FAIRBANKS — Frank Therrell sat at a table facing the state Board of Fisheries on Thursday night in Fairbanks as he held a frozen Copper River red salmon wrapped in white freezer paper.

The 58-year-old from Ester told the seven-member board that he has lived in Alaska since 1969, and he has been dip netting red salmon out of the Copper River at Chitina for as long as he can remember. He has five mouths to feed and “they sure do like their fish,” Therrell said.

Then he turned to the crowd of approximately 50 people at the Alpine Lodge and displayed the frozen fish.

“In case anybody doesn’t know what I’m talking about, this is it,” Therrell said.

He turned his attention back to the fish board members.

“I drive 700 miles round-trip every year hopefully trying to intercept some of these fish,” he said. “It’s up to you guys to make sure they’re there.”

Then he asked the board members how many of them had ever dip netted at Chitina.

“It’s the closest thing you’re ever going to get to being a bear,” Therrell said, drawing a laugh from the crowd. “Take care of it.”

Therrell was one of a dozen Fairbanks residents who testified before the Board of Fisheries during a special.... Continued@URL... http://newsminer.com/news/2008/oct/10/dip-netters-criticize-potential-restrictions/

"... and they should be classified as subsistence fishermen, not personal use."


Hear this a lot ... hard to buy that arguement when they show up in their $100k Rv to fish. Don't think you're gonna starve if you're dipping is curtailed

Very strange mentality in the people that "have" to dip ...

Driving 350 miles each way to dip net subsistence fish? Please.