Elwha, Nisqually rivers designated gene banks to protect wild steelhead

08/15/2016 – John Snyder- NWFN    OLYMPIA –The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) today designated the Nisqually and Elwha rivers as wild steelhead gene banks to help conserve wild steelhead populations. Under that designation, both rivers will be off-limits to releases of steelhead raised in state hatcheries, which can pose risks to native …

Anglers can keep 2 chinook in Marine Area 1 beginning Aug. 16

08/11/2016 – John Snyder – NWFN    WDFW Fishing Rule Change Marine Area 1   Action: Anglers will be allowed to keep two chinook daily as part of their two salmon daily limit in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco). Anglers must release wild coho.  Effective Dates: August 16, 2016 Species affected: Chinook Locations: Marine Area 1 …

ODFW extends two-rod fishing to coastal rivers and bays

08/04/2016 – John W. J. Snyder – Northwest Fishing News    SALEM, Ore. — Oregon’s popular two-rod fishing validation will be extended to coastal streams open to salmon and steelhead fishing this fall to help anglers take advantage of expected strong Chinook salmon returns. “We are expecting another strong return of fall Chinook this season, …

No wild Coho season in Oregon coastal bays and estuaries this fall due to weak run

08-02-2016 – John Snyder – Northwest Fishing News   ALEM, Ore.—As a precautionary measure, ODFW will not propose any coastal freshwater fisheries on wild Coho this fall due to concerns over poor ocean survival and adequate spawning escapement to coastal rivers this year. The Fish and Wildlife Commission was scheduled to consider a limited fishery …

Salmon season closes August 5th in Marine Area 9

08/02/2016 – J. W. Snyder – NWFN   Salmon season closes Aug. 5 in Marine Area 9   Action: Closes salmon fishing in Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet), excluding the Edmonds Public Fishing Pier. Effective Date: 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, 2016. Species affected: Salmon. Location: Marine Area 9 (Admiralty Inlet). Reason …

Only fin-clipped Chinook can be kept on select lower Columbia

08/02/2016 – J. W. Snyder – NWFN     TILLAMOOK, Ore. – Fall Chinook salmon fishing opens today on the lower Columbia River tributaries under new rules designed to protect wild fish. Only fin-clipped fall Chinook salmon may be retained this year on lower Columbia River tributaries in a move designed to protect wild tule …

Chinook salmon limits increase at Westport

Photo Courtesy of Big King Salmon Charters 07/20/2016 John Snyder – NWFN    Anglers can keep two chinook off Westport beginning July 23 Action:  Anglers will be allowed to keep two salmon daily in Marine Area 2 (Westport). Anglers will be allowed to keep up to two chinook daily but must release coho. Effective date: July …

Ocean salmon fishery opens July 1

Photo courtesy of Big King Salmon Charters 06/28/2016 – John Snyder – Northwest Fishing News    OLYMPIA – Anglers can reel in salmon off the Washington coast beginning July 1, when the ocean sport fishery gets underway daily in all four marine areas. This year’s sport fishing opportunities are mostly focused on chinook salmon, which …

States cancel second Bonneville Reservoir summer sturgeon season

Photo Courtesy of Paul Ambrose of Great NW Rivers Guide Service 06/22/2016 – John Snyder – Northwest Fishing News    CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Much better than expected sturgeon harvest during the first of two scheduled summer sturgeon seasons on the Columbia River prompted fishery managers from Oregon and Washington to cancel the second sturgeon retention …

Columbia River above Beacon Rock opens to boat fishing

06/09/2016 – John Snyder – NWFN   CLACKAMAS, Ore. – A popular boat fishery on the Columbia River below Bonneville Dam will open for five days starting Friday under rules adopted today by fishery managers from Oregon and Washington. Effective Friday, June 10 through June 15, boat fishing for salmon and steelhead will be allowed …