ANY WORD OUT YET ? OR AT LEAST A BEST CASE TIME FRAME ? THANKS!!! I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET MY HOUSE /TRUCK /BOAT. THAT IAM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO WOULD LIKE AT LEAST A SOFT IDEA!!

I saw a few guys out banking it today.

I say get out and fish.

The tribes did.

a very valid question!! any news on what we may be looking at for an opener?? Sorry if I don't have the post #s to warrant a serious reply after over 400 PLUS LOOKS I would like to think somebody might have a tad bit of info !!

This post should be totally unnecessary. But, here goes.

The river is not open now, and probably won't be until the Feds approve the agreement between the tribes and WDFW. My guess is that it will be at least a week, probably two. I guess it depends on how fast government bureaucracy works. But, until the agreement is approved, I'm waiting it out. I've fished the Sky since 1969, and those who are fishing it now just pi$$ me off.

And, just because "the tribes are fishing" doesn't mean we can (but several who call themselves "fishermen" probably are). I wonder who will be screaming the loudest when their gear is confiscated by game wardens?

Considering that many felt we wouldn't have a season at all, wouldn't waiting another week or two to fish it legally be satisfying enough??

Hey Sky-Walker.....4 posts in 8 years....you need to interact more often. Nicely said.

Beezer

Aint that the truth. My family has property on the river between whitney bridge and hwy 18. The amount of beer cans and trash the float tubers throw in the river is horrific.

The county needs to do something about it.

I queried the WDFW earlier this week about the potential for any "early" openers (prior to complete package being approved), and it appears the package submitted to NOAA after agreement was a joint Tribal and state package, and the likelihood of any fisheries getting approval before the whole package is approved is very low. I'm still awaiting an answer from the dept. on this topic.

Wow. Thanks, Beezer! I usually get yelled at for comments about WDFW, so I've been hesitant to post anything. Maybe time away from this and other forums heals some wounds?

ANYWAY, I spoke with a WDFW person in the Mill Creek offices this afternoon. It's not official, but the rivers should open in approximately 3 weeks. (This allows NOAA four weeks to approve the agreement, and there's no reason to think they won't.) Just wait for the announcement. WDFW plans to make it well know, via TV, their web site, and newspapers.

And, for those who choose to ignore the closure, there are a BUNCH of WDFW enforcement officers on the Sky today. They may be on the bank or in boats. You may not see them, but they will see you. So far, they're only warning people and telling them to get off the river. But, if you were warned once (your name is on their computer system), a second incident will result in your gear being confiscated. (To me, it's not worth doing an end run around the closure, as I'm not about to relinquish any of my gear to the authorities.)

It is hard to understand why it should take so long to get a NOAA approval on the agreement.

I suppose this delay is proof positive that they are underfunded.

Underfunded my ass. If there was any accountability to the actual users, the permit would get done, quickly, but there isn't. NOAA's "business" is not harmed by issuing a permit on their own time. I am sure there are some at NOAA, that through their own self motivation, are pushing this through more quickly, but as an Administration there is no incentive for them. Their funding does not depend on issuing a permit quickly.

Did anyone ask the BIA? Apparently they now have the authority to issue "head nod" permits for ESA takes....

....maybe we could get one of those.