The QIN effort is not sizeable but active. The net site across the river from Walmart at the boat launch is the best set net site this time of year. Unless one runs the river you cannot say what is going on above Cosy but I have not seen much since fall Coho time. Looking back last few years it has been boat launch, tractor place, dock site Historical Seaport, and another upstream this time of year. That is about it and it varies day to day week to week. If M's spot at the boat launch is not fishing there are seldom any other fishers. Never have figured out why Recs haven't nailed that spot when the QIN don't fish. If just spend some time watching them fish see how & when in the tide the fish move and the fish are ridiculously consistent. Why in the hell they are that close to shore moving up river under or next to the Weyco docks I don't know.

Any word if any late coho are being taken in the tribal steelhead fishery?
SF

yes the late Coho run showed up okay.

Thanks for the info.
SF

I am sure the late coho are a main target for the QIN.

Was curious how much tribal participation was going on. It's pretty cold in the mornings and could make it tough to net , but nice in the afternoons and H tides which would benefit success. I floated the Satsop today with only one other boat to the hwy. Some good pockets in this low water but no bites for us. Spotted none. Thought some would be trickling in, with this low water. No action for us.

Checked with DW and in Dec and first part of Jan QIN did ok on Coho The farther into Jan the fewer Coho. Nooch trap report mirror this and I was told the redd counters last year were counting Coho in Feb be it not that many.

Thanks Dave and RnG. With over an inch of rain predicted for Thursday night and Friday in the Harbor fish should start moving. Hopefully. Some snow predicted for the weekend.

1/30/2025

I've been getting the Wynoochee Trap Report for a long time, 30+ years.....below are the numbers since 12/2024. This report is sent out, normally on Fridays. If there is a week break, its because of high water release from the dam.

This only shows Coho

12/7..... 76
12/14..... 59
12/28..... 159
1/4..... 23
1/11..... 22 No Coho after this date

This shows there are Coho coming thru the system, so the QIN would be getting fish in the Chehalis in their set nets and Gill net boat. WDFW used to post numbers on the QIN fishery numbers but not this season.

Hatchery Escapement Report for Late Winter steelhead.

Wynoochee dam trap as of Jan. 30th had, 456, 315 released to lakes, 135 live shipped to Lk, Aberdeen hatchery and 6 surplus. Surplus must mean they didn't make it? Which lakes get the releases?

Ekma Ponds 2 ( kids pond ) some Lake Sylvia. Any from Skook go to Fort Borst pond.

I was just told that Tim Ragen and Lynn Oconor are soon to be or now off the WDFW Commission. Anyone have thoughts on this ? Mine are the present Commissioners appointed by our former guv just not the way to go but thats my opinion.

What I think?

Two down, seven to go. The whole commission could do with a refresh, not to mention a reminder of whom they are supposed to serve.

I've said before that I question the effectiveness of the commission, but I'm not ready to throw the baby out with the bath water just yet. Let's start over, with new commissioners, and see where it goes. Likely nowhere new, but hey, it beats turning over the reigns to the WDFW director wholesale (for now).

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2025/feb/06/washington-governor-rescinds-wildlife-commission-a/

https://nwsportsmanmag.com/2-late-inslee-fish-and-wildlife-commission-appointments-rescinded/

Looks like it is game on time. Frankly I think he should get rid of all them and start from scratch.

And we are off to the races for 2025.



Good morning,

As we approach the 2025 North of Falcon season, I am happy to share the dates for our Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor meetings.

This year, instead of a regional forecast meeting, we are excited to offer an enhanced section for Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay in the Statewide Forecast Kickoff on February 28th in Olympia, WA. This includes a dedicated coastal breakout session with regional staff available to answer questions and provide valuable insights and collaboration. The meeting will be hybrid, giving you the flexibility to join in person or online.

Our regional fisheries discussion meetings are scheduled as follows:
March 12: Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor Joint Fisheries Discussion #1: Zoom Meeting: 6-8pm
-Ocean options, NALF (New Abundances, Last year’s Fisheries), and local management objectives with public feedback

April 2: Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor Joint Fisheries Discussion #2: Zoom Meeting: 6-8pm
-Proposals based on feedback and public input

A press release will follow shortly: it will include links to the full 2025 schedule on our new and updated North of Falcon webpage.

