08-09-2005, 04:32 PM
OLYMPIA, WA[font "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][size 2]—[/size][/font]The fishing closure on the Reiter Ponds section of the Skykomish River-1,500 feet upstream and 1,000 feet downstream from the ponds' outlet-has been extended until further notice. This extension keeps fishing closed to all species, including steelhead.
The decision was made after the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) noted that summer steelhead broodstock returns were too low. To guarantee that the DFW traps enough broodstock (at least 350 compared to the 150 it has trapped so far), the fish entering the Reiter Ponds must be coming in untouched by anglers.
The DFW blames the river's low water conditions and poor hatchery summer steelhead returns for the slow return.
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The decision was made after the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) noted that summer steelhead broodstock returns were too low. To guarantee that the DFW traps enough broodstock (at least 350 compared to the 150 it has trapped so far), the fish entering the Reiter Ponds must be coming in untouched by anglers.
The DFW blames the river's low water conditions and poor hatchery summer steelhead returns for the slow return.
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