02-11-2010, 12:11 PM
Actions:
"¢ Allow the retention of hatchery-origin adipose fin-clipped steelhead with circular (hole) punches in the caudal (tail) fin, Feb. 12, 2010.<br />
"¢ Close the Wenatchee River to steelhead fishing midnight February 28, 2010.<br />
"¢ Close sections of the Okanogan River around the mouths of Omak and Bonaparte creeks as of March 15, 2010.<br />
Species affected: Hatchery origin adipose fin-clipped steelhead.<br />
Hatchery-origin steelhead retention rule change: Anglers may retain hatchery-origin adipose fin-clipped steelhead with circular (hole) punches in the caudal (tail) fin as of Feb. 12, 2010 only in areas of the Columbia River and tributaries that remain open to steelhead fishing.<br />
Fishing area locations and effective closure dates:<br />
"¢ The Wenatchee River from the mouth to 800 feet below Tumwater Dam, including the Icicle River from the mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Barrier Dam. Open through February 28, 2010 . Night closure and selective gear rules apply.<br />
"¢ The Okanogan River from the mouth upstream to Hwy 97 Bridge in Oroville. Open through March 31, 2010 . Night closure and selective gear rules apply, except motorized vessels allowed. CLOSED WATERS effective March 15, 2010 from the first powerline crossing downstream of the Hwy 155 Bridge in Omak (Coulee Dam Credit Union Building) to the mouth of Omak Creek and from the Tonasket Bridge (4th Street) downstream to the Tonasket Lagoons Park boat launch.<br />
Location and regulations of areas previously opened to hatchery-origin steelhead harvest:<br />
"¢ The mainstem Columbia River from Rock Island Dam to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam. Open through March 31, 2010. Night closure and selective gear rules apply, except motorized vessels and bait is allowed.<br />
"¢ The Entiat River upstream from the Alternate Highway 97 Bridge near the mouth of the Entiat River, approximately 6 miles to 800 feet downstream of the Entiat National Fish Hatchery outfall. Open through March 31, 2010. Night closure and selective gear rules apply, except motorized vessels allowed.<br />
"¢ The Similkameen River, from its mouth to 400 feet below Enloe Dam. Open through March 31, 2010. Night closure and selective gear rules apply.<br />
"¢ The Methow River from the Hwy. 97 Bridge in Pateros upstream to the confluence with the Chewuch River in Winthrop, WA. Open through March 31, 2010. Night closure and selective gear rules apply, except motorized vessels allowed.<br />
Reason for action: Allowable impacts to natural origin steelhead due to angling on the Wenatchee River will be met by the end of February, and the fishery will close at midnight February 28. In addition, sections of the Okanogan River around the mouths of Omak and Tonasket creeks are closed to protect natural origin steelhead staging prior to spawning in those tributaries.<br />
Anglers may retain hatchery adipose fin-clipped steelhead with circular (hole) punches in the caudal (tail) fin in areas of the Columbia River that remain open to steelhead fishing. Circular (hole) punches were put in the caudal (tail) fin for sampling and monitoring purposes at Priest Rapids Dam, these fish are no longer needed for monitoring and can now be legally retained.<br />
Other information: Anglers are required to harvest hatchery origin steelhead with an adipose fin-clip and a healed scar in the location of the missing fin. There is a four (4) fish mandatory daily retention limit on adipose fin-clipped steelhead, 20-inch minimum size. All steelhead with an intact adipose fin must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water. All other fisheries must follow selective gear rules, except that bait is also allowed on the mainstem Columbia River from Rock Island Dam to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam.<br />
WDFW will be monitoring the steelhead fishery area from Rock Island Dam to Chief Joseph Dam including tributaries. Certain fishery areas can close at any time, so anglers are advised to check the WDFW website ( http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm ) periodically for emergency rule changes.<br />
Information contacts: Jeff Korth, Region 2 Fish Program Manager, (509) 754-4624, Bob Jateff, District 6 Fish Biologist, (509) 997-0316, Art Viola, District 7 Fish Biologist, (509) 665-3337
