I know its still early yet I was just wondering if anybody has drifted or fished off the bank and had any luck. Since the c-r
season isn't gonna happen I figured we got Jan and Feb to hit her hard.
Ed

Technically, since you're not allowed to keep nates on the Sauk, it's been a C n R season since Dec 1. I've seen just *one* brat pulled out on the Sauk in 4 years. Not good odds if you're looking to bonk some fish.

If the predictions are true, steelhead will be far and few between on the Sauk this year.

I've hit a few dollies and heard rumors of a fish or two being caught, but it's slow going now on the Sauk. Personally, it wouldn't be my first recommendation now.

On an off topic, why did it take until Dec 1, 2000 for the WDFW to finally close down the native harvest on our local rivers, especially the Sauk? It used to piss me off to no end to watch the lunkheads in the boats bonk the nates between December and the end of February.

Parker
President, Sauk River Steelhead Ranch

I floated the Sauk 3 weeks ago. We C&R 4 dollys all on copper Tadpollys.We floated from the mill to Suiattle. There are some good size logs across the river in the main channel where the river splits into 3 shoots. They have probably been cut out by now but better safe then sorry. Just some fair warning. Also I have only fished the sauk for about 3 1/2 years now and never caught a hatchery fish until last year. Last year was slow for me on the sauk. A total of about 15 Metal-Heads with more than half being hatchery fish all around 8 pounds also have a few buddies that fish the sauk and they also hit a fair amount of hatchery fish last year. I also heard of 1 hatchery fish going 17 pounds.But like I said I have only fished the sauk a few years so I dont know if this is The norm for this river or not. But it definitely was last year. GOOD LUCK!!!!!

Rumor control says: Sauk/Suiattle tribe is going to net the Sauk.Got my info at the Texaco gas station in Marblemount.The word is Tues. morning thru Thurs. morning through the end of January. Anyone else heard about this? Also the same schedule will be kept on the Cascde River.
Ed

Yes, unfortunately there is a clause written under the Boldt decision that allows the Sauk/Suiattle tribe to net within the vicinity of their reservation (upper Sauk). I have not heard any good news as far as early nates showing in the Sauk and hatchery fish are few and far between even on a good year. Lots o' Dollies as always. Too bad the nets are going to pick up the early nates as I was looking forward to finding a few before it closes in March and April. Usually not much going on up on the Sauk until then anyways.

Ed454, I see that you are from Shoreline which is where I reside when I'm not at "The Ranch". Maybe I know you?

Justin
CEO, Sauk River Steelhead Ranch

Justin-
Where abouts are the indians gonna net the river? Above the suiattle? This makes me wanna puke Ive never seen any nets in this river before. Yes march and april is when the pigs are in and its gonna suck big time
that we cannot fish it. What exactly is the sauk river ranch? Is that a guide service?
My real name is Mark I graduated in 89 from
shorewood I dont know if we have met.

Kids! Just pokin' fun at ya'. Nets are nothing new in the Sauk River, unless you're young (which I do envy).

The Sauk-Suiattle Tribe netted the Sauk and Cascade Rivers in the 1970s after the Boldt Decision. This was before the tribe even had a reservation. However, the Sauk-Suiattles are members of the Skagit Coop with the Upper Skagits and Swinomish. They usually fish in the lower river by invitation of one of the other two tribes. This is usually a good deal for them; otherwise the lower tribes can cork them off from most all the treaty harvestable fish. Looks like the deal went gunnysack.

This is kinda' weird. If the wild run forecast is for it to be below escapement, and there are few or no hatchery steelhead, then this fishing activity appears to be contrary to conservation. Not many natives before the end of January, but it'd be nice for those that run to end up spawning if escapement is projected to be low. Also kinda' sad for the listed native char (dollies) to be netted, and there likely isn't any market for them. Hope the tribe has a smokehouse.

This seems to be as ill-advised as a treaty fishery can get unless someone is starving to death.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

I never pictured this until you mentioned it Salmo g.. Do you think indians have the same arguements sportsfishers do about "corkin"? "Hey your corkin my nets"

Salmo g., I recently took a history class on Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest. My professor went into great detail about the Sauk/Suiattle tribe as he helped them write their tribal constitution. He explained how the Sauk Tribe wanted to be able to fish within the vicinity of their reservation for subsistence purposes and they were obviously granted that right. Thank you, Salmo g., for giving additional detail as I did not know the specifics. Too bad they cut the fish off before they can get to "The Ranch".

