State could close some rivers to fishing due to drought
Never in Washington history have rivers been closed to fishing as a direct response to drought-related low flow levels and warm water. But that day appears to be coming.
Washington fish managers are working out the final details on what is expected to be historically stringent controls on the state’s waterways.
Among the anticipated restrictions, according to state Department of Fish and Wildlife fisheries biologist Eric Anderson, are complete fishing closures on the Ahtanum Creek’s North and Middle forks and essentially the entire Teanaway River system.
Several other waterways — notably the Naches River from the Tieton to the Bumping/Little Naches confluence, the Rattlesnake Creek mainstem, and the Little Naches River — are expected to have daily closures beginning as early as 10 a.m.
“I’ve been in this (Yakima River) basin for 27 years and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Anderson, who oversees the trout-stocking programs in this part of the state.
“To my knowledge, there’s never been a closure like this at any time anywhere in this basin. This is pretty precedent-setting.”
Anderson said the statewide announcement on what rivers would be closed to fishing or simply have reduced angling hours would likely come out Thursday.
“It’s not final yet, so I don’t know exactly what it’s looking like, but I think it’s going to affect a lot of different areas in Eastern Washington for sure, and maybe Western Washington as well. There’s a lot of things they’re looking at statewide.”
The reason to curtail fishing in low-water, warm-water river and stream conditions is that the fish, typically trout, are already weakened by the elevated temperatures and low flows. That makes them subject to greater stress when they’re caught and handled by fishermen, even if they are subsequently released.
“Even voluntarily, fishermen should consider not fishing in the heat of the day when it’s 100 degrees,” said Layne Hansen of Yakima, an avid fisherman. “Everybody knows where the fish are — they’re going to be in the deepest hole they can find. So you just rethink your commitment to fish and know you have to take care of them the best you can. And if that means not fishing, it means not fishing.”
Some guide services have already begun operating on their own self-mandated closures on rivers like the Naches.
“We’re monitoring water temperatures every day, and in Montana, their guidelines are that once water temps hit 70 degrees, they mandate that all fishing is done by 2 p.m.,” said Steve Joyce, who oversees Red’s Fly Shop and its trout-fishing guide services.
Red’s guides began seeing 70-degree temperatures on the Naches River as early as mid-June, he said.
“At no time do we throw a fly in the water once temperature hits 70 degrees,” Joyce said. “We are in this for the long term, and the success of our business is tied to the quality of the resources. So we certainly don’t want to jeopardize the future of the resource for a few weeks or a month of picking on stressed-out fish.”