anyone hear what went on in the meeting with the Quins and what is going to happen?

Lots of sucking noise and skin slapping.

No decision has been made on the Queets etc. There is another meeting on the 25th. Northwest Sportsman Mag has a piece they posted the other day o you can take a look at the Grays Harbor rivers.

11/23/2024

I listen to most of the "zoom meeting"......Left when WDFW is going to allow a fishery on the upper Quinault River. Just don't understand why this fishery is allowed when there are no hatchery plants into the upper river.

WDFW plan to protect Native steelhead.....at a end after 3 years????? Grrrrrrrr

That is a phony political gesture to make it look like white men work with Tonto.

Is there a reason to be optimistic?

How's are steelhead management doing? Why don't we have a C&R season on O.P. fish that are NOT listed, but Columbia River streams can have a big season, catch and release on wilds, when their streams have LISTED steelhead?

Tug 3.

From what I've gotten out of the meetings is that WDFW wants to get us fishing. There is 1 Big Fng Problem with the Queets, Salmon, Clearwater, Upper Quinault and Grays Harbor.

WDW has "Co-Managers". It seems like the Hoh & Quileute's are working well with WDFW. I thank them for that. It seems like every year there is a hold up with the Quinault's. We haven't fished the Salmon River in 2 years. The Tribe has.

Take a look at the Escapement for Wild Steelhead and Wild Coho over the last 10+ years on the Queets. It's been a struggle. Why? There are a few miles of river that passes through Tribal Land before the Queets hits the National Park and Pristine water. The Queets should be the Crown Jewel of the West Coast. Could it be the approximately 5 days/week netting that has happened over that time?

It can't be the Tribes or the netting. They are the First Conservationist. They plan their fisheries seven generations into the future, not seven minutes. They have a great reverence for the fish. So, it simply can't be them. Right?

C-Man, Wise guru that you are, look into your crystal ball and tell me more! Thank you for your honest comment.

K&P, respectively to your comment, I've been around a long time as a steelhead and salmon advocate. The damage done to the Queets, especially continues to break my heart. I've only been fishing it off and on since 1969, and I hope I can fish it once again with an expectation to catch a steelhead to release. It is holy ground to me. It should have twenty thousand returners, but now it doesn't. The ocean is a mystery, so is the high seas harvest, but the habitat on the Queets is the best there is. Keep educating yourself. No animosity here for your communication. In an earlier career I both arrested the co-managers, and fought to protect them.

I would love to know what the expected impact from a Salmon or Queets sports fishery is. With the netting and the large sports guiding that takes place and with no required or expected wild release, my guess is that it probably is over 50 tribal to 1 sports and could be higher. With an early closure on the Salmon, it likely could be in the 100's to 1. Still, we do not fish while they do.

The upper Quinault numbers are probably just as lopsided. I doubt whether the real numbers exist, but it would be real intesting.

Unfortunately, some groups fall outside the acceptable limits for criticism. “Sovereign” must be French for “can do no wrong.”

I agree, it breaks my heart too. For me, WDFW's greatest failure is their inability to co-manage the fisheries that we share with the Quinault Indian Nation. Failure to even start, first steps (both parties agree on an escapement number for the Queets so we can co-manage it in the first place). It is unacceptable.

I don't think this run can be netted into extinction, I think steelhead are too resilient, but they are sure trying.

Unacceptable,

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My dream has been to be able to fish the Puyallup again in February or March. Same for the Green and Nisqually but I don’t think it’s going to ever happen.
It would be fun to catch another one out of the Puyallup almost 60 years after catching my first one there.
Closing things down certainly hasn’t brought back the fish or provided any future angling opportunities. The Nisqually has been closed now for 31 years…..
SF

In a discussion I have had with some Canadian colleagues about they have with mismanagement on the Skeena, Thompson and actually the rest of the province, is that O. mykiss will probably survive as residents but the anadromous segment will essentially vanish. Mykiss seems to be able, as a species, to recognize what works best for species survival. If migrating to the ocean is a bad decision, they stay home.

