Grandpa,

I really appreciate your logic and reasoning concerning this issue. I also think it to be wrong to advocate the boycotting of Tribal Guides, to discourage or dismantle their commercial net fishery. That does'nt make sense at all.

Now I can get back to work, knowing that this thread has a Grandpa that can filter through all the hog wash ( fish guts ). Thanks for the insight and understanding. PEACE!

questioon, so if the rivers are high and muddy, are they still netting ??and if not, i hope it rains for a few more months.......

Berkley Boy75

Gill nets are still used in high water, but they are not as effective, and get fouled up by debris (though I have seen some creative cabling to catch debris so that tribal commercials could continue to net). It is my opinion, that the only reason why some of the coastal rivers haven't been totally wiped out for good is that gill nets can't be used effectively, during extreme high water flows. Some low water years have been absolutely disgusting, when looking at the amount of tribal commercial steelhead harvest amounts.

There are many factors leading to declines, but commercial gill netting is a major impact.

They would have to have some seriously heavy anchors on them nets to hold them down at 40000cfs

I know some crazy indians but yougot to be out of your mind to run a boat in these flows!
I guess it depends on HOW HIGH you are talking.

The tribes don't necessarily net because they make a lot of income nor do the Makahs try to kill Gray whales for the food. They do so to perpetuate their treaty rights given them in 1855. They don't want to stop for fear of losing the rights altogether. The tribal guides on the other hand, just like you white guides, fish because they earn their living doing so. The tribal guides have a vested interest in keeping the runs healthy just as you white guides do.