The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) annual salmon fishing season setting process includes two public meetings in eastern Washington - March 24 in Clarkston and March 25 in Kennewick.

The Tuesday, March 24, meeting runs 6 - 8 p.m. at Walla Walla Community College's Main Lecture Hall, 1470 Bridge Street, in Clarkston.

The Wednesday, March 25, meeting runs 6 - 8 p.m. at the Benton Public Utility District (PUD) building, 2721 W. 10th Ave. in Kennewick.

Both meetings will include discussion of and public comment on 2015 Columbia and Snake River and tributaries fishery management objectives and preliminary options for spring, summer and fall sport fisheries.

WDFW Regional Fish Program Managers -- John Whalen of Spokane, John Easterbrooks of Yakima, and Jeff Korth of Ephrata -- note that over the next several weeks, state and tribal co-managers will develop seasons that focus fishing opportunities on abundant hatchery and healthy wild salmon populations.

They explain the first step is meeting conservation objectives for depressed wild salmon stocks, but several of this year's forecasts indicate those goals can be met and still have strong fisheries. The forecasts for spring, summer, and fall Chinook and sockeye are similar to last year's returns.

Complete information about salmon forecasts, the statewide meeting schedule, and on-line comment submission is available at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/ .

All input will be considered as the season-setting process moves into the "North of Falcon" and Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) meetings, which will determine the final 2015 salmon seasons at an April 11-16 meeting in California.

Thanks for the heads up on this, I have been to a few in the past and sincerely wish the Agency would video record the constituent meetings and post them to youtube. This would allow for those of us that can’t attend due to other commitments (I know flame on, but everyone has different schedules) it would be nice to be able to get caught up to speed about the issues and where things stand prior to the following meeting(s), when we might be able to make it. If you could pass that along it would be appreciated, and I will do the same when I can. However, big thanks to all those who are able and make the effort to attend. And finally:

2nd Meeting-----March 2--Meeting in Olympia

Room was full but that said the meeting was for all Regions. 1st 1.5 hours spent giving "stocks information", all on salmon. Broke into groups, by Region, Region 6....4 sports, NO GILL NETTERS, 8 WDFW personnel.

No season setting was mentioned. Problem rivers....Hoh, Queets, Humptulips. Queets has gotten so bad that could affect PFMC. Humptulips, wild/natural Coho still a major problem, no direction given at this meeting. Hoh tribe not willing to work on problem, WDFW has major concerns, on Hoh tribe, might have to take different action......Chehalis tribe was also mentioned on the different action.


Hi Drifter,

Thanks you VERY much for the all the important updates.

I'm very interested in hearing more details about the issues with the Queets & Hoh including the tribe.

It's ridiculous that there is a fishery for " Chehalis spring Chonook"!

This needs to END! Anyone who knows anything about the current status of this stock would agree.

Ah, if you would like the preseason forecast with the harvest / escapement and run reconstruction data from 1982 to 2014 just PM me and I will send it to you. I think you would find it helpful in getting facts straight.

Maybe I'm missing something...?