The most extreme examples I have heard of came from the central/southern CA coast where century long drought dried up the lower reaches of streams which prevent smolt migration out or adults back. So they stayed in the headwaters until the water returned and then they went back to anadromy.

If you look at estimates of what used to return (non-WDFW sanctioned numbers) there used to be huge runs of steelhead which we now have reduced to crumbs. And we are not trying to get the whole loaf back, just a few more crumbs.

Whoa! Got me beat. 50 yrs, for me. Learned Steelhead on the Puyallup from my Gramps who resided in town since 1906. He told stories of fishing the lower river before diked and straightened, and how it was so brushy would have to bushwack for access. Cane poles with ceramic guides that rattle, and leader pieces and hooks bought from the dime store. No reel, couldn't afford one. Used cat gut for main line that became pliable when wet. Short casts only with a strip basket. Fiasco when you hooked one. Pole in arm pit trying to conrol line in and out. Many fish lost but multiple hookups inceased the odds of landing dinner. I started out "plunking", he used another derogatory term for it. Landed my 1st ever in 74. Grew up drift fishing and focused all efforts there. March was so fun for the nates. C&R came too late. Didn't have to travel anywhere else? Did venture to the Nisqually later in April after the Puy closed. Very seldom bonked those brutes. Green in the spring/early summer. Late 70's early 80's it was hot! Met Harry Lemire up in the gorge once. Sneaky guy up there.
In retirement, had dreams of fishing locally into March and April. I still think March wild numbers exist in the Puyallup, but probably will never get another chance. It would be a crowded zoo anyway. So sad. Thanks for jogging memories.

We are the same age.
Don't feel like typing but in the late 70s we would run the jet boat up and fish the Nisqually just below the dam in March.

Dam..... it was incredible.

That sounds awesome, they chopped another 2-3 miles or so off legal water this year.

Coho in late October was pretty incredible some days above the Hatchery but below tank bridge.

This year no fishing above the Hatchery for salmon, trout was only open July...

It's a beautiful river. Would surely love to swing a spoon through it some day.

WDFW announces 2024-25 coastal steelhead regulations

OLYMPIA – Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) fishery managers this week announced regulations for the state’s 2024-25 coastal steelhead season.

Most major steelhead fishing areas are scheduled to be open from Dec. 2 through March 31. Notable exceptions include:

• Queets River within Olympic National Park (upstream of Clearwater Road bridge/Quinault Indian Nation boundary) will close Dec. 16.
• Humptulips River upstream of Highway 101 including all forks will close Jan. 2. Humptulips River (mouth to Highway 101 bridge) will close Feb. 3.
• Willapa River section from mouth (City of South Bend boat launch) to the WDFW access site at the mouth of Ward/Wilson creeks will close Feb. 1.
• Clearwater River (Quinault Indian Nation boundary to Snahapish River) and Salmon River (mouth to Quinault Indian Nation boundary) will close March 1.
• Chehalis River (mouth to confluence with Skookumchuck River), Wynoochee River (mouth to 7400 Road bridge), Satsop River (mouth to Schafer State Park bridge on East Fork Satsop), and Skookumchuck River will close March 1. All other Grays Harbor and Chehalis Basin tributaries will close Jan. 2.

See below for a summary of additional regulations, closure dates, and areas.

Emergency fishing rule changes will be published Dec. 2 as well as available on the Fish Washington© mobile app. Areas not listed in the emergency fishing rule changes will remain as described in the 2024-25 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.

“It’s great to see increased wild steelhead forecasts for most coastal rivers, although we still have work to do to rebuild these runs for current and future generations,” said WDFW Fish Program Director Kelly Cunningham. “Our balanced approach this season includes earlier closures than initially proposed while providing meaningful fishing opportunities.”

