard plunkers down in the lower river (somewhere below Sedro Wooley) are are having good days.

I have yet to see any NA nets in the river this year. Let's hope the tribes decide to leave the nates alone!

The problem is that they close the river below the Dalles Bridge on March 15, and with the Skagit/Stilly closures everyone is stuffed into about 16 miles of river..and the upper fish get hammered.

There are an awful lot of fish that spawn below the Dalles brige, and those fish are un-bothered after 3/15.

My two cents worth...

Mike