Coho Rule Changes For Wallace, Skagit, Cascade, Dungeness

THE FOLLOWING ARE RULE CHANGE NOTICES FROM THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

Skagit River coho salmon fishery extended

Actions:

1.    Extends coho salmon fishery from in Skagit River areas from mouth to Cascade River Rd. (Marblemount Bridge) through Nov. 30, 2022

2.    Maintains: Bait prohibited from mouth to Cascade River Rd. (Marblemount Bridge)

Effective date: Immediately through Nov. 30, 2022

Species affected: All species

Locations and rules: Skagit River (Skagit Co.)

·       From the mouth to Cascade River Rd. Bridge (Marblemount Bridge) 

• All species under 2022/23 pamphlet rules except addition of:

                                               i.     Night closure

                                              ii.     Bait prohibited (including scents and flavors)

• Salmon

                                               i.     Minimum size 12”

                                              ii.     Daily limit 2

                                            iii.     Release Chinook and chum salmon

Reason for action: There is sufficient remaining state share of harvestable coho salmon to sustain additional sport fishing opportunity. Incidental Chinook salmon encounters remain within conservation guidelines, but Chinook salmon are still active in the system. 

Additional information: The fishery is actively monitored by WDFW. Anglers are asked to cooperate with creel personnel collecting catch information. Monitoring and evaluation of fisheries is an important part of ensuring we are meeting our conservation goals for salmon.

Additional in-season short term and limited area closures to prevent gear conflicts with tribal fisheries are possible. Anglers are asked to respect tribal fishers and reminded to not interfere with tribal fisheries. Conflicts continue to lead to additional time and area closures to reduce conflicts. 

In-season closure, reopening, or other management actions will be announced as soon as possible. Please consider downloading the FishWA app or signing up for fishery change notifications by email at https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/lists.

Cascade River coho salmon season extended

Action: Extends coho salmon fishery and rules. All other species will close Nov. 1 per 2022/2023 Sport Fishing rules pamphlet

Location: Cascade River from mouth to Rockport-Cascade Road

Effective date: Immediately through Nov. 30, 2022

Species affected: All species

Rules:

• Use of bait (including scent or flavoring) is prohibited
• Anti-snagging rules
• Night closure
• Closed to all fishing Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays until further notice
• Daily limit 4 coho salmon. Min. size 12”. Release all other species

Reason for action: There is sufficient remaining state share of harvestable coho salmon to sustain additional sport fishing opportunity. Incidental Chinook salmon encounters remain within conservation guidelines, but Chinook salmon are still active in the system.

Additional information: Fisheries in this section of the river will be open four days per week, Wednesdays through Saturdays only.

Sundays through Tuesdays are closed to all sport fishing to prevent gear conflicts with tribal fisheries. Anglers are asked to respect tribal fishers and reminded to not interfere with tribal fisheries. Conflicts that arise during ongoing fisheries could lead to additional time and area closures to reduce conflicts.

Portion of Wallace River opens to all fishing

Action: Open all fishing

Effective date: Oct. 22 through Nov. 30, 2022

Species affected: All species

Location: Wallace River (Snohomish Co.) from the mouth (farthest downstream RR bridge) to Wallace Falls

Reason for action: With forecasted rain and increasing flows predicted and most of the Chinook salmon spawning complete in the Wallace River conditions are improved for allowing fishing to resume in Wallace River.

Additional information: Fishing rules outlined in the 2022 Rules and Regulation pamphlet apply, with two changes. Coho salmon retention will be non-selective (hatchery and wild retention allowed in Wallace River) with daily limit of 2 coho salmon, and the section from 200 feet upstream of the hatchery water intake to Wallace Falls, which were closed to salmon fishing in the pamphlet, will open for coho retention in addition to the area downstream of the intake.

Anglers can be notified of any in-season rules changes as they are announced by signing up for WDFW Regulation Updates at wdfw.wa.gov/about/lists.

Reopens the Dungeness and Gray Wolf rivers to fishing

Action: Reopens fishing

Effective date: Oct. 22, 2022

Species affected: All species

Locations:

• Dungeness River (Clallam Co.) from the mouth upstream
• Gray Wolf River (Clallam Co.) from the mouth upstream

Reason for action: The Dungeness River was closed due to unseasonably dry weather and extreme low water conditions. Expected precipitation and a forecasted rise in flows will allow fish to move upstream to spawning grounds and fishing to reopen.

Additional information: Fishing rules are as described in permanent regulations and in the 2022-2023 Sport Fishing rules pamphlet.

Recreational fishing access in the lower Dungeness River is currently limited due to river restoration projects. Anglers are advised to avoid all active construction sites including:

• At the Old Schoolhouse, levee construction in progress.
• Towne Road, between the Schoolhouse and the Dungeness Valley Creamery, is closed.
• The Old Corps Dike is closed from the Creamery downstream.
• Construction site, off Fish Hatchery Road, just downstream of the Dungeness Hatchery.

Chinook salmon have finished spawning in the Dungeness River, but concerns remain that the eggs in the gravel are vulnerable. Anglers are requested to avoid stepping on Chinook salmon redds, which appear as depressions in the gravel.

Anglers can be notified of in-season rule changes by downloading the FishWA app or signing up for fishery change notifications by email at https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/lists.