Ed454, Shorewood '89, eh? I was class of '93 at Shorewood. The Sauk River Steelhead Ranch is located between Darrington and the Suiattle confluence. The Ranch itself was originally going to be called The Sauk River Steelhead "Park" except that it is private and most people affiliate park with land designated for public use. The term ranch was also devised in relation to the term Sauk river "Pigs". It is nearly 200 acres with over a mile of river frontage. On the property there are three rough boat launches and two of the best flyfishing bars on the upper Sauk. There is and always will be a no native kill regulation for any guests fishing the on the Ranch as the staff is dedicated to the preservation and conservation of the Sauk's native fish stocks. The website for the Ranch is under construction. I will post a link to it which will have details on walk in guided flyfishing trips, instructional seminars for fly and conventional tackle, lodging, etc.

Justin
CEO, Sauk River Steelhead Ranch

Holy smoke stacks Coho "Getting Corked" is a term borrowed from the gillnetters native and non native alike describing just this type of action. Someone puts there siene or gillnet adjacent to yours and shares in the harvest, catching fish is always fun unless you have to share.
The ultimate cork off had to be the Asian driftnet fleet on the high seas they are now gone but if they were still out there it would be even worse for ecscapement than it is now.

Sorry, I am still unclear. Is this a private fishing clubs/guide services access? Would it be acceptable to fish at the Ranchs' access provided you follow the code of catch and release on native fish.

Ed

edh, the Ranch is private. It used to be somewhat open to the public on an invite only basis, however, after tremendous amounts of litter, vandalism, and poaching it has become a private/membership only area. Until there escapement goals are met on the Sauk I am going to keep the traffic way down going into the Ranch.

Justin


[This message has been edited by SAUKit2em (edited 01-05-2001).]

That clears it up and understand the access thing. I know a couple of (private land)places where I like to fish/park my vehicle it is necessary to pack out other peoples trash as well as your own so the access isn't taken away. People in many cases are pigs.

Heres to that early push of fish getting past the nets on the hi water.

Ed

Justin, an additional clarification. Nobody granted the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe the right to fish near their reservation, recently nor historically. The Tribe, like all the treaty tribes, reserved any and all rights they possessed at treaty times that they did not expressly relinquish. For example, the Sauks, by exercising their treaty fishing rights, can fish anywhere they please on the Sauk, Suiattle, and Cascade Rivers - so long as it doesn't conflict with conservation within the meaning of the Boldt Decision. The interesting thing is that net fishing on those rivers usually does conflict with that conservation definition.

That is what I meant about the Sauk Tribe getting corked by the Swinomish and Upper Skagits, who net the lower and middle Skagit River. The two lower tribes can often take the entire treaty harvestable share before any are available in the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe's Usual & Accustomed fishing area. Which is why they have usually fished in the lower river at the invitation of one of the other tribes. Somebody must have ticked somebody else off, or they just want to take some subsistance fish near the reservation. But they won't get much in that location between now and the end of January.

Since the Supreme Court ruled that tribal subsistance and ceremonial fish must come from the tribe's 50% treaty share, and there are no harvestable wild fish in the Sauk this year, based on the run size forecast, I have to wonder what the hell they are fishing there for? To eat some of what are supposed to be the spawning escapement? Out of character, and illegal, I think.

Regarding the ranch, are you on the right bank downstream of the metal gate? There are a few nice drifts along that stretch, although I don't normally fish there.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.

Thank you again, Salmo g., I can't remember all of the details that I learned regarding the Sauk/Suiattle tribe nor do I believe that all of the information I learned was accurate in its entirety. I would love to disclose the exact location of the Ranch but I don't want any more trespassers showing up. Not too concerned about you, Salmo g., as you can come up there and fish with us whenever you want to. I can't be there all of the time but my father lives up there year round. He is a shoot first ask questions later kind of guy. You would be surprised how many people ignore the NO TRESSPASSING signs. If it's posted, STAY OUT!

Justin
CEO, Sauk River Steelhead Ranch

[This message has been edited by SAUKit2em (edited 01-08-2001).]