Northwest Fishing Reports

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

July 1, 2009

Contact: Annette Hoffmann, (425) 775-1311, ext. 120
Aaron Bosworth, (425) 775-1311, ext. 101

Chinook salmon retention ends
Sunday on the Skykomish River

OLYMPIA - Starting Sunday (July 5), anglers will be required to release any chinook salmon they catch on the Skykomish River, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.

The new rule, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, prohibits the retention of chinook from the Lewis Street Bridge in Monroe upstream to the Wallace River, the only portion of the Skykomish River currently open to salmon fishing.

The rule change does not affect fishing for hatchery steelhead and other gamefish on the Skykomish River.

Low chinook returns to the Wallace River Hatchery prompted WDFW to close the river to chinook retention to help ensure enough salmon make it back to the hatchery to meet spawning goals, said Annette Hoffman, regional fish program manager for WDFW.

If it later appears spawning goals will be met at the hatchery, WDFW may re-open the fishery, said Hoffman.

Anglers can check for updates on the department's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm

that sucks.

Weak genetics, and has grown weaker for years.

Glad they pulled the plug on these lock jaw weenies:cheers:

Run to the salt you will find Chrome Hogs there and July 16th Blood will spill and vacumm bags will stack for a few!!!:-$ :rambo: :thumright :viking:

Thanks for the Report Big W:thumright the locals will still be fishing and stashing [-x

i am ready for the move to the salt

hit the sky in the next 2 weeks more fish are on the way. fish for steelhead. if we get 2 to 3 days rain the fish will be in