WDFW Sportfishing Rules Updates

Action: Rescinds scheduled salmon season opener. Icicle River salmon season will not open as previously announced on May 31 and will remain closed until further notice. Effective date: Immediately, until further notice. Species affected: Chinook salmon. Locations: Icicle River (Chelan County): From the closure signs located 800 feet upstream of the mouth of the river … Read more

Action: Redefines the 20 fathom depth restriction line for bottomfish as follows: 48°25.00’N. lat., 124°44.06’W. long. (new coordinate) 48°25.00’N. lat., 120°45.22’W. long. (new coordinate) 48°23.90’N. lat., 124°44.20’W. long. (old coordinate) 48°23.60’N. lat., 124°44.90’W. long. 48°18.60’N. lat., 124°43.60’W. long. 48°18.60’N. lat., 124°48.20’W. long. 48°10.00’N. lat., 124°48.80’W. long. 48°02.40’N. lat., 124°49.30’W. long. 47°37.60’N. lat., 124°34.30’W. long. 47°31.70’N. … Read more

Action: Opens the Lewis River to hatchery Chinook retention. All other permanent rules remain in effect. Effective date: June 1–July 31, 2026. Species affected: Chinook salmon. Location: Lewis River from the mouth to the overhead powerlines below Merwin Dam. The mouth of the Lewis River is defined as a straight line from a fishing boundary … Read more

Action: Restores Wind River salmon and steelhead angling rules to permanent rules listed in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet. All other permanent rules remain in effect. Effective date: May 29, 2026. Species affected: Salmon and steelhead. Location: Wind River from the mouth to 400 feet downstream of the Shipherd Falls fish ladder. The Wind … Read more

Action: Opens the Icicle River to retention of hatchery spring Chinook. Effective date: One hour before official sunrise on Sunday, May 31, 2026, until further notice. Species affected: Chinook Salmon. Locations: Icicle River (Chelan County) From the closure signs located 800 feet upstream of the mouth of the river to 500 feet downstream from the … Read more

Action: Opens one additional day of spring Chinook salmon fishing in the Snake River at Little Goose Dam. Effective date: May 25, 2026, only. Species affected: Chinook salmon. Location: Below Little Goose Dam – Snake River from Texas Rapids boat launch (located on the south side of the river upstream of the mouth of Tucannon … Read more

Action: Extends spring Chinook seasons in the mainstem Columbia River from Rocky Point/Tongue Point upstream to Bonneville Dam (one retention day) and from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Washington/Oregon border (two retention days). Species affected: Spring Chinook and hatchery steelhead. Columbia River and Deep River locations, dates, and rules: From Rocky Point/Tongue Point (a projected … Read more

Action: Opens salmon fishing season seven days per week. Effective date: June 1–30, 2026. Species affected: Salmon Location: Marine Area 11, except year-round piers (Des Moines Pier, Les Davis Pier, Point Defiance Boathouse Dock, and Redondo Pier). Salmon Rules: Open daily. Chinook minimum size 22 inches. All other salmon species, no minimum size. Daily limit … Read more

Action: Opens a portion of the Cascade River to fishing for hatchery spring Chinook.  Effective dates: May 22–May 26. And June 3–July 15 on Wednesdays–Saturdays only Species affected: Chinook salmon. Location: Cascade River (Skagit County) from mouth to Rockport-Cascade Road Bridge. Salmon Rules: May 22–May 26: Salmon, open daily: Minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit … Read more

Action: Opens a section of the North Fork Nooksack River to hatchery spring Chinook fishing and retention. Effective dates: May 23 – June 30, 2026 Species affected: Hatchery spring Chinook salmon. Location: North Fork Nooksack River from the Highway 9 Bridge to the yellow marker at the upstream side of Kendall Creek Hatchery property. Salmon … Read more