Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 288
OLYMPIA – Recreational fishing and hunting licenses for the 2017-2018 season, which begins April 1, 2017, are available for sale today. Typically, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) begins to sell the upcoming year's licenses in December. "With the release of our new licensing system last month, we opted to delay selling 2017-18 licenses in order to avoid printing licenses from two separate systems, with slightly different formatting, for a single license year," said Peter V... Full story
OLYMPIA – Puget Sound marine areas currently open for recreational winter crabbing will close at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31, after which all sport crabbers licensed to fish for Dungeness crab in the Sound will have through Feb. 1 to report their winter results. Crabbers who plan to report their catch online should be aware of some changes to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) online system, said Rich Childers, shellfish policy lead for the department. "Crabbers should be prepared t... Full story
OLYMPIA – The state's new recreational license sales system became operational this week, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officials say the switch from the old system went as smoothly as possible. The new system began selling hunting and fishing licenses and the Discover Pass on the evening of Dec. 18, several hours earlier than expected, said Peter Vernie, WDFW's licensing division manager. "This secure, next-generation system will improve service to our customers and t... Full story
OLYMPIA - The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has lifted restrictions on most department-managed lands in eastern Washington, where cooler temperatures have reduced fire danger. Clay Sprague, WDFW land manager, said the department's action is consistent with changes in fire rules approved recently by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which provides fire protection for many state wildlife areas. “These changes reflect an easing of fire danger in eastern W... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission today took action to further protect redband rainbow trout at Lake Roosevelt, a Columbia River reservoir in northeast Washington. The commission voted to change the daily catch limit on trout at Lake Roosevelt and extend a closure in a section of the Sanpoil River during a trout spawning period. Redband trout are a subspecies of rainbow trout found in the Columbia River and its tributaries. The modifications were approved during a c... Full story
Action: Remove daily limits and size limits; extend the fishing season on two lakes scheduled for rehabilitation. Species affected: All fish species. Dates and locations: Blue Lake (Grant Co.): Effective immediately through Oct. 21, 2016, Blue Lake is open to fishing with no daily limit and no size limits for all game fish. Park Lake (Grant Co.): Effective immediately through Oct. 28, 2016, Park Lake is open to fishing with no daily limit and no size limits for all game fish. Reasons for... Full story
September 8, 2016 Contact: Larry Phillips 360-902-2721 Olympia – Anglers claimed more than 340 prizes during the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) first annual statewide fishing derby. The trout derby ran from April 23 through Sept. 6, with more than 130 license dealers donating prizes, including charter fishing trips, gift cards, and rod and reel combos. The department planted more than 700 tagged fish in lowland lakes this spring. Anglers lucky enough to catch one of the... Full story
September 8, 2016 Action: Anglers are required to release chinook salmon that have a ¼-inch diameter (round) hole punched in the upper lobe of the caudal (tail) fin Effective dates: Sept. 15 – Oct. 31, 2016 Species affected: Fall chinook salmon (hatchery and wild) Location: Columbia River from the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco to Chief Joseph Dam Reason for action: Fall chinook salmon are sedated in a chemical anesthetic, MS-222, during sampling at the Priest Rapids Dam. The U.S. Food and Drug Ad... Full story
September 8, 2016 Contact: Kyle Adicks, (360) 902-2664 OLYMPIA – Anglers will have the opportunity to fish for coho salmon in Lake Washington starting Sept. 16, state salmon managers announced today. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) initially planned to keep Lake Washington closed to salmon fishing due to the low number of coho forecast to return to the watershed this year. However, the number of fish passing through the Ballard Locks in early September indicates a much s... Full story
Aug. 8, 2016 Contact: Commission Office, (360) 902-2267 OLYMPIA – Washington sport anglers soon will have two new options for fishing licenses after action taken by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission at its August meeting. The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), voted to establish an all-inclusive, annual fishing license at its meeting in Olympia. The Fish Washington license will allow anglers t... Full story
OLYMPIA – Beginning July 1, recreational anglers will have the opportunity to harvest hatchery sturgeon from Wanapum and Priest Rapids reservoirs, state fishery managers announced today. This is the first time in two decades that anglers will be allowed to retain sturgeon in this section of the Columbia River, said Chad Jackson, district fish biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Several thousand juvenile sturgeon were released into the upper Columbia River in 2... Full story
Action: Closes retention of sturgeon in Bonneville Pool. The one-day retention opener scheduled for July 1 is rescinded. Effective dates: Immediately until further notice. Species affected: White sturgeon. Location: The Columbia River and tributaries from Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam (Bonneville Reservoir). Reason for action: The harvest guideline of 325 fish has been reached. Other information: Catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon will continue to be allowed. The Bonneville Pool... Full story
