August 31, 2016
Action: Lake Wenatchee to close to sockeye salmon fishing.
Effective date: Sept. 5, 2016 (one hour after official sunset).
Species affected: Sockeye salmon.
Location: Lake Wenatchee (Chelan County).
Reason for action: The majority of adult sockeye salmon currently in Lake Wenatchee will soon become largely unavailable to anglers due to their annual migration to the spawning grounds on the White and Little Wenatchee rivers. Sockeye condition and desirability will have declined drastically. This closure will further reduce unnecessary impacts to bull trout with such relatively few sockeye present in Lake Wenatchee.
Other information: While the fishery is open, selective gear rules remain in effect (up to three single barbless hooks per line, no bait or scent allowed, knotless nets required). Anglers may fish with 2 poles as long as they possess a valid two-pole endorsement. A night closure also is in effect. Legal angling hours are one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Bull trout, steelhead, and chinook salmon must be released unharmed without removing the fish from the water.
Anglers are required to possess a Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement as part of their valid fishing license and catch record card. Revenue from the endorsement supports salmon or steelhead seasons on many rivers in the Columbia River system, including enforcing fishery regulations and monitoring the upper Columbia River spring chinook fisheries. The endorsement has generated more than $1 million annually for WDFW to maintain and increase fishing opportunities throughout the Columbia River basin.
Information contact: Travis Maitland, District 7 Fish Biologist, (509) 665-3337 (Wenatchee District Office); Jeff Korth, Region 2 Fish Program Manager (509) 754-4624.
Effective date: Sept. 5, 2016 (one hour after official sunset).
Species affected: Sockeye salmon.
Location: Lake Wenatchee (Chelan County).
Reason for action: The majority of adult sockeye salmon currently in Lake Wenatchee will soon become largely unavailable to anglers due to their annual migration to the spawning grounds on the White and Little Wenatchee rivers. Sockeye condition and desirability will have declined drastically. This closure will further reduce unnecessary impacts to bull trout with such relatively few sockeye present in Lake Wenatchee.
Other information: While the fishery is open, selective gear rules remain in effect (up to three single barbless hooks per line, no bait or scent allowed, knotless nets required). Anglers may fish with 2 poles as long as they possess a valid two-pole endorsement. A night closure also is in effect. Legal angling hours are one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Bull trout, steelhead, and chinook salmon must be released unharmed without removing the fish from the water.
Anglers are required to possess a Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement as part of their valid fishing license and catch record card. Revenue from the endorsement supports salmon or steelhead seasons on many rivers in the Columbia River system, including enforcing fishery regulations and monitoring the upper Columbia River spring chinook fisheries. The endorsement has generated more than $1 million annually for WDFW to maintain and increase fishing opportunities throughout the Columbia River basin.
Information contact: Travis Maitland, District 7 Fish Biologist, (509) 665-3337 (Wenatchee District Office); Jeff Korth, Region 2 Fish Program Manager (509) 754-4624.