It's a simple matter to run the boat down the river and pick out those who are salmon fishing and those who are cutthroat fishing. Those guys anchored up with three rods out the back are salmon fishing. And, the last time I made a run down during this time of year those guys fishing illegally didn't even turn their head around when I went by. No enforcement, never has been. Nothing for them to worry about.

A little enforcement can go a long way. Confiscate a couple sleds, trailers and trucks and the whole county will know about it by dark.

One of the reasons the tribes want the total closure, (according to WDFW's email) is the affect of incidental coho catch while we are angling for cutts is unknown. Unknown, unlike the incidental impact of a gillnet.

In 25 years of targeting cutts I have never hooked a coho, chum, or pink. So there's a data point for them to start with.

After the LE guys grab a couple sleds they could fill out the rest of the day checking cutthroat fisherman for their license and gear..."Oh, by the way have you incidentally hooked any salmon?" Boom! More data!

If the tribes want to co-manage, maybe they should co-enforce? Co-data collect?

I would be more than happy to take a tribal fisheries official along on a trip so they can see what it's all about. Oh wait! It's closed! Nevermind. I ain't breaking the law for them. I guess we'll just never know what those incidental catch rates and impacts are.

I can't believe that the Skagit is open during Dec and Jan...My gawd! There's a very distinct possibility that there is a few fish in it. Oh the horror...