Washington Hatcheries allowed to release steelhead into Puget Sound once again.

04/19/2016 – J. W. Snyder – Northwest Fishing News   WDFW hatcheries releasing steelhead under newly approved federal permits   OLYMPIA – State fishery managers have begun releasing more than 500,000 juvenile steelhead from five state fish hatcheries into Puget Sound rivers after receiving word from NOAA-Fisheries that those facilities meet federal environmental standards. For …

Sturgeon retention opens at the Bonneville Pool

Photo Courtesy of Great NW Rivers Guide Service. 04/11/2016 – John Snyder – NW Fishing News    Bonneville Pool will open two days for sturgeon retention   Action: The summer-season recreational fishery in Bonneville Reservoir opens to white sturgeon retention for two days in June. Effective dates: Saturday, June 18, and Friday, July 1, 2016 …

Washington’s trout season opens in several areas starting April

04/01/2016 – J. W. Snyder – NW Fishing News    Start of lowland lakes trout season one of many opening days in April For many anglers, “opening day” is synonymous with the start of the lowland lakes trout-fishing season, which gets under way on April 23 this year. Hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians typically descend on …

WDFW approves razor clam dig beginning Sunday

  04/01/2016 – J. W. Snyder – Northwest Fishing News   OLYMPIA – State shellfish managers today approved 10 days of razor clam digging beginning Sunday on three ocean beaches.  The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the digs after marine toxin tests showed the clams on those beaches are safe to eat. …

WDFW closes salmon season on April 4 in Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2

04/01/2016 – John Snyder – NWFN   Salmon season closes April 4 in Marine Areas 8-1 and 8-2 Action: Closes fishing for salmon in Marine Area 8-1 and 8-2. Effective Date:  April 4 through April 30, 2016. Species affected:  Salmon. Location:  Marine Areas 8-1 (Deception Pass, Hope Island, and Skagit Bay) and 8-2 (Ports Susan …

Meetings set for March 22-24 on salmon fisheries in sections of Columbia and Snake rivers

03/17/2016 – J. W. Snyder – NWFN    OLYMPIA – Anglers have three opportunities in March to meet with state fishery managers to talk about salmon fisheries in the mid- and upper Columbia River and lower Snake River before this year’s seasons are set. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has scheduled three …

WDFW Designates The Last of the Wild Steelhead Gene Bank rivers For The Lower Columbia River

03/16/2016 – John Snyder – NWFN   OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will no longer release hatchery-reared steelhead in the Grays River to help preserve the wild steelhead population near the mouth of the Columbia River. The Chinook River, which flows into the Columbia 15 miles farther downstream, will also …

Fishery managers consider closing ocean salmon seasons due to poor projected coho returns

  03/14/2016 – J. W. Snyder – NWFN    OLYMPIA – Poor forecasts for returning coho salmon are prompting state and tribal fishery managers to consider closing all salmon fisheries in Washington’s ocean waters this year as part of a federal season-setting process for the west coast. State, tribal and federal fishery managers have developed …

WDFW approves razor clam digs at Mocrocks and Copalis beaches

03/12/2016 – J. W. Snyder – NWFN   OLYMPIA – Razor clam diggers can return to Mocrocks and Copalis beaches for a three-day dig beginning March 18, state shellfish managers said today. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the opening at Mocrocks and Copalis after marine toxin tests showed the clams are …

WDFW Removes Limits for Bass, Channel Catfish and Walleye on the Columbia

03/02/2016 – John W. J. Snyder – NW Fishing News     WDFW suspends fishing limits for bass, walleye, channel catfish on Columbia River   OLYMPIA – Starting March 3, anglers can fish for bass, walleye and channel catfish without daily catch or size limits from the mouth of the Columbia River 545 miles upstream to …