Thank you for your interest Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor fisheries.

Kind regards,

Marlene Wagner
South Coast Policy Lead
Marlene.wagner@dfw.wa.gov

Some of us old-timers are wondering how the DC shitshow will affect fisheries here. NOF is a Fed process, they have to review and approve the regs. Also, the whole US/Canada negotiations require the Feds and they adopt the regs. Stay tuned.

and the press release and yes the 28th of Feb is a Friday.

WDFW invites public participation in annual salmon season-setting process

Washington’s North of Falcon process kicks off Friday, Feb. 28 with hybrid statewide salmon forecast meeting in Olympia
OLYMPIA – Fishery managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) have scheduled opportunities for the public to provide input in 2025-2026 state-managed salmon seasons, beginning with a hybrid statewide forecast meeting on Friday, Feb. 28 in Olympia.

The meeting, part of the season setting process known as North of Falcon, is just one of more than a dozen in-person, hybrid, and virtual meetings scheduled over the next two months to discuss Washington salmon fisheries. North of Falcon refers to waters north of Oregon’s Cape Falcon, which marks the southern border of management of Washington’s salmon stocks, including Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Columbia River, and coastal areas.

WDFW will consider input from recreational and commercial anglers and those interested in salmon fishing, while state fishery managers work with tribal co-managers to craft 2025-2026 fisheries.
“The Washington salmon season-setting process is an important time for us to hear from the public as we develop the upcoming salmon fisheries with tribal co-managers,” said WDFW Director Kelly Susewind. "Salmon recovery is our top priority and drives the development of these sustainable salmon fisheries. We will continue to provide recreational and commercial harvest opportunities where salmon populations are healthy enough to sustain them.”

"As treaty tribes in Western Washington begin the annual North of Falcon planning process with state co-managers, our negotiations remain challenged by declining salmon populations," said Ed Johnstone, chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. "While we can't recover these stocks with fisheries management alone, we all need to recognize that we need to make difficult decisions to achieve conservation. Weak stock management must include leaving some fish in the water to account for increasing uncertainty caused by other factors such as habitat degradation, climate change and marine mammal predation."

WDFW will present initial salmon forecasts developed by WDFW and tribal co-manager fisheries biologists on Feb. 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Office Building 2 Auditorium, 1115 Washington Street S.E. in Olympia. The main session of the Feb. 28 meeting will be available to watch via Zoom webinar. Participants must register in advance.
WDFW and tribal forecasters use a suite of scientific data, including watershed sampling and monitoring, ocean indicators, and previous year returns, to estimate the number of salmon and steelhead that will return to Northwest waters, and how many fish will be available for harvest.

In addition to attending meetings, the public can participate in the state’s process including:
• Online comments: The public can now provide general comments on potential 2025-2026 North of Falcon recreational fisheries, coastal commercial fisheries, and Puget Sound commercial fisheries. Additional comment opportunities on specific seasons and fisheries will be available as forecasts and proposed season summaries are made available.
• Virtual meetings and daily briefings: During the final days of negotiations, state fish managers plan to hold briefings each day, which will be available via virtual meetings at the April 10-15 meetings.

For a full timeline of the state’s North of Falcon process, including a public meeting schedule with opportunities to participate in meetings and provide public feedback, visit the new WDFW North of Falcon webpage. WDFW-hosted meetings will be held in-person or in virtual and hybrid formats for the public to watch or listen. For key terms and suggested resources refer to the WDFW’s North of Falcon FAQs and Glossary Information.

This process occurs in tandem with Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) public meetings to establish fishing seasons for salmon in ocean waters three to 200 miles off the Pacific coast. The PFMC will discuss preliminary options for ocean fisheries during its March 6-11 meeting and is expected to adopt final fishing seasons and harvest levels at its April 10-15 meeting. More information on meetings is available on PFMC’s website.

All members of the public are invited to share their perspectives and participate in WDFW public feedback opportunities regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, language proficiency, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, or basis of disability.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.



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