Action: Closes salmon fishing.
Effective dates: Sept. 16, 2026, until further notice.
Species affected: Coho salmon.
Location: Lake Washington (King County) north of Highway 520 Bridge and east of Montlake Bridge, Including that portion of the Sammamish River near Kenmore from 68th Ave. NE Bridge downstream.
Reason for action: In-season fishery data based on fish counts at the Ballard Locks indicates the coho return to the Lake Washington/Lake Sammamish basin is smaller than forecasted. This rule change is necessary to help ensure broodstock and natural spawning goals are reached.
Additional information: Preliminary salmon counts taken at the Ballard Locks during survey hours are available on WDFW's Lake Washington salmon counts webpage.
Fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications and to check for emergency rules on the WDFW website before fishing. Refer to the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for current regulations. Download the Fish Washington® mobile app to stay up to date on the go.
Information contact: North Puget Sound Region, 425-775-1311.