It's official, just got off the phone with "Pish and Blame" (Fish and Game). As of today Reiter, the Snoqualmie, Tokul, and the Cascade are now once again open. Good Luck!! Press Release: February 16, 2000
Contact: Bob Leland, (360) 902-2817

WDFW reopens rivers
to steelhead angling

OLYMPIA–Sections of the Snoqualmie, Skykomish and Cascade rivers and Tokul Creek will reopen for hatchery steelhead and gamefish sport fishing today, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announces.

While hatchery steelhead retention is permitted, wild steelhead must be released in the following:

The Snoqualmie River from the Plum Access boat launch ramp to Snoqualmie Falls

The mainstem Skykomish River from 1,000 feet downstream of the Reiter Ponds outlet and 1,500 feet upstream of the outlet

Tokul Creek from its mouth approximately 700 feet upstream to the posted cable boundary marker
The Cascade River also will be reopened Feb. 16 from the mouth to the Rockport-Cascade Road Bridge. Anglers may keep wild as well as hatchery fish in this area through Feb. 29.

The rivers were closed to all fishing on Jan. 16 so WDFW could obtain hatchery steelhead eggs needed for future production at its Tokul Creek, Reiter Ponds and Marblemount hatcheries


[This message has been edited by JohnnyCoho (edited 02-16-2000).]

Today???...Great, the fish will be scared sh**less by the time I get there this weekend.

Happy to hear they have reopened...but I'm a little confused. Weren't they closed because of the poor numbers? And if so, could that short closure have such a positive effect? Anyone hear what made them decide to reopen?



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ExtraStout

Extrastout, Great name!! I know that the Cascade hatchery ended up getting over 250,000 eggs from the "Boggi." To help make up for the lack of fish showing up here. As for the others I'm not sure.

Just a little extra added note of good news;
The terminal areas may be re-opened but the catch and release of natives rule they put into effect is still in effect and will remain so. About Time!!!

Tokul Creek also got their fish. Seems the fish were just late this year. This happened a couple of years ago, and the closure was even shorter. Its surprising how many fish can get to the hatchery during peak season, when its not pounded day after day right at the pipe.

That's great to hear...I may take the drive tomorrow with my fishin' buddy!

I can't BELIEVE I missed 10 years of primo fishing when I lived in N. Bend and Snoqualmie...hadn't taken up fishing yet! I never could figure out WHAT THE HECK those guys were doing wading out into that freezing cold water and FISHING in the WINTER!! Hee Hee!!! Now I have to drive TWO HOURS to what would have been a 5 minute bike ride!!! POOP!!! Day late...dollar short!!!

Have fun!...and thanks
again!
L

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"Great spirits have always encountered opposition from mediocre minds!" Albert Einstein

Anyone know how many fish Tokul ended up with? I think at one point, at the end of December they only had something like 97 fish in the traps and needed 250. Just curious if they actually hit that number.


Kev