I just heard that Burlington Northern Railroad gave out hundreds of tickets Sunday and yesterday on the Sky Valley...and that they are ticketing anyone who crosses the BNRR tracks anywhere to fish.

This would include, of course, the entire Wallace Flats area, the highway side at Reiter, numerous spots along the Wallace, and many spots all along the Skykomish River between Monroe and Gold Bar.

Anyone hear anything about that?

Fish on...

Todd

would they not have to catch you on their right of way to ticket?

they are probably mad over the fight over crude oil trains

I would think so, Larry, but the story is that they were giving them out, anyway.

This is second hand news to me, wondering if anyone has any firsthand knowledge about it!

Fish on...

Todd

Doesn't seem like a private railway company can issue tickets to me?

Maybe police were brought in though?

BNSF has their own enforcement officers...and they typically mean business. Its a big fine if the little badge is in a bad mood or you piss them off, essentially trespass is all they enforce but they have huge districts, or areas for which they are responsible. I know for a fact a bunch of tickets were given at Wallace crossing, and a dude was hauled away in handcuffs as well. Sheriffs present helping write and enforce. Same thing happened at Soos Creek last salmon season, and happened last hunting season at Patterson on the Columbia. Typically a short term emphasis for a few days or a week then they move on...lets hope thats the case as a lot of bank access on the sky takes a railroad hop. If you see the black and whites dont cross in front of them and it might be a good idea to cross away from the easy access and walk back to your rig...and of course deny deny deny, no ossifer I didnt cross the tracks i was beating my meat in the bushes instead.

I've got a few reports of the same things you saw, F-C...hopefully when the crowds die down the enforcement presence will, too.

My bunch of buddies and I fished a piece of private property where we have permission to cross and fish, and quite a few people do, too...but the owner came down to have a little talk with everyone on Sunday afternoon because there were far more people there than he had ever given permission to.

He was cool, no one got kicked out, but he asked nicely that folks get ahold of him and ask permission...they'll get it, he just wants license plates and names so he knows who to go after when the place gets trashed, or who to kick out if someone shows up without permission.

The crowds on Sunday were enormous...never seen that many people and boats on that river, ever.

Fish on...

Todd

I had not fished an opener there in many years. We started on another river and ended up on the sky mid-morning. Everyone said it was crazy in the morning, but to me it seemed like a normal crowd, I still remember the shotgun start of the old openers at Reiter. I think the "split opener" probably contributes to everyone being on the only two rivers that opened on sunday. Its kind of like getting two openers in one I suppose, I think I like it and it was definitely busy, but everyone we ran into was smiling and having a good time (except for those who got paper from BNSF)...most watches seemed to be set on 420, lol. I dont think it was humanly possible to pack another trailer into the Sultan launch, for sure.

Am I the only one that finds it ironic that you cant get a Sheriffs Deputy to respond to vehicle break ins in Sky Valley but they are "assisting" BNSF with trespass violations? It seems like another money grab at an accessible, concentrated group of folks to me.

Welcome to the USA. Up here in Bham the RR will somehow hire cops to do their bidding on a semi regular basis. It is crazy to me. A real cop on the tracks far from anything even remotely important, writing tickets to people walking to the beach to relax.

The railroad companies and our "tree growing companies" are not making any friends with us sportsmen with all the "pay to play" policies and now ticketing for crossing tracks. We are loosing access to our rivers quicker than we are loosing our fish. Damn shame.......

I went back yesterday and there were no other vehicles, no signs, and no issues thankfully.

Had not heard of any BNR issues, but I don't doubt it. I've been "talked to" a number of times by BNR enforcement, but never cited.

Ike

I was thinking about going out there this weekend, but if there is a chance to get a ticket that I can't afford maybe I'll steer clear of that area. I wanted to try the Reiter spot now that crowds should have died down a bit. That private property shouldn't have that problem though, and I would definatly call ahead to ensure I don't get kicked out.

They have been doing this down @ wind river the past few years so it wouldn't shock me if they are writing tickets along sky valley.Good luck,

SZ

Lots of tweaker types camped between the tracks and the river.

I guarantee you the crowds will be the same if not more this weekend.

Good to know.. I probably won't make it out there this weekend though. . Too bad.. but next chance I get I'll be there!

I did the Sky once about ten years ago and that was it. Crossed the RR bridge. My FIL got a nice Chinook. I can get to the Sol Duc faster than getting to Sky valley. So did anybody get any summeruns? I can't wait for vacation to go fill up my Oregon tag. Need some rain though.

Yep, saw all the cars at said location on Sunday and decided there probably wasn't enough elbow room to spoon fish...hit a couple marginal spots with a more room (barely) instead.

How has everyone been doing?

I got out a couple days ago after work and picked up one summer run on a spoon. Pretty slow.

I got two hens on a copper spoon (and no trespassing ticket) on the opener, but haven't been back since. Was supposed to go today, but I sliced up my thumb pretty bad in the kitchen over the weekend, so I'll have to give it a few more days before trying my luck again.

I've been trying unsuccessfully to confirm these rumors. I've spoken with the Monroe Police Department as well as both King County and Snohomish County sheriffs departments. As of last week, they had no knowledge of any tickets being issued. I have unanswered calls and emails in to Gus Melonas, the Director of Public Affairs for the Pacific NW . His number is 206-625-6220 and email can be sent at http://www.bnsf.com/communities/contact-us/ if you'd like to put some pressure on him to respond.

If the rumors are true, maybe we could rally the troops and try for a mutually satisfactory resolution. My recollection of history is that "We, the people" gave this land to the railroads; a bargain that's served them pretty well.

Went up to check this situation out last week and found a new sign at the crossing where people walk down to the mouth of the Wallace. Did not see any enforcement on site. Another fisherman who talked to the owner
of the market in startup said they were enforceing that as well as no
parking on the corner parking area by towing your rig. I do not think other areas are a problem. I think that the corner house was sold last year and with the new owners the complaints started. Lots of guys fish there and instead of walking down to the mouth of the Wallace along the
river they walk the tracks.