Action: Reduces hatchery steelhead daily limits.
Species affected: Hatchery steelhead.
Effective dates: Sept. 18, 2026, until further notice.
Location and rules:
From the mouth of the Snake River (Burbank to Pasco railroad bridge at Snake River mile 1.25) to the Lower Granite dam (Catch Record Card (CRC) areas 640, 642, 644 and 646):
- Open daily.
- Daily limit one hatchery steelhead.
- Barbless hooks required.
From Lower Granite Dam upstream to the Oregon state line (CRC areas 648 and 650):
- Open daily.
- Daily limit two hatchery steelhead.
- Barbless hooks required.
Reason for action: The total A/B index and unclipped steelhead returns at Bonneville Dam are currently the lowest on record since the dam was constructed in 1938.
On Sept. 14, the U.S. v. Oregon Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) downgraded the total expected steelhead return at Bonneville Dam to 61,500 fish, which would be the lowest total return on record. The total includes 53,400 A-index steelhead, of which 17,500 are unclipped, and 8,100 total B-index steelhead, of which 2,900 are unclipped.
WDFW has coordinated with comanagers, and while the overall return is low, current return estimates for natural- and hatchery-origin steelhead returning to the Snake River are high enough to allow for some recreational fisheries to continue with reduced daily limits.
Additional information:
- WDFW requires that all Washington licensed anglers cease fishing for steelhead once they have retained their daily limit.
- Two-pole fishing is not allowed during this fishery.
- When fishing in the Snake River between Washington and Idaho, the holder of a valid Washington fishing license may fish the Snake River where it forms a boundary between the states of Washington and Idaho. Washington licensed anglers are subject to the Washington fishing rules and may not fish from the Idaho shore, including wading, and may not fish sloughs or tributaries on the Idaho side.
- Any angler who fishes on the Snake River or any other water forming a Washington boundary can only utilize the fishing privileges (limits, size restriction, etc.) of one state's fishing license at a time. Before utilizing a Washington fishing license or fishing Washington-only waters, any fish retained while using another state's license must be returned to shore before continuing to angle.
- Areas listed as Closed Waters in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet, remain closed.
- Anglers should be sure to identify their catch, as coho and Chinook salmon are also present in the Snake River during this fishery.
- All salmonids (salmon or steelhead) that are not kept as part of the daily limit cannot be removed from the water and must be immediately released unharmed. All fall Chinook adults and jacks must be immediately recorded upon retention, on a catch record card when utilizing a Washington fishing license.
- All anglers age 15 and older must possess a Columbia River salmon and steelhead endorsement (CRSSE) to fish recreationally for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River and many of its Washington tributaries. The CRSSE is an annual requirement in addition to a valid fishing license. Endorsements are available to purchase online.
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: Jeremy Trump, District 3 Fish Biologist, Eastern Region, 509-382-1005