Fisheries managers are seeking public input through July 25 on proposals for changing the daily catch limit on trout at Lake Roosevelt, the Columbia River reservoir in northeast Washington. The proposals are available for review on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/redband_trout/. Comments can be e-mailed to Carmen.Perez-Frayne@dfw.wa.gov. Input can also be provided at a public meeting, which will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.,... Full story
OLYMPIA – Puget Sound-area fisheries that closed during an impasse in salmon-season negotiations will reopen immediately, state fish managers announced today. Regulations for fisheries in Puget Sound marine waters, rivers and lakes through June 30 are listed in the 2015-16 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet, which is available online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01726/. Beginning July 1, anglers should check the 2016-17 sport fishing rules pamphlet (available online at h... Full story
Action: Opens Icicle River for hatchery chinook salmon. Effective dates: May 16, 2016, until further notice. Species affected: Hatchery spring chinook salmon. Locations: Icicle River (Chelan County). From the closure signs located 800 feet upstream of the mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Barrier Dam. From the closure signs located upstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery where Cyo Road would intersect the Icicle River at the Sleeping Lady Resort... Full story
Action: Increase limit to two adult spring chinook. Effective date: Immediately. Species affected: Chinook salmon. Locations: A) 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; B) Below Little Goose Dam: Snake River from Texas Rapids boat launch (south side of the river upstream of the mouth of Tucannon River) to the fishing restriction boundary below Little Goose Dam. This zone... Full story
Action: Close the all-depth recreational halibut fishery in Marine Area 2 (Westport). The nearshore area will remain open seven days per week until further notice. Effective date: Immediately Species affected: Pacific halibut Location: Marine Area 2 Reason for action: The Marine Area 2 recreational halibut fishery has taken the Pacific halibut quota set aside for the all-depth fishery. There are not enough quota pounds remaining for another day. There is sufficient quota set aside to allow... Full story
OLYMPIA – The sportfishing season for spring chinook salmon on the Columbia River will reopen for three days beginning later this week under an agreement reached yesterday by fishery managers from Washington and Oregon. Anglers can fish Friday, May 13, through Sunday, May 15, from the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line upriver to the Washington/Oregon state line. Boat anglers, however, aren’t allowed to fish between Beacon Rock and Bonneville Dam. The fishing area above Bonneville Dam extends fro... Full story
Action: Close Lake Aberdeen to fishing by the public for 12 hours prior to the kids-only fishing event. Lake Aberdeen will reopen at 5:30 a.m. on May 14, 2016. Effective dates: 5:30 p.m. May 13 through 5:30 a.m. May 14, 2016. Location: Lake Aberdeen (Grays Harbor Co.) Montesano, Washington Species: All game fish Reason for action: This rule change is necessary to ensure a safe and successful kids fish-in event. The fish will be planted the evening prior to the event to better acclimate them to... Full story
Action: Drano Lake anglers may retain up to 4 adult spring chinook salmon. Effective dates: May 15 through June 30, 2016 Species affected: Salmon and steelhead Location: Downstream of markers on point of land downstream and across from Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery and upstream of the Hwy. 14 Bridge. Reason for action: Hatchery returns have been strong to date. The hatchery brood stock goal has been met and surplus hatchery fish are available for harvest. Other information: The... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is accepting letters of interest through June 15 for membership on its Hunter Education Instructor Advisory Committee (IAC). The group, which represents the nearly 1,000 volunteer hunter education instructors statewide, advises WDFW on issues and opportunities affecting the hunter education program and its instructors. "We are extremely appreciative of all the work that current and past IAC members have contributed to the p... Full story
OLYMPIA – Clam diggers have one last chance to dig razor clams this season during a final opening set to begin May 20. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved a last round of digs at Copalis and Mocrocks after marine toxin tests showed the clams on those beaches are safe to eat. No digging will be allowed at either beach after noon. All other ocean beaches remain closed to digging. "This has been a great clam digging season, despite getting a late start," said Dan A... Full story
Action: Close Lake Sylvia to public fishing 12 hours prior to a scheduled kids-only fishing event. The lake will reopen to fishing by the general public at 6 a.m. on June 11, 2016. Effective dates: 6 p.m. Friday, June 10 through 6 a.m. Saturday, June 11, 2016. Location: Lake Sylvia (Grays Harbor Co.) Montesano, Washington Reason for action: This rule change is necessary to ensure a safe and successful kids fish-in event. The fish will be planted the evening prior to the event to better... Full story
OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted restrictions on the use of bait to hunt deer and elk, but made few significant changes in state hunting seasons at a public meeting April 8-9 in Olympia. The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), agreed to set a 10-gallon limit on the amount of bait hunters can make available to attract deer and elk at any one time. The new rule, approved by a v... Full story
OLYMPIA–Trout fishing in Washington reaches full speed April 23, when several hundred lowland lakes – stocked with millions of fish – open for a six-month season. That date also marks the start of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) first lowland lake fishing derby, which runs through Sept. 6. To participate on opening weekend, Washington anglers must have an annual freshwater or combination fishing license valid through March 31, 2017. Licenses can be purchased online... Full story
