Northwest Fishing Reports

What is going on with the puke this year? It says TBD in the regs and I have been hearing rumors that either the mouth to wherever will be closed and or the entire river may be closed. Can anyone offer some insight to when it will open or if it opens for pinks?

The state is still trying to make a 'deal' with the tribe. No telling whats going to happen.

I heard from a friend who lives out that way that the Puyallup will be closed to sportfishing. I heard that nets only will be allowed. How reliable that info is Im not sure.

I find it hard to believe that they'll be able to shut down that whole section of river. On any given day during humpy season there will be thousands of anglers on that river. The Puyallup is on of the most popular rivers in the state. The tribes are gangsters, but they won't be able to shut us out. Because believe me, we'll all have something to say about it.

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They don't want the conflicts to happen. The tribe is afraid of us sportsmen getting into fights with them.

Maybe they should just use gill nets instead of drifting through like they do. Never thought I'd hear myself say that one.

I don't fish down there.. when I have its always been a pretty messy experience. the rivers up north here don't need that pressure or at least i don't wanna see it..

The rivers up here I dont wanna ever see that happen

I sent an email and got a response.

Thank you for your e-mail correspondence to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Fish Program. The following responses, for both the Puyallup & Skokomish rivers, have been provided to you from Pat Pattillo, the WDFW Statewide Salmon Policy Coordinator:
Hello Chiem,

As you may be aware, the Puyallup Tribe and WDFW were unable to resolve differences in view about the Puyallup River sport fishery for 2013. We have been meeting regularly to define the sport fishery and provide the public with timely notice prior to opening. We expect fishing to open in August and so we hope to announce the season in mid-July. Please accept our apology for the delay in resolving this issue. Any announcement will be available on our website (http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;).

As far as the Skokomish River, I am sorry to report that we have not yet reached a decision about the 2013 sport salmon season on the Skokomish River. We have been negotiating a number of difficult issues about both the tribal net fishing season and the sport fishing season, and we need to resolve the two fisheries by agreement with the Skokomish Tribe. We recognize that fisheries normally begin during the first week of August, so we are meeting frequently. We hope to announce a decision on this river in mid-July as well.

Thank you for your patience and your interest in our fisheries.

Sincerely,

Pat

Patrick L. Pattillo
Special Assistant to the Director
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Olympia, WA
patrick.pattillo@dfw.wa.gov
360-902-2705
If you have further questions, please email again or call (360) 902-2700. Our Customer Service hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
We understand that this can be quite frustrating, especially for those anglers trying to make plans, but we do hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Fish Program