"¢ Allow the retention of hatchery-origin adipose fin-clipped steelhead with circular (hole) punches in the caudal (tail) fin, Feb. 12, 2010.<br />
"¢ Close the Wenatchee River to steelhead fishing midnight February 28, 2010.<br />
"¢ Close sections of the Okanogan River around the mouths of Omak and Bonaparte creeks as of March 15, 2010.<br />
Species affected: Hatchery origin adipose fin-clipped steelhead.<br />
Hatchery-origin steelhead retention rule change: Anglers may retain hatchery-origin adipose fin-clipped steelhead with circular (hole) punches in the caudal (tail) fin as of Feb. 12, 2010 only in areas of the Columbia River and tributaries that remain open to steelhead fishing.<br />
Fishing area locations and effective closure dates:<br />
"¢ The Wenatchee River from the mouth to 800 feet below Tumwater Dam, including the Icicle River from the mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Barrier Dam. Open through February 28, 2010 . Night closure and selective gear rules apply.<br />
"¢ The Okanogan River from the mouth upstream to Hwy 97 Bridge in Oroville. Open through March 31, 2010 . Night closure and selective gear rules apply, except motorized vessels allowed. CLOSED WATERS effective March 15, 2010 from the first powerline crossing downstream of the Hwy 155 Bridge in Omak (Coulee Dam Credit Union Building) to the mouth of Omak Creek and from the Tonasket Bridge (4th Street) downstream to the Tonasket Lagoons Park boat launch.<br />
Location and regulations of areas previously opened to hatchery-origin steelhead harvest:<br />
"¢ The mainstem Columbia River from Rock Island Dam to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam. Open through March 31, 2010. Night closure and selective gear rules apply, except motorized vessels and bait is allowed.<br />
"¢ The Entiat River upstream from the Alternate Highway 97 Bridge near the mouth of the Entiat River, approximately 6 miles to 800 feet downstream of the Entiat National Fish Hatchery outfall. Open through March 31, 2010. Night closure and selective gear rules apply, except motorized vessels allowed.<br />
"¢ The Similkameen River, from its mouth to 400 feet below Enloe Dam. Open through March 31, 2010. Night closure and selective gear rules apply.<br />
"¢ The Methow River from the Hwy. 97 Bridge in Pateros upstream to the confluence with the Chewuch River in Winthrop, WA. Open through March 31, 2010. Night closure and selective gear rules apply, except motorized vessels allowed.<br />
Reason for action: Allowable impacts to natural origin steelhead due to angling on the Wenatchee River will be met by the end of February, and the fishery will close at midnight February 28. In addition, sections of the Okanogan River around the mouths of Omak and Tonasket creeks are closed to protect natural origin steelhead staging prior to spawning in those tributaries.<br />
Anglers may retain hatchery adipose fin-clipped steelhead with circular (hole) punches in the caudal (tail) fin in areas of the Columbia River that remain open to steelhead fishing. Circular (hole) punches were put in the caudal (tail) fin for sampling and monitoring purposes at Priest Rapids Dam, these fish are no longer needed for monitoring and can now be legally retained.<br />
Other information: Anglers are required to harvest hatchery origin steelhead with an adipose fin-clip and a healed scar in the location of the missing fin. There is a four (4) fish mandatory daily retention limit on adipose fin-clipped steelhead, 20-inch minimum size. All steelhead with an intact adipose fin must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water. All other fisheries must follow selective gear rules, except that bait is also allowed on the mainstem Columbia River from Rock Island Dam to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam.<br />
WDFW will be monitoring the steelhead fishery area from Rock Island Dam to Chief Joseph Dam including tributaries. Certain fishery areas can close at any time, so anglers are advised to check the WDFW website ( http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm ) periodically for emergency rule changes.<br />
Information contacts: Jeff Korth, Region 2 Fish Program Manager, (509) 754-4624, Bob Jateff, District 6 Fish Biologist, (509) 997-0316, Art Viola, District 7 Fish Biologist, (509) 665-3337