Outdoors - Hunting and Fishing

POSTED: Thursday, Dec. 04, 2008

HUNTING AND F ISHING:Gamefish opportunities

Here's where to look for gamefish angling opportunities on the road during the winter months.

Remember, under statewide fishing rules, wild steelhead, either summer- or winter-runs, in most streams must be released unharmed.

But your one wild steelhead allowed per year may be kept if caught in one of a select few streams.

Always read the regulations carefully before fishing.

THE OKANOGAN

Similkameen River: mouth to just below Enloe Dam for steelhead and whitefish. Enloe Dam to Canadian border for whitefish only.

Methow River: Pateros Highway 97 bridge to second powerline crossing and first Highway 153 bridge to Chewuck River for steelhead and whitefish. Chewuck River to falls above Brush Creek for whitefish only.

Okanogan River: mouth to Highway 97 bridge to highway bridge at Malott for hatchery steelhead and gamefish. From highway bridge at Malott to Highway 97 bridge just south of Oroville for steelhead only.

NORTH PENINSULA

Lyre River: mouth to falls near river mile three. Must release wild steelhead.

Quillayute River: national park boundary to confluence of Sol Duc and Bogachiel for hatchery and wild steelhead.

Bogachiel River: mouth to Highway 101 bridge for hatchery or wild steelhead. Highway 101 to national park boundary for hatchery steelhead only.

Sol Duc River: mouth to concrete pump station at Sol Duc Hatchery for hatchery or wild steelhead. Sol Duc Hatchery to Highway 101 bridge below Snider Creek, release wild steelhead.

Hoh River: national park boundary to Oxbow Campground for hatchery or wild steelhead. Oxbow CG to national park boundary below mouyth of South Fork release wild steelhead.

Clearwater River: mouth to Snahapish River for wild steelhead retention.

Calawah River: mouth to Highway 101 bridge for hatchery or wild steelhead. Highway 101 bridge to forks, release wild steelhead.

SOUTH PENINSULA

Wynoochee River: mouth to 7400 Line Bridge above Schafer Creek for hatchery steelhead. Above 7400 Line Bridge it's catch and release except hatchery steelhead may be kept.

Satsop River: mouth to bridge at Schafer State Park for hatchery steelhead

Humptulips River: mouth to confluence of East and West Forks for hatchery steelhead.

SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON

Cowlitz River: mouth boundary markers to Mayfield Dam for hatchery steelhead with release of all right ventral fin clipped steelhead.

Kalama River: mouth boundary markers upstream to 1,000 feet above fishway at upper salmon hatchery except closed waters section for hatchery steelhead.

Lewis River: mouth boundary markers (see pamphlet) to mouth of East Fork Lewis for hatchery steelhead. Also check East and North Forks for hatchery steelhead.

Elochoman River: mouth to West Fork for hatchery steelhead.

Washougal River: mouth boundary markers (see pamphlet) to headwaters for hatchery steelhead.

SOUTHEAST WASHINGTON

Grande Ronde River: mouth to county road bridge 2.5 mile upstream for gamefish and release all steelhead. County road brtidge at 2.5 mile to Oregon stateline for hatchery steelhead and whitefish only.

Tucannon River: mouth to Tucannon Hacthery bridge for hatchery steelhead and whitefish only.

Touchet River: mouth to confluence of North and South Forks for hatchery steelhead and brown trout

Snake River: mouth to Interstate bridge at Clarkston for hatchery steelhead, except closure areas below dams

Walla Walla River: above mouth to Oregon stateline for hatchery steelhead.