Fraser River users and politicos were awaiting word yesterday on what DFO management was going to do about the fate of the ongoing sport fishery.

The question arose in the wake of an alleged sport fisher's pellet gun assault on Chehalis Chief Willie Charlie last Sunday. The aboriginal leader was drift-net fishing near the mouth of the Harrison River, during an aboriginal fishery opening. His net got tangled with the gear of anglers travelling in a cream-coloured sport fishing boat, which sparked the altercation.

Police combed the area for the suspect to no avail, and there is still no news about the alleged bb-gun shooter whose pellet grazed Chief Charlie on the chin.

"The investigation is ongoing," RCMP Const. Lea-Anne Dunlop replied when asked if there were any new leads on the case. "We're still hoping to identify these people, and are still seeking information that may be helpful to investigators."

First Nations leaders reacted quickly to the incident earlier this week, demanding that DFO close the entire river to angling, to keep the peace especially if First Nations fishers are back on the river as scheduled on the weekend.

"It's a safety thing primarily, and that's the real reason why we called for the river to be closed to recreational angling," said Ernie Crey, fisheries advisor to the Sto:lo Tribal Council. "People seem to want to clash right now over fishing. So we don't think it's wise to put both groups on the river together."

RCMP will have an extra presence on the river over the weekend as a preventative measure, to help "mitigate or eliminate the potential for further disputes," said RCMP Const. Lea-Anne Dunlop.

Police cruising along in the RCMP boat will be enforcing the Liquor Act and the Firearms Act, as well as all provincial and criminal statutes.

"We are hoping that those planning to hit the water will do so in a safe and responsible way," she said.

DFO officials confirmed with the Progress yesterday that the ongoing recreational fishery opening will continue this weekend, with the existing restrictions in place, according to Jeff Grout, regional resource manager, salmon.

Given the extremely low sockeye returns this month, DFO first put out a fishery notice asking anglers not to bottom bounce, or in other words stop using methods that could intercept sockeye. That's in effect from Mission up to the Agassiz bridge.

Then they took action again, enacting a partial river closure on Aug. 17, meaning anglers had to stop fishing for salmon on the Fraser between the Agassiz-Rosedale bridge and Hope, to allow as many fish as possible to reach spawning grounds.

"We're expecting that (partial) closure to remain in place until the majority of sockeye go through the river system," said Grout.

The latest Fraser Panel update saw the summer run estimate jump from 600,000 to 700,000 sockeye, and the Harrison sockeye go from 150,000 to 200,000. But in terms of the total sockeye return, it's only 1.5 million.

For the Mission to Agassiz section, DFO will "continue monitoring" to ensure there is good compliance in the chinook-directed sport fishery.

Some aboriginal leaders were disappointed the river will remain open to angling.

"This decision by DF0 will now concentrate the fishery in a more confined area and put anglers on top of aboriginal fishermen in the Chilliwack area," said Crey. "Given this past weekend's shooting and knife incident at the mouth of the Harrison River, DFO is gambling with the safety and possibly the lives of aboriginal fishermen by leaving anglers on the water."

He would have much preferred seeing their fishery closed "in order to head-off a potential tragedy this coming weekend."

"Closure of the sports fishery on the Fraser River is recommended until consensus is met by all parties," said Seabird Chief Clem Seymour. "The Seabird Island Band supports the Chehalis First Nation demand to close the river during their fishing openings to protect themselves."

But not every stakeholder group agreed.

Rod Clapton of the B.C. Federation of Drift Fishers said he viewed the call for a total sport fishing closure as "unwarranted and extremely punitive" which would impact guiding and tackle stores "already reeling" from the lack of a sockeye opening.

The group is also "totally opposed to recent reported actions of a recreational angler" who got into a conflict with a respected chief from the Chehalis First Nation.

He's "grateful" Charlie's injuries were minor in nature.

"We are confident the these unlawful actions represent a miniscule percentage of the sport fishing community and the community at-large abhors these type of actions. It is hoped the individual involved will be located and charged.

"Our organization and others have developed positive working relationships

with the Chehalis band and others," said Clapton. "We would sincerely hope this recent action will not jeopardize these relationships."

jfeinberg@theprogress.com