I'm in shock! A buddy of mine left me a message today,while I was at work. Apparently there is an active net in the Cascade. He talked with the Tribal member,who claims to have the proper paper work to do the netting. My friend called Fish and Wildlife. They claimed they had no record of any netting being allowed in this river.

I have fished this river for twenty three years. I have never seen a net in this system.The net is just below the Cascade River Bridge,in front of the Hatchery intake.

Ed

N oI am sorry but last weekend there was no net on the cascade. But anyway where do you fish on the cascade at above or below the hatchary?

Go to the cascade and find out! Thats half the fun of catching steelies, solving the puzzle. When fishing for hatchery fish you NORMALLY want to focus downstream of the hatchery.

The net was in on Tuesday. That is the only day I know of. My friend lives in Marblemount and called me about it. The netter had caught only 1 steelhead and maybe some red looking silvers.
My worry is that this could become a regular scene.WDFW has been notified.
Ed

I live up here in Rockport and fished the Skagit today. Guess what was down by the mouth of the Cascade? Yes, its true!!! To natives had there net out down at the mouth of the Cascade early this morning, and yes it was actually in the Cascade. WORD!!

These ahole SOB's will toss a net in any river they like. Do you think wash fish and game will do anything about it, Hell No! Bunch a gutless,spineless cowards. But they are sure as hell waiting for us as we pull our boats in so they can harass us about licenses and fish. The indians have given theirselves their own bad rap and now they gotta live with it. Its time people stood up and said Were Sick of This Raping Of our Resource!!!
Ed

I verify the net. I was walking down to fish the south fork of the Cascade where it enters the Skagit. Saw the net laying on the bank with no one around and wondered what was up. After meeting up with my brother-in-law who drifted the Skagit earlier in the morning he saw the net in use and a guy "sorting out fish" on the bank. Apparently it went with a white stationwagon that was parked near the road. No doubt about it. -Old Chum

While it is sickening to see the nets in the river, especially a small one like the Cascade, I'd much rather have it up there picking off hatchery fish than down low getting a mix of nates and brats. I have a feeling that's what the intention is, but haven't confirmed it for sure yet.

I've known of nets in the Cascade River is years past, but not often. The Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe has court adjudicated treaty usual and accustomed fishing areas in the Cascade River. If the Tribe has a valid fishing regulation that has the river open to gillnetting yesterday, then the fisherman was legally netting. WDFW would, or should be able to, know if the Tribe has a valid regulation opening the river on file. And if the Tribe doesn't, then it's just a poacher net, not a real common, but not a rare occurance either.

It would make sense that they might have scheduled a net opening on the Cascade to take advantage of the hatchery steelhead that run up there.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.