I'm working on a small blurb about the Nez Perce plans to gill net 61,000 steelhead from the Snake. I need a photo, preferably one of a dark fish, to illustrate my blurb.

Photo must be 800K or larger. I will give photo credit to whomevers photo I use.

Thanks.

Snake River Guide Service might be able to help you out.

http://www.snakeriverguides.com/
1(509)751-0410

I'll email you the large file of this one, Dave. It may work if you don't get something better.

Rollo makes an appearance
At least his fish make an appearance on here from time to time, wish he could figure out how to post

Thanks Tim . How did that fish cut? I'm thinking most Snake fish are not prime. I can't see how they could match one that has only been in a few days. I caught a bunch in the grande Ronde but didn't kill any.

Anyone have an opinion on the table quality of these fish. Will trh tribe find a market?

Do you want me to just write the article for ya?

Sure. You do it and we can split the $$$.

Dave will still get the byline.

Of course fishermen from the Sound don't think that the fish caught in the Snake or any of its tribs are edible, but those Sound fishermen are used to seeing fish that are sometimes only hours from the salt. Many and I mean most steelheaders that fish the Snake and its tribs have NO experience with those "chrome" type fish. Believe me, I was one of them not too long ago.

I too would love to see the Snake stay net free, but to form the argument that the Nez Perce will not find a viable market for these fish is naive. I do commend your effort though

If I wrote it, it would sit in a file for a couple of years before Nick printed it. The one of mine he published in September I wrote in February of 2004.

I have caught a lot of fish that cut well until sometime in February. By cut well I mean that if filleted by someone who knows what they are doing, it would look 'good' packaged in cellophane in a store. Let me emphasize 'good', not like a fresh fish. We used to BBQ them once in a while, and they taste fine. Now...

...those fish are always hens, and not every hen cuts 'good'. There will obviously be tons of waste from this fishery.

I can't imagine who they're planning on marketing them to? Their casino?

Dave, what are the treaty rights of the nez perce. After all these years, I dont get why now?
That Judge in oregon is gonna have a fit.

Dave:
I know the Indians used to sell Red Coho and Kings to South America back in the early 80's. That will probably be the market as the color of the fish is not to important down there. The Indians netting the crap out of the North end of Lake Washington were happy as could be to have a tote full of slimy red Coho. They would sell the eggs to anyone that wanted them right at the dock and the carcass to a buyer sending them to SA.

The tribes do have treaty rights to those fish. Challenges to the treaties have all failed. The treaties require among other things.:

The tribe was granted the right to harvest steelhead in a 1969 decision by Judge Robert C. Belloni, who ruled that the treaty of 1855 reserved the tribes the right to fish at “all usual and accustomed places” In implementation of treaty rights the court held that:

- States may regulate only when reasonable and necessary for conservation.

- Fisheries can not be managed so that little or no harvestable fish reach upstream areas

- Indians may be permitted to fish at places and by means prohibited to non Indians

- The tribes are entitled to a fair and equitable share of the resource.

Well, I would imagine that with the salmon starting to show up in South America rivers more frequently in greater numbers they are going to start to realize they have been buying crap from the guys up here. Then that market will start to decline. The fact that the Nez Perce are wanting to net for the steelhead is a scare tactic I think. Although I am not sure for what, they are using it for leverage over something. I dont doubt that for a second, for what I dont know.

I have a buddy that should have a ton of steelhead pics from the Snake, I will see if I can get a hold of them for ya.

Not so good...the hens can have some nice skeins though. Think that plays into the equation?

Dave :

I have fished and guided in the Snake and Salmon for over 40 years. If the Indians decide to net in the late summer and early fall the fish they take will look just like the fish taken below Bonneville at that time. It is the maturity of the fish not the time in fresh water that gives the fish poor appearance later in the year.... the fish we take in late August and Sept. are bright and the eggs immature just as if taken in the cowlitz or north fork......catch a summer run in the cowlitz in december and you have the same fish.....if the tribe chooses to fish I am sure they will do this in late summer and early fall when the largest migration takes place and the fish are in a better condition....glad I retired last year.

skip zapffe

I have to be honest about this. The dark ones, in most cases cut as well as better than the bright ones. They were all caught in February 2007. Some were smoked, some bbq'd.

Skip: Thanks for the input. You must know much more than I about the quality of the Snake River fish, but I do not believe a December Cowlitz summer run is of the same quality as a fresh winter run.. I think the time in fresh water does have an impact on quality as the fish must use stored body fat to survive in the river.

None the less, I am hearing enough folks say the fish are of decent table quality that I will change my planned remarks about the edibility of those fish.

Seems to be a Demographic thing going on, with all the different opinions.