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 public meetings to discuss pre-season forecasts and upcoming spring, summer and fall fishing seasons – particularly those for salmon upstream from McNary Dam.
Those meetings are as scheduled:
Clarkston: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., March 22, Walla Walla Community College, Clarkston Campus Auditorium, 1470 Bridge St., Clarkston
Kennewick: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., March 23, Benton PUD Auditorium, 2721 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick
Wenatchee: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., March 24, Chelan PUD, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee
These meetings are part of the salmon season-setting process known as North of Falcon, which involves representatives from federal, state and tribal governments and recreational and commercial fishing industries. Additional public meetings have been scheduled through early April to discuss regional fisheries.
Final salmon fishing seasons are scheduled to be adopted at the Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting April 8-14 in Vancouver, Wash.
A meeting schedule, salmon forecasts and information about the salmon season-setting process for Puget Sound, the Columbia River and the Washington coast are available on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/
