Washington Spring Chinook Openers, Closures Announced
THE FOLLOWING ARE RULE CHANGE NOTICES FROM THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
North Fork Nooksack River to open for hatchery spring Chinook
Action: Opens a section of the North Fork Nooksack River to hatchery spring Chinook fishing and retention.
Effective date: May 28 through June 12, 2022
Species affected: Hatchery spring Chinook
Location: Nooksack River, North Fork (Whatcom Co.) from the Hwy. 9 Bridge to the yellow marker at the upstream side of the Kendall Hatchery. CRC (790).
Rule: Daily limit 2 hatchery Chinook. Minimum size is 12”. Release all other salmon. Night closure and anti-snagging rule in effect.
Reason for action: The hatchery spring Chinook forecast is sufficient to allow in-river harvest opportunity.
Additional information: The fishery will be monitored and may close earlier than scheduled if the total encounters agreed to may be reached or may be considered for extension if maximum encounters are not likely to be exceeded. 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.
Upper Skagit River to open for hatchery spring Chinook
Action: Opens a portion of the Skagit River to fishing for hatchery spring Chinook.
Effective date: June 1 through July 15, 2022
Species affected: Chinook salmon
Location: Skagit River (Skagit Co.) from Hwy. 530 Bridge at Rockport to Cascade River Rd. (Marblemount Bridge). CRC (830).
Rule: Daily limit 4 hatchery Chinook, including no more than 2 adults. Minimum size is 12”. Release all other salmon. Night closure and anti-snagging rule in effect.
Reason for action: Harvestable numbers of hatchery spring Chinook are forecast to return to Marblemount Hatchery.
Additional information: 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.
The July 1 through July 15 portion of this fishery will also be listed in the 2022/2023 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
Cascade River to open for hatchery spring Chinook
Action: Opens a portion of the Cascade River to fishing for hatchery spring Chinook.
Effective date: June 1 through July 15, 2022
Species affected: HatcheryChinook salmon
Location: Cascade River (Skagit Co.) from mouth to Rockport-Cascade Rd. Bridge. CRC (826).
Rule: Open Wednesdays through Saturdays only. Daily limit 4 hatchery Chinook, including no more than 2 adults. Minimum size is 12”. Release all other salmon. Night closure and anti-snagging rule in effect.
Reason for action: Harvestable numbers of hatchery spring Chinook are forecast to return to Marblemount Hatchery.
Additional information: This section will be closed to all fishing Sundays through Tuesdays. Closure days are necessary to avoid gear conflicts with treaty fisheries scheduled weekly on those days.
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.
The July 1 through July 15 portion of this fishery will also be listed in the 2022/2023 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
Snake River spring Chinook fishery change
Action: Closes spring Chinook salmon fishing on the Snake River by location as listed below.
Effective date:
Location A) Below Little Goose Dam: closes spring Chinook fishing at 11:59 p.m. May 27, 2022.
Location B) Below Ice Harbor Dam: closes spring Chinook fishing at 11:59 p.m. May 25, 2022.
Species affected: Chinook salmon.
Locations:
A) Below Little Goose Dam: Snake River from Texas Rapids boat launch (located on the south side of the river upstream of the mouth of Tucannon River) to the fishing restriction boundary below Little Goose Dam. This zone includes both shores and the rock and concrete area between the juvenile bypass return pipe and Little Goose Dam along the south shoreline of the facility (includes the walkway area locally known as “the Wall” in front of the juvenile collection facility).
B) Below Ice Harbor Dam: Snake River from the South Bound Highway 12 Bridge near Pasco upstream about 7 miles to the fishing restriction boundary below Ice Harbor Dam.
Reason for action: Based on in season creel estimates through May 20, WDFW projects that the harvest allocation for the Snake River will be reached and will be closing the spring Chinook fishery. This allows two more days fishing at Little Goose on Tuesday May 24 and Friday May 27 and one more day at Ice Harbor on Wednesday May 25.
Additional information: This rule closes all spring Chinook fishing in the Snake River by location as listed above.
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