Summary of regulations

Selective gear rules (no bait) and a single-point barbless hook are required this season for coastal steelhead rivers including those in Willapa Bay, Grays Harbor, and along the mid- and northern coasts. The daily bag limit for all rivers and streams is two hatchery steelhead, and anglers must release wild steelhead and rainbow trout. Anglers may not remove wild steelhead fully from the water prior to release.

Additional emergency fishing rule changes could occur throughout the season. Fisheries in April are currently unlikely but are contingent on in-season updates and discussions with co-managers.
The areas listed below are open Dec. 2, 2024 through March 31, 2025 unless noted otherwise.

North coast rivers and tributaries
• Big River (Clallam Co.). Does not open for fishing until Jan. 1. Closes March 1.
• Bogachiel River (Clallam Co.). Fishing from a floating device is prohibited upstream of the mouth of Mill Creek (located approximately ¾ mi. above the Bogachiel Hatchery). See vessel fishing boundaries.
• Calawah River (Clallam Co.). Fishing from a floating device is prohibited upstream of the Highway 101 Bridge. See vessel fishing boundaries.
• Calawah River, South Fork (Clallam Co.). Fishing from a floating device is prohibited.
• Cedar Creek (Jefferson Co.). Closes March 1.
• Dickey River, including East and West forks (Clallam Co.). Fishing from a floating device is prohibited.
• Goodman Creek (Jefferson Co.). Closes March 1.
• Hoh River (Jefferson Co.). Fishing from a floating device is prohibited upstream of the boat launch at Morgans Crossing.
• Hoh River, South Fork (Jefferson Co.). Fishing from a floating device is prohibited.
• Kalaloch Creek (Jefferson Co.). Closes March 1.
• Mosquito Creek (Jefferson Co.). Closes March 1.
• Quillayute River (Clallam Co.).
• Sol Duc River (Clallam Co.). Fishing from a floating device prohibited upstream of the concrete pump station at the Sol Duc Hatchery.
• Sooes River (Tsoo-Yess River. Clallam Co.). Upstream of Makah Reservation boundary closes March 1. See Makah Tribe fishing regulations and permit requirements for fishing on Makah Reservation.
• Thunder Creek (Clallam Co.). Closes March 1.
Central coast and Grays Harbor tributaries
• Black River (Grays Harbor Co.). Open only for salmon. Closes Jan. 1.
• Chehalis River and all forks (Grays Harbor Co.). Closes March 1.
• Clearwater River (Jefferson Co.). Close March 1.
• Cloquallum Creek (Grays Harbor/Mason Co.). Closes Jan. 2.
• Copalis River (Grays Harbor Co.). Closes March 1.
• Elk Creek (Lewis/Pacific Co.). Closes Jan. 2.
• Elk River (Grays Harbor Co.). Closes Jan. 2.
• Hoquiam River including West and East forks (Grays Harbor Co.). Closes Jan. 2.
• Humptulips River (Grays Harbor Co.). Upstream of Highway 101 closes Jan. 2. Mouth to Highway 101 closes Feb. 3.
• Joe Creek (Grays Harbor Co.). Closes Jan. 1.
• Johns River (Grays Harbor Co.). Closes Jan. 2.
• Moclips River (Grays Harbor Co.). Closes March 1.
• Newaukum River, including all forks (Lewis Co.). Closes Jan. 2.
• Queets River (Jefferson Co.). Closes Dec. 16. Please review Olympic National Park fishing regulations for additional details.
• Quinault River, Upper (Grays Harbor/Jefferson Co.). From mouth at Lake Quinault to North Shore Road bridge) closes March 31.
• Salmon River (Jefferson Co.). Closes March 1.
• Satsop River (Grays Harbor Co.) Mouth to Schafer State Park bridge on East Fork closes March 1. Middle Fork and West Fork close Jan. 2.
• Skookumchuck River (Lewis/Thurston Co.) Closes March 1.
• Stevens Creek (Grays Harbor Co.). Closes Jan. 2.
• Van Winkle Creek (Grays Harbor Co.). Closes Jan. 2.
• Wishkah River (Grays Harbor Co.). Closes Jan. 2.
• Wynoochee River (Grays Harbor Co.) Closes March 1.
Willapa Bay tributaries
• Bear River (Pacific Co.).
• Naselle River (Pacific Co.).
• Naselle River, South (Pacific Co.). From mouth to Bean Creek, game fish seasons are open with statewide minimum size and daily limits, except Cutthroat trout minimum size 14 inches and release wild rainbow trout, effective Dec. 2 through March 31.
• Nemah River, Middle (Pacific Co.).
• Nemah River, North (Pacific Co.).
• Nemah River, South (Pacific Co.).
• North River (Grays Harbor/Pacific Co.). From the Hwy. 105 bridge to Raimie Creek, game fish seasons are open with statewide minimum size and daily limits, except Cutthroat trout minimum size 14 inches and release wild rainbow trout, effective Dec, 2 through March 31.
• Palix River (Pacific Co.). From the Middle Fork upstream (all forks including South Fork Palix River and Canon River), game fish seasons are open with statewide minimum size and daily limits, except Cutthroat trout minimum size 14 inches and release wild rainbow trout, effective Dec. 2 through March 31.
• Salmon Creek (Pacific/Wahkiakum Co.). Game fish seasons are open with statewide minimum size and daily limits, except Cutthroat trout minimum size 14 inches and release wild rainbow trout, effective Dec. 2 through March 31.
• Smith Creek (near North River) (Pacific Co.). Game fish seasons are open with statewide minimum size and daily limits, except Cutthroat trout minimum size 14 inches and release wild rainbow trout, effective Dec. 2 through March 31.
• Willapa River (Pacific Co.). Section from mouth (City of South Bend boat launch) to the WDFW access site at the mouth of Ward/Wilson creeks closes Feb. 1.
• Willapa River, South Fork (Pacific Co.). Game fish seasons are open with statewide minimum size and daily limits, except Cutthroat trout minimum size 14 inches and release wild rainbow trout, effective Dec. 2 through March 31.

