November 29, 2012
ACTIONS: Close the mainstem Columbia River from Wells Dam to Hwy 173 Bridge in Brewster and the Wenatchee, Icicle, Entiat, and Methow Rivers one hour after sunset on Dec. 1, 2012 to fishing for steelhead until further notice. In addition, the Wenatchee, Methow below the Chewuch River, and Entiat Rivers will close for whitefish fishing one hour after sunset on Dec. 1, 2012, and will remain closed until further notice.
SPECIES AFFECTED: Steelhead and whitefish
FISHING AREA LOCATIONS AND EFFECTIVE CLOSURE DATES:
Areas that will close to fishing for steelhead one hour after sunset on Dec. 1 until further notice include:
Mainstem Columbia River: From Wells Dam to Hwy 173 Bridge in Brewster
Wenatchee River: From the mouth to the Wenatchee River at the Icicle Road Bridge, including the Icicle River from the mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Barrier Dam.
Entiat River: Upstream from the Alternate Highway 97 Bridge, near the mouth of the Entiat River to 800 feet downstream of the Entiat National Fish Hatchery
Methow River: From the mouth to the confluence with the Chewuch River in Winthrop
Areas that will close for whitefish fishing one hour after sunset on Dec. 1 until further notice include:
Wenatchee River: From the mouth to the Hwy 2 Bridge at Leavenworth.
Entiat River: Upstream from the Alternate Highway 97 Bridge, near the mouth of the Entiat River to Entiat Falls.
Methow River: From Gold Creek to the confluence with the Chewuch River in Winthrop.
Reason for closure: The allowable mortality of natural origin steelhead due to angling effects is approaching the maximum limits in the closed areas. The ESA Section 10 permit sets the incidental take of listed species separately for each fishery to accommodate variation in the run strength and angling effort within the fisheries and year to year. The 2012-2013 steelhead run is less than recent years and has a relatively high proportion of natural origin steelhead.
FISHING AREA LOCATIONS REMAINING OPEN TO STEELHEAD FISHING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE:
Mainstem Columbia River: From Rock Island Dam to the boundary markers below Wells Dam and from Highway 173 Bridge in Brewster to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam
Okanogan River: From the mouth upstream to the Highway 97 Bridge in Oroville
Similkameen River: From the mouth upstream to 400 feet below Enloe Dam
GENERAL RULES for locations remaining open to steelhead fishing:
Mandatory retention of adipose fin clipped steelhead, daily limit two (2) hatchery steelhead, 20 inch minimum size. Hatchery steelhead are identified by a missing adipose fin with a healed scar in its location.
Adipose present steelhead must be released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.
Night closure and selective gear rules remain in effect, except bait allowed on mainstem Columbia River.
OTHER ANGLER INFORMATION:
Anglers are required to possess a Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement as part of their valid fishing license.
Information contacts: Jeff Korth, Region 2 Fish Program Manager (Ephrata), (509) 754-4624, Bob Jateff, District 6 Fish Biologist (Methow, Okanogan), (509) 997-0316, Travis Maitland, District 7 Fish Biologist (Wenatchee, Entiat), (509) 665
SPECIES AFFECTED: Steelhead and whitefish
FISHING AREA LOCATIONS AND EFFECTIVE CLOSURE DATES:
Areas that will close to fishing for steelhead one hour after sunset on Dec. 1 until further notice include:
Mainstem Columbia River: From Wells Dam to Hwy 173 Bridge in Brewster
Wenatchee River: From the mouth to the Wenatchee River at the Icicle Road Bridge, including the Icicle River from the mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Barrier Dam.
Entiat River: Upstream from the Alternate Highway 97 Bridge, near the mouth of the Entiat River to 800 feet downstream of the Entiat National Fish Hatchery
Methow River: From the mouth to the confluence with the Chewuch River in Winthrop
Areas that will close for whitefish fishing one hour after sunset on Dec. 1 until further notice include:
Wenatchee River: From the mouth to the Hwy 2 Bridge at Leavenworth.
Entiat River: Upstream from the Alternate Highway 97 Bridge, near the mouth of the Entiat River to Entiat Falls.
Methow River: From Gold Creek to the confluence with the Chewuch River in Winthrop.
Reason for closure: The allowable mortality of natural origin steelhead due to angling effects is approaching the maximum limits in the closed areas. The ESA Section 10 permit sets the incidental take of listed species separately for each fishery to accommodate variation in the run strength and angling effort within the fisheries and year to year. The 2012-2013 steelhead run is less than recent years and has a relatively high proportion of natural origin steelhead.
FISHING AREA LOCATIONS REMAINING OPEN TO STEELHEAD FISHING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE:
Mainstem Columbia River: From Rock Island Dam to the boundary markers below Wells Dam and from Highway 173 Bridge in Brewster to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam
Okanogan River: From the mouth upstream to the Highway 97 Bridge in Oroville
Similkameen River: From the mouth upstream to 400 feet below Enloe Dam
GENERAL RULES for locations remaining open to steelhead fishing:
Mandatory retention of adipose fin clipped steelhead, daily limit two (2) hatchery steelhead, 20 inch minimum size. Hatchery steelhead are identified by a missing adipose fin with a healed scar in its location.
Adipose present steelhead must be released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.
Night closure and selective gear rules remain in effect, except bait allowed on mainstem Columbia River.
OTHER ANGLER INFORMATION:
Anglers are required to possess a Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement as part of their valid fishing license.
Information contacts: Jeff Korth, Region 2 Fish Program Manager (Ephrata), (509) 754-4624, Bob Jateff, District 6 Fish Biologist (Methow, Okanogan), (509) 997-0316, Travis Maitland, District 7 Fish Biologist (Wenatchee, Entiat), (509) 665