August 30, 2013
Action: Rule changes for steelhead fishery
Rule change for definition of the mouth of the Tucannon River
Effective date: 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1, 2013, until further notice.
Species affected: Hatchery steelhead (with missing adipose fin)
Steelhead:
1. All steelhead reduced to possession (landed) in the Tucannon River with a missing adipose fin (hatchery origin) MUST BE RETAINED. Catch and release of hatchery steelhead is not allowed
2. The area from Marengo (at Turner Road) upstream is closed to steelhead fishing
3. The daily limit is reduced to 2 hatchery steelhead per day.
4. Barbless hooks required.
5. Release all wild steelhead.
Location: For this emergency regulation the Tucannon River is defined as the water lying south of a line of sight from an orange diamond shaped sign attached to the Hwy 261 guard rail (northwest of the Tucannon River and adjacent to the rest area turn off), running southeast across to the eastern, unsubmerged shoreline of the Tucannon River (point of land spit). The large embayment between the eastern shoreline of the Tucannon River and the rock bluff to the east along the south shore of the Snake River is considered part of the Snake River.
Reason for action: Steelhead returns to the Tucannon River are not meeting management goals for conservation or for maintaining fisheries and therefore, the fishery for hatchery steelhead must be constrained to provide more protection of naturally produced steelhead in the Tucannon River. The emergency regulations are intended to focus the fishery on removal of stray hatchery steelhead that primarily enter the Tucannon River in late summer and fall to prevent them from spawning naturally, as well as provide a refuge area above Marengo to protect early returning wild steelhead, and close the fishery before March when most of the wild steelhead return to the Tucannon River.
Other Information:
Anglers must cease fishing for steelhead for the day once they have retained 2 hatchery steelhead or their 2 trout per day limit. Adipose fin-clipped fish must have a healed scar at the location of the missing fin. All steelhead with unclipped adipose fins must be immediately released unharmed. In addition, anglers cannot remove any steelhead from the water unless it is retained as part of the daily bag limit. Anglers should be sure to identify their catch because chinook and coho salmon, as well as bull trout are also present in the Tucannon River during this steelhead fishery.
Information contact: For more information, contact Glen Mendel, District 3 Fish Biologist at (509) 382-1005.
Rule change for definition of the mouth of the Tucannon River
Effective date: 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1, 2013, until further notice.
Species affected: Hatchery steelhead (with missing adipose fin)
Steelhead:
1. All steelhead reduced to possession (landed) in the Tucannon River with a missing adipose fin (hatchery origin) MUST BE RETAINED. Catch and release of hatchery steelhead is not allowed
2. The area from Marengo (at Turner Road) upstream is closed to steelhead fishing
3. The daily limit is reduced to 2 hatchery steelhead per day.
4. Barbless hooks required.
5. Release all wild steelhead.
Location: For this emergency regulation the Tucannon River is defined as the water lying south of a line of sight from an orange diamond shaped sign attached to the Hwy 261 guard rail (northwest of the Tucannon River and adjacent to the rest area turn off), running southeast across to the eastern, unsubmerged shoreline of the Tucannon River (point of land spit). The large embayment between the eastern shoreline of the Tucannon River and the rock bluff to the east along the south shore of the Snake River is considered part of the Snake River.
Reason for action: Steelhead returns to the Tucannon River are not meeting management goals for conservation or for maintaining fisheries and therefore, the fishery for hatchery steelhead must be constrained to provide more protection of naturally produced steelhead in the Tucannon River. The emergency regulations are intended to focus the fishery on removal of stray hatchery steelhead that primarily enter the Tucannon River in late summer and fall to prevent them from spawning naturally, as well as provide a refuge area above Marengo to protect early returning wild steelhead, and close the fishery before March when most of the wild steelhead return to the Tucannon River.
Other Information:
Anglers must cease fishing for steelhead for the day once they have retained 2 hatchery steelhead or their 2 trout per day limit. Adipose fin-clipped fish must have a healed scar at the location of the missing fin. All steelhead with unclipped adipose fins must be immediately released unharmed. In addition, anglers cannot remove any steelhead from the water unless it is retained as part of the daily bag limit. Anglers should be sure to identify their catch because chinook and coho salmon, as well as bull trout are also present in the Tucannon River during this steelhead fishery.
Information contact: For more information, contact Glen Mendel, District 3 Fish Biologist at (509) 382-1005.