Coastal Steelhead Restrictions List Updated With Headwaters Streams

WDFW yesterday sent out notice that the upper forks of three coastal rivers and a trio of creeks also fall under tight steelhead restrictions this winter season.

They are the West Fork Humptulips, West and Middle Fork Satsop, East and West Fork Dickey rivers, and Fork, Stevens and Thunder Creeks.

None had been included in the agency’s initial early December listing of 47 waters that fell under no-bait, no-boat-fishing, single-barbless-hook-only, rainbow-release and early-closure emergency rules as of Dec. 14.

The restrictions are meant to protect chronic below-escapement returns of wild steelhead to numerous South and Central Coast rivers and are expected to reduce the sport catch by more than half. Boats can still be used for transportation.

The Tuesday afternoon email “update” from WDFDW also noted “that the Wishkah River, from 150’ upstream to 150’ downstream of the Wishkah adult attraction channel/outfall structure (within the posted fishing boundary), is open only to anglers with disabilities who permanently use a wheelchair AND have a designated harvester companion card.”