Typical Skok Mess

[chevysquid]

Have you guys seen that fish and forests commerical?  They say what does it mean to you and first thing they show is some indian saying " A healthy salmon run."  Every time I see that commercial I get sooooo mad!  Talks about being stewards of the environmnet. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

[1morebuck]

Huntinhick, yes they started beach saining today.

Johng, sorry about your luck, stick with the eggs/bobber it will produce. PM me and maybe I can help. The Skokomish tribe can and is "fishing" from Monday mornings to Friday's, so we get Saturday and Sunday to fish net free. Oh, and the reason it is closed to ALL sport fishing from the 106 to the 101 bridge is to let chinook pass without pressure from sportfishers, yet the tribe can and is still taking those bottom fishing poles and 80lb. braided line with fist sized treble hooks and ripping three-inch holes in fish. YEA! What great use of their precious heritage.

[WSU]

I tried not to get into this Indian debate, but I can't help it.  Nearly all those fish are hatchery fish, and are meant to be killed.  Further, the problem with the Skok's salmon runs is not due to the tribe.  In fact, it is due to our piss-poor logging practices and placing of a dam in the upper watershed.  I understand that there are competing users, but we should be just as quick to look in the mirror as we are to point the finger.  

[huntinhick]

so since the dam and the logging cause the problem for the salmon and that the fish are all hatchery fish and are meant to be killed does that mean you would support me going down there with a big dip net and just scooping them up?  or that I could could just catch them and sell them also?  if they are meant to be killed then why have part of the river closed to allow them to pass with out issue?

[ICEMAN]

I tried not to get into this Indian debate, but I can't help it.  Nearly all those fish are hatchery fish, and are meant to be killed.  Further, the problem with the Skok's salmon runs is not due to the tribe.  In fact, it is due to our piss-poor logging practices and placing of a dam in the upper watershed.  I understand that there are competing users, but we should be just as quick to look in the mirror as we are to point the finger. 

OMG!!!!! 

[WSU]

so since the dam and the logging cause the problem for the salmon and that the fish are all hatchery fish and are meant to be killed does that mean you would support me going down there with a big dip net and just scooping them up?  or that I could could just catch them and sell them also?  if they are meant to be killed then why have part of the river closed to allow them to pass with out issue?

I'm not saying that I personally agree with how things are being done.  This includes the Indians and the non-Indians.  I do think that Indians with treaty rights have a legitimate reason and right to commercially fish these runs.  I'm not sure if the Skoks are a treaty tribe (anyone know?).  If they are, they bargained for a treaty right to catch these fish in order to sustain a living.  I see no problem with them doing that now.  We, however, do not have a treaty right to catch these fish to make living.  Seems to me our country should stand behind our word (treaty).  People are only as good as their word in my book.

[WSU]

I tried not to get into this Indian debate, but I can't help it.  Nearly all those fish are hatchery fish, and are meant to be killed.  Further, the problem with the Skok's salmon runs is not due to the tribe.  In fact, it is due to our piss-poor logging practices and placing of a dam in the upper watershed.  I understand that there are competing users, but we should be just as quick to look in the mirror as we are to point the finger. 

OMG!!!!! 

OMG that was enlightening!!!  Well put!!! 

[huntinhick]

WSU,

   I see where you are coming from,  I had that same type of view for awhile too.  Now however I think that it is time that we take a serious look at the treaties and the harm or benefit they are doing.  I don't know when the treaties where written but I doubt there were the issues they are currently having with salmon numbers.  Also these little nations in a nation do not police them selves well, if you turn them in for not following the rules they will be right beck out the next day.  I am not saying take away there source of income. either, use our money (tags/license) to buy their net rights for what they actually make not for some crazy amount or figure out how to police it better and ensure that everyone has a fair chance and piece of the resource.  And I do also believe that it is not only the Indians that abuse the system I have seen people on both sides of the river snagging.   

[buckhorn2]

Why is it WSU that everytime anything about indians come up you jump in and stand up for them. Do you hunt or fish or is your real name cascade hunter.  You never post unless it;s something to do with indians and treaty;s look in the mirrow again your on the wrong side again.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

I have family that go to school on the res. They live just up the road, and we camp near there and fish there every year. As a whole from what i have observed is the skoks are the most wastefull tribe. They are trash.

[BigGoonTuna]

Why is it WSU that everytime anything about indians come up you jump in and stand up for them. Do you hunt or fish or is your real name cascade hunter.  You never post unless it;s something to do with indians and treaty;s look in the mirrow again your on the wrong side again.

never mind that he's stating the truth.  sorry you don't like it.

[1morebuck]

Ok guys, I just have one question. Didn't the Bolt Decision give the tribes 50% and the rest of us 50% of the total harvested catch? So can you honestly tell me that the sportfishers get our fair share of 50%? Oh and ther are NO commercial fishers other than the tribes on the Skok. 

[1morebuck]

Buckhorn2, I agree with you. So why not get the proper licensing and commercial fish the Skokomish River? Us "White People" still have the right to commercial fish, so why not on the Skok as well? Lets get our rights damn it!

[BigGoonTuna]

Ok guys, I just have one question. Didn't the Bolt Decision give the tribes 50% and the rest of us 50% of the total harvested catch? So can you honestly tell me that the sportfishers get our fair share of 50%? Oh and ther are NO commercial fishers other than the tribes on the Skok. 

they don't split 50% over each river, it's out of the rough total estimate.   the seasons get set at the north of falcon meetings every year.  not a lot of tribal fishing going on at buoy 10, or sekiu etc.  not to mention that the non indian catch is split between the white commercials, sport fishermen, and non-treaty tribes(like the chehalis who can net on their reservation).

unfortunately just about every river system outside willapa bay and a couple lower columbia tributaries in western WA has a tribal fishery.  that sucks.

i can't understand why you would want to conduct a commercial fishery on the skok anyway, just because you're pissed that the indians do.  i will say this, if you're fishing around the nets for kings, or the indian snagging platforms, you're fishing way too high up in the river to begin with

[PolarBear]

I have family that go to school on the res. They live just up the road, and we camp near there and fish there every year. As a whole from what i have observed is the skoks are the most wastefull tribe. They are trash.

Growing up on Kamilche Point in Shelton, it was well known that the Skoks were basically a bunch of drunken, drug addict, poaching outlaws.  (for the most part) It is funny how different the tribes are.  The Squaxin's have their bad apples but nothing like the Skok's.