NEWS RELEASE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

January 3, 2003
Contact: Bob Leland, (360) 902-2817


Poor hatchery steelhead returns prompt fishing
closures on seven northern Puget Sound rivers

OLYMPIA – Recreational game fish fishing will close Monday (Jan. 6) on sections of seven northern Puget Sound rivers to ensure enough adult steelhead return to hatcheries to produce the next generation, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.

The rivers affected by the emergency game fish fishing closure are:

The Cascade River from its mouth upstream to the Rockport Cascade Road Bridge
The North Fork Nooksack River from the mouth of Racehorse Creek upstream to the mouth of Kendall Creek
The Upper North Fork Stillaguamish River from the mouth of Little French Creek, approximately one mile downstream of Fortson Creek, to 25 yards upstream of the mouth of the outlet of White Horse Rearing Ponds
The mainstem Skykomish River from 1,500 feet upstream to 1,000 feet downstream of the Reiter Ponds outlet
The Upper Wallace River from the railroad trestle (downstream of Highway 2 Bridge) upstream to the mouth of Olney Creek
The mainstem Snoqualmie River from the Plum Access boat launch ramp, about a quarter mile downstream of the mouth of Tokul Creek, to Snoqualmie Falls
Tokul Creek from the mouth to the posted cable boundary marker about 700 feet upstream
"This is a precautionary measure," said Bob Leland, WDFW Steelhead Fish Manager. "The low hatchery steelhead returns on these rivers is not at a critical point yet, but it is better to be conservative at this point in the season."

The closed areas could reopen to fishing if egg take requirements are assured before the end of February.

Additional game fish and winter steelhead fishing rules are available in the WDFW 2002/2003 "Fishing in Washington" sport fishing rules pamphlet. Emergency recreational fishing rule changes are posted on the WDFW website on the Internet. The latest rule changes can also be accessed via phone, at (360) 902-2500, ext. 2.

Ouch, there goes my Wednesday trip to Reiters. I was figuring this latest rain would get things going again. Oh well, lets hope the fish start flooding in...

Wait! 1000 feet downstream - that keeps the Cable Hole open I do believe?

I was there late afternoon after visiting Tokul Creek to check out the poor fishing there. Didi not see the first sign near the parking lot at Reiter, but the two signs down by the water you can not miss. Kind of surreal standing in the middle of nowhere with a rod all geared up ready to fish and not being able to. My dog looked at me as if to say, 'what are you waiting for dumb@ss!" Oh well, at least I wasn't late for my bday dinner at the inlaws, well at least not that late. :p

The sign said something like 'help us ensure a healthy future for fish, etc.' and I must admit I have no confidence that the fishing that sportsfisherman do has much, if anything, to do with why there is a closure. The whole thing seems so friggin' mismanaged it is unbelievable to me.

Is Reiter closed now?? I thought the closures took place on Monday Jan 6th. Can anyone shed some light on this before I drive up there tomorrow? Thanks!

Give the fish a break and fish somewhere else there is a lot of water still open

They take effect on monday the 6th.