Anglers will be able to fish from a floating device on the lower and middle sections of the Hoh River below the boat launch at Morgans Crossing. The 2023-2024 season marked the first time since 2020 that boat fishing was allowed on certain days. Upper sections of the Hoh River have been closed to fishing from a floating device since 2016. The South Fork of the Hoh River will also be closed to fishing from a floating device.

Fishing from a floating device will be allowed on the Quillayute River, Bogachiel River below the mouth of Mill Creek (above the hatchery), Calawah River below the Highway 101 bridge, and Sol Duc River below the concrete pump station at the hatchery. It is prohibited (boats allowed for transportation only) on other sections of these rivers and on the Dickey River.

Coastal steelhead management

Final fishing regulations followed an extensive public engagement process, which included a two-part virtual town hall series this past fall, with recordings available online, and several WDFW staff updates to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. The Department will present final rules to the Commission’s Fish Committee on Dec. 12. Meeting details will soon be available on the Commission webpage.

WDFW continues to operate under its Statewide Steelhead Management Plan, which requires the Department to prioritize the sustainability of wild coastal steelhead runs by focusing on healthy levels of abundance, productivity, diversity, and distribution.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Fisheries) released a report this month in response to a petition to list Olympic Peninsula steelhead under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The report states this steelhead population is “at a moderate risk of extinction” due to factors including warming ocean and freshwater conditions related to climate change, historic habitat loss and hatchery practices during the previous century, and competition with pink salmon while in the ocean. NOAA Fisheries has not yet issued an official determination regarding the ESA petition.
For more information about coastal steelhead management and the pre-season planning process, please visit WDFW’s website.
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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Thanks for this. I've been waiting to hear the results; I didn't participate in the meetings, because I know it wouldn't have made a difference, no matter what. It's so sad that "the best available science" over the years has led us to this. Pragmatically, the way the compromised seasons are laid out, at some time the rivers that also need late season protection are going to be overwhelmed. Politics rules, and at WDFW there is no institutional memory which has been wiped out, along with promises of years ago.