Originally Posted By: Lifter99
How does WDFW really know now what wild fish return is? It is only Feb 14 and a lot of wilds haven't even entered the rivers yet. They will be returning all the way into April. I know in one well known Chehalis trib that the wild return (and hatchery return) is more than at this time last season. This kind of smells like the QIN has something to do with this. Another possible explanation is that with the added higher hatchery plants in the Wynooche (winter steelhead) because of mitigation maybe the state wants more hatchery fish to get back for brood. There are plans also to plant more hatchery steelhead in the Satsop.


WDFW won't know what this year's return of wild fish is until after they spawn and spawning survey data is analyzed. This closure is based on the pre-season runsize forecast for the wild run, a number they have known for awhile. The decision to close now is likely based on that fact, and well, of course whatever the Quinault Tribe told them to do.