Action: Reduces hatchery steelhead daily limit.
Species affected: Hatchery steelhead.
Location: Tucannon River from the mouth to the Tucannon Hatchery Road bridge.
Effective dates: Sept. 18, 2026, until further notice.
Rules:
- Open daily.
- Daily limit 1 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 expected total 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 B-index steelhead, of which 2,900 are unclipped.
While the overall return is low, current return estimates for natural- and hatchery-origin steelhead 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 now allowed during this fishery.
- Anglers should be sure to identify their catch, as coho and Chinook salmon are also present in the Tucannon 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 released unharmed. All Chinook adults and jacks must be immediately recorded upon retention, no 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, 509-382-1005