"It’s hard to get an precise count on the number of tribal scaffolds at Drano Lake. At least one is on its side and the functionality of a couple of others is hard to determine.

But there are at least 11 that appear usable.

Drano Lake is a large backwater of the Columbia River at the mouth of the Little White Salmon River in eastern Skamania County.

Chinook returning to Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery fuel a popular sport fishery at Drano, especially in April and May, then again in September.

Summer steelhead dipping into the cool water for a respite from the warmer Columbia power a 24-hour-a-day fishery in July, August and early September.

The scaffolds started appearing about Memorial Day weekend of 2011.

Little, if any, fishing has been observed on the scaffolds since their construction."

Get the Story:
Allen Thomas: Are Drano Lake tribal platforms off-limits? (The Columbian 4/4)