Occupy Skagit

Unlike New York’s Wall Street, Washington’s Skagit River is unpaved, graft free, and doesn’t have a namesake movie starring ’80s-era Michael Douglas. It does, however, have a steelhead population that’s doing better than it was following ESA listings that led to closures more than 5 years ago. Now, grassroots groups like Occupy Skagit are calling on WDFW to restore recreational fishing with a third “occupy gathering” scheduled for April 4, 2015.

 

“It’s our belief that a well managed, springtime catch-and-release season on the Skagit-Sauk would not be inconsistent with the recovery of its wild winter steelhead. Our actions at these gatherings and the meetings in Olympia have convinced WDFW of two things: The run is healthy and that we can steward and participate in a responsible fishery.”

Recent Skagit-Sauk steelhead escapement numbers have topped the historic goal of 6,000, while the Skagit basin management plan will soon be submitted for federal review.

 

Occupy Skagit, 2015

Where: Howard Miller Steelhead Park, Rockport, WA

When: April 4, Meet & Greet at 9 a.m., ‘Wade In’ at 10 to 11 a.m.

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