Action: Closes retention of wild (unmarked) adult Chinook in Snake River beginning Sept. 18.
Species affected: Chinook salmon.
Location, dates, and rules:
Lyons Ferry Bubble Fishery: From the red river marker (Marker 28) on the south shore of the Snake River upstream to the Highway 261 bridge (approximately 1.4 miles):
- Sept. 16:
- Closed.
- Sept. 17:
- Daily limit two adult Chinook, including no more than one wild adult Chinook. No daily limit for jack Chinook (wild or hatchery). Minimum size 12 inches. Release all salmon other than Chinook.
- Sept. 18–Oct. 25, 2026:
- Open Thursday through Sunday each week:
- Daily limit two adult hatchery Chinook. No daily limit for jack Chinook (wild or hatchery). Minimum size 12 inches. Release all salmon other than jack Chinook and adult hatchery Chinook.
- Barbless hooks required.
From the downstream edge of the large power lines crossing the Snake River just upstream of West Evans Road on the south shore (approximately three miles downstream of Clarkston), upstream to the Washington/Idaho state line (top of Catch Record Card area 648):
- Sept. 16–Sept. 17:
- Open daily.
- Daily limit three adult Chinook, including no more than one wild adult Chinook. No daily limit for jack Chinook (wild or hatchery). Minimum size 12 inches. Release all salmon other than Chinook.
- Barbless hooks required.
- Sept. 18–Oct. 15, 2026:
- Open daily.
- Daily limit three adult hatchery Chinook. No limit for jack Chinook (wild or hatchery). Minimum size 12 inches. Release all salmon other than jack Chinook and adult hatchery Chinook.
- Barbless hooks required.
From the Washington/Idaho state line to the Oregon state line (Catch Record Card area 650):
- Sept. 16–Sept. 17:
- Open daily.
- Daily limit three adult Chinook, including no more than one wild adult Chinook. No daily limit for jack Chinook (wild or hatchery). Minimum size 12 inches. Release all salmon other than Chinook.
- Barbless hooks required.
- Sept. 18–Oct. 31, 2026:
- Open daily.
- Daily limit three adult hatchery Chinook. No limit for jack Chinook (wild or hatchery). Minimum size 12 inches. Release all salmon other than jack Chinook and adult hatchery Chinook.
- Barbless hooks required.
Reason for action: WDFW met with comanagers to review the in-season harvest of unmarked fall Chinook salmon and associated impacts to natural-origin fish from recreational fisheries. Based on current harvest levels, it is necessary to shift to a mark-selective fishery for adult Chinook to extend opportunity to harvest hatchery fish while minimizing impacts on natural-origin fish.
Additional information:
- WDFW requires that all Washington licensed anglers cease fishing for Chinook once they have retained their adult daily limit. Adult Chinook are 24 inches in length or larger and jack Chinook are less than 24 inches in length.
- 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 salmon and steelhead 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