May 21, 2012
Action / Species affected: Spring chinook fishing on the Snake River will close at the end of the legal fishing period (dusk) on Tuesday, May 22, below Lower Granite Dam and near Clarkston, WA.
Locations: Locations A and B at Ice Harbor and Little Goose were closed earlier (May 18).
C) Snake River from Casey Creek Canyon Road on the Garfield County shore (approximately 6 miles downstream of Lower Granite Dam) to the fishing restriction boundary downstream of Lower Granite Dam.
D) Snake River from the intersection of Steptoe Canyon Road with the Hwy 193 (Snake River Road) on the Whitman County shore up-river approximately 12 miles to the Idaho state line (from the east levee of the Greenbelt boat launch in Clarkston northwest across the Snake River to the WA / ID boundary marker on the Whitman County shore).
Effective closure date for locations C and D: one hour after official sunset on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, until further notice.
Reason for action: Based on the most recent chinook run estimate, the observed catch rates, and projected harvest for the entire Snake River within Washington, the harvest of salmon from the Snake River is projected to reach the number of salmon allocated for harvest within that area.
Other Information: All other regulations established with the opening of these fisheries will remain in place until the closure takes effect on May 22.
The minimum size of any retained chinook is 12 inches. Jacks are less than 24 inches long. The adipose fin-clipped fish must have a healed scar at the location of the missing fin. All chinook with the adipose fin intact, and all steelhead, must be immediately released unharmed.
In addition: Anglers fishing for all species in identified areas of the Snake River during the salmon fishery; barbless hooks only when fishing for all species, and only single point barbless hooks are allowed when fishing for sturgeon.
Night closure in effect for salmon and sturgeon, and it shall be unlawful to use any hook larger than 5/8 inch (point of hook to shank) when fishing for all species except sturgeon. Anglers cannot remove any chinook or steelhead from the water unless it is retained as part of the daily bag limit.
Anglers are reminded to refer to the 2012/2013 Fishing in Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for other regulations, including safety closures, CLOSED WATERS, etc.
Locations: Locations A and B at Ice Harbor and Little Goose were closed earlier (May 18).
C) Snake River from Casey Creek Canyon Road on the Garfield County shore (approximately 6 miles downstream of Lower Granite Dam) to the fishing restriction boundary downstream of Lower Granite Dam.
D) Snake River from the intersection of Steptoe Canyon Road with the Hwy 193 (Snake River Road) on the Whitman County shore up-river approximately 12 miles to the Idaho state line (from the east levee of the Greenbelt boat launch in Clarkston northwest across the Snake River to the WA / ID boundary marker on the Whitman County shore).
Effective closure date for locations C and D: one hour after official sunset on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, until further notice.
Reason for action: Based on the most recent chinook run estimate, the observed catch rates, and projected harvest for the entire Snake River within Washington, the harvest of salmon from the Snake River is projected to reach the number of salmon allocated for harvest within that area.
Other Information: All other regulations established with the opening of these fisheries will remain in place until the closure takes effect on May 22.
The minimum size of any retained chinook is 12 inches. Jacks are less than 24 inches long. The adipose fin-clipped fish must have a healed scar at the location of the missing fin. All chinook with the adipose fin intact, and all steelhead, must be immediately released unharmed.
In addition: Anglers fishing for all species in identified areas of the Snake River during the salmon fishery; barbless hooks only when fishing for all species, and only single point barbless hooks are allowed when fishing for sturgeon.
Night closure in effect for salmon and sturgeon, and it shall be unlawful to use any hook larger than 5/8 inch (point of hook to shank) when fishing for all species except sturgeon. Anglers cannot remove any chinook or steelhead from the water unless it is retained as part of the daily bag limit.
Anglers are reminded to refer to the 2012/2013 Fishing in Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for other regulations, including safety closures, CLOSED WATERS, etc.