That is one awesome story.....

Best part is the 100 yards of braid that won't be in the river for the next decade.

I'm still mentally processing our trip for the opener. Amazing people, river and fish. I came away extremely thankful, blessed, lucky & happy. I can't possibly ask for any more than that.

Considering we were locked out of the spring fishery for nine years, catching a 12 pounder on my second cast just as the sun was just peeking over the mountains and mist was rising off of all the trees around us was one of the best steelhead fishing experiences I have had in a long time.

Catching a couple more was a wonderful bonus, but honestly, I could have been done right there and gone home happy.

I wish I could carve out another couple days to get up there when the Sauk is in shape, that's my only regret.

Watching Nick experience his first true mid-teen gorgeous hen do what they do...make half a dozen long runs punctuated by full body jumps and belly flops...was another highlight.

There is not a better fish in the world than a true spring 14 pound hen.

Fish on...

Todd

Mid-teen chrome hens for the win!

Did a Sauk/Skagit run yesterday that was for the memory book. Passed a group of fly fishers on both sides of the bank so I drifted down the middle to stay out of their water as best as I could. Noticed an old gray beard fisher (maybe a year older than me at best). Shouted out a hello to Smalma. Got a 1/2 mile or so down and thought....I should have shouted out THANK YOU!!!!! If it weren't for Kurt, Steve, Wayne and "Occupy Skagit" a day on the river I'll never forget would not have happened.

Thank you again!!!!

The Skagit tribe has been netting a few Atlantics - 42 miles upriver!

[quote=NickD90]The Skagit tribe has been netting a few Atlantics - 42 miles upriver!



Saw that in the Seattle Times today too........

This most recent catch was...one fish.

They caught more than one fish. Just one of them was an Atlantic. Call it lucky, if you want, that the rest of their catch was most likely steelhead and Chinook.

Yep...I was referring to the one atlantic.

Why would they net 40 miles upriver? Is that normal if we were back 10-15 yrs. during the times of traditional tribal harvest? Thought their traditional netting areas were down above tide water?

Each Tribe has defined Usual and Accustomed areas where they can fish. To fish in the lower river the upper river tribes have to be invited; their U&A is way upriver.

I think the Swinomish/Lower Skagit were the only folks with U&A in the lower river/tidewater.