Salmon Fishing Closes On Snohomish, Skykomish, Snoqualmie, And Wallace Rivers

Action: Closes the following areas to salmon fishing:

(1) Snohomish River (Snohomish County): From the mouth (Burlington Northern Railroad bridges) of the Snohomish River upstream to the confluence of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers.

(2) Skykomish River: From the mouth upstream to the confluence of the North and South Forks.

(3) Snoqualmie River: From the mouth upstream to Snoqualmie Falls.

(4) Wallace River: From the mouth upstream to 200 feet above the water intake for the salmon hatchery.

Effective Date: Oct. 21, 2015, until further notice.

Species affected: Salmon.

Reason for action: The rule is necessary to protect returning coho runs to the Snohomish Watershed (permanent regulations are already in place requiring release of chinook and chum salmon, and the pink salmon returns have nearly concluded). In-season run size assessments conducted by state and tribal co-managers indicate that coho run sizes are significantly below pre-season forecasts in these rivers.

Other information: Non-retention of chum and chinook salmon is already in place per permanent rules. Game fish rules are unchanged and remain as specified in the 2015-16 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.

Information contact: Mill Creek Regional Office: (425) 775-1311