The Snake River opens for hatchery steelhead retention fishing Sept. 1, and summer steelhead apparently already are returning in large numbers.
"They are already beginning to pass through McNary and Snake River dam fish ladders in increasing numbers," said Paul Hoffarth, district fish biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
"River temperatures are warm and will likely slow the bite. But as temperatures cool, the steelhead fishing will improve and Tri-Cities area anglers should be in for a terrific early fall fishery," he said.
Barbless hooks are required when fishing in the Snake River for steelhead, he said.
The lower Yakima River from Prosser Dam downstream to the Columbia River also will open for salmon fishing Sept. 1, with a night closure and anti-snagging rules in effect for all species.
Hoffarth said the fall chinook sport fishery in the Hanford Reach is under way and will continue through Oct. 22. Hoffarth says the catch is usually slow until mid-September. Anglers must release all steelhead caught in the Columbia River above the blue bridge.
Vandalism closes Quincy Lakes entrance
QUINCY -- Vandalism has prompted the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to close the south entrance to the Quincy Lakes unit of the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area.
The south gate will be closed Monday. The north gate will remain open.
The early closure is the result of gang-related graffiti, garbage dumping and destruction of public property, including toilets, concrete walkways, parking areas and signs, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Vandalism and other illegal activity should be reported to local law enforcers or by calling Fish and Wildlife's Northcentral Region office in Ephrata, 509-754-4624.
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Yakama Nation shutters Boundary Reach to anglers
Yakama Nation shutters Boundary Reach to anglers
YAKIMA -- Rule-breaking anglers certainly don't like it and even some law-abiding fishermen may not like it, but state fisheries biologists are quite pleased with the Yakama Nation's decision to close to sport fishing the stretch of the Yakima River that borders the reservation.
For years, tribal and state fisheries and enforcement officials have been alarmed about the number of winter and early-spring anglers that, while fishing for whitefish, have reeled in and in some cases illegally harvested steelhead.
"Our enforcement guys watched it, and in some cases, if people thought they could get away with it, they would keep steelhead," said John Easterbrooks, regional fish program manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Chinook salmon fishery opens near Chelan
Chinook salmon fishery opens near Chelan
OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Fish and Wildlife will test whether anglers can successfully catch summer chinook salmon in the tailrace of the Chelan County PUD's hydroelectric powerhouse in Chelan.
The new fishery is scheduled to run through Oct. 15.
"This opening will test whether we can conduct a fishery in such a small area," Jeff Korth, regional fish manager for the WDFW, said in a news release Friday. "Starting this year, a lot of hatchery-reared fish will be moving through the tailrace, and we'd like to give anglers a chance to catch some."
Washington wildlife officials set sights on northern pike
Washington wildlife officials set sights on northern pike
SPOKANE -- State wildlife officials will ask fishermen to help control the advance of northern pike toward the Columbia River.
Fishery managers in the next few months plan to enlist anglers to remove as many northern pike as possible from the Pend Oreille River, which is the route the voracious species is following from Idaho and Montana.
Studies conducted with the Kalispel Tribe and Eastern Washington University show a dramatic decline in native minnows, largemouth bass, yellow perch and other fish species that inhabit the 55-mile Box Canyon Reservoir.
Area tribes begin annual fish sales
Area tribes begin annual fish sales
The Nez Perce, Umatilla, Warm Springs and Yakama tribes have begun their annual fish gill-netting and fish sales program at several locations along the Columbia River.
Salmon, steelhead and coho are available from tribal fishers now, but the chinook run should peak in the tribal fishing areas about the second week of September.
The large run of salmon and steelhead should result in ongoing sales of Columbia River fish for the next several weeks.
Outdoors briefs: Audubon Society to hold bird count, potluck Friday
Outdoors briefs: Audubon Society to hold bird count, potluck Friday
The Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society (LCBAS) will hold its annual Christmas Bird Count on Friday.
The count starts at 7:30 a.m. at three locations:
* Howard Amon Park's "fingernail" area in Richland.
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