Action: Opens fishing in portions of Skagit River and Cascade River. This rule also reduces the daily limit of coho on the upper Skagit River, prohibits bait, and requires single-point barbless hooks for salmon; and schedules two temporary closure periods during tribal fisheries.
Effective date: Oct. 1–31, 2026.
Species affected: All species, coho salmon.
Specific locations and rules:
Cascade River from mouth to Rockport-Cascade Road Bridge:
- Salmon daily limit four coho. Minimum size 12 inches. Release all salmon other than coho. Bait prohibited and single-point barbless hooks required for salmon.
- Closed to all fishing Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.
Skagit River from the mouth to Gilligan Creek east of Sedro-Woolley:
- Salmon daily limit two coho. Minimum size 12 inches. Release all salmon other than coho. Bait prohibited and single-point barbless hooks required for salmon.
Skagit River from Gilligan Creek to Baker River:
- Oct. 1–4: Salmon daily limit two coho. Minimum size 12 inches. Release all salmon other than coho. Bait prohibited and single-point barbless hooks required for salmon.
- Oct. 5–7: Closed to fishing for all species.
- Oct. 8–12: Salmon daily limit two coho. Minimum size 12 inches. Release all salmon other than coho. Bait prohibited and single-point barbless hooks required for salmon.
- Oct. 13–17: Closed to fishing for all species.
- Oct. 18–31: Salmon daily limit two coho. Minimum size 12 inches. Release all salmon other than coho. Bait prohibited and single-point barbless hooks required for salmon.
Skagit River from Baker River to Marblemount Bridge (Cascade River Road):
- Salmon daily limit two coho. Minimum size 12 inches. Release all salmon other than coho. Bait prohibited and single-point barbless hooks required for salmon.
Reason for action: Chinook encounter rates typically decrease substantially in October. Areas previously closed to reduce Chinook encounters are able to reopen for coho fishing opportunity in October.
Temporary closures observed from Gilligan Creek to Baker River are necessary to avoid gear conflicts with scheduled tribal fisheries. Refer to WDFW's webpage for information on tribal fishing.
Additional information on sport fisheries: This season has seen more Chinook catch during the coho sport fishery than has been observed since active in-season fall salmon fishery monitoring began in the Skagit River in 2021. Nearly two thirds of the freshwater sport portion of the allowed incidental Chinook catch has occurred. To preserve the coho fishing opportunity, anglers are advised to avoid fishing in areas where Chinook are or are known to hold.
Anglers are also reminded to be sure to identify their catch before retaining a fish. Size is not a reliable indicator of salmon species. Numerous Chinook and pink salmon have been observed in catch this year that anglers had misidentified, thinking they were coho. Salmon identification guides are available on WDFW's website (PDF) and in fishing regulations.
Dolly Varden/bull trout remain closed to targeting or retention under the annual regulations, and a night closure is in effect in Skagit and Cascade rivers during open periods.
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 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.