https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=845

FISHING RULE CHANGE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

January 15, 2010




Closure of Skagit and Sauk rivers to fishing


Action: Close the Skagit and Sauk Rivers to all fishing.

Species affected: All game fish species

Location and effective closure dates:

Skagit River from the mouth upstream to Highway 536 (Memorial Hwy. Bridge) at Mount Vernon will be closed Feb.16, 2010 through April 30, 2010.

Skagit River from the Highway 536 (Memorial Hwy. Bridge) at Mount Vernon upstream to the Gorge Powerhouse will be closed Feb.16, 2010 through May 31, 2010.

Sauk River from the mouth upstream to the Whitechuck River will be closed Feb. 16, 2010 through June 4, 2010.

Reasons for action: The closure will reduce incidental hooking mortality on wild steelhead. The 2009/2010 forecasted return of wild winter steelhead to the Skagit Basin is expected to be below the escapement floor of 6,000.

Other information: The rivers will reopen to fishing as listed in the 2010/2012 Fishing in Washington Sport Fishing Rules.

Information Contact: Region 4 (425) 775-1311.

Wish I coulda been there during the Ira Yeager years. The end of an era maybe. Atleast we still have the stories and lore.

Looks like i didnt get to run into you this year at that secrete spot craig ... Hope the run turns out doing alright in the future

Have you read Ira's book, "Diary of a Sportsman"? If not i would be willing to loan you my copy.

Second river I've seen closed now because it won't reach escapements..Hmm

If the trend continues well have the cowlitz left to fish and some east side streams.

Yeah this is new to me, listed stocks and we fish intill were sure there ain't going to be enough..Then we close them? Seems kinda backasswards to me.

Ugh.

See you all on the OP............

which one is going to be the third?, geez close down one of my favorites a month early, then kick me in the shins and close the sauk next! I quit!

This is a tough one.

i need a hug, someone hold me :_(

My boys and I will certainly miss our favorite Spring break nate C&R fishery.
Hope the run comes back strong in 2011.

Strangely enough...the forecast for the Skagit, for what it's worth, is just shy of making escapement...and under the Wild Salmonid Policy, is well within the bounds of prosecuting the CnR fishery...

That being said, they missed it by so far last year that I have little faith in the projections, and though this is a tough pill to swallow, I can't really disagree with it until after the run is over and the reconstruction is done.

If last year was an anomaly, then great...if not, I'd rather find out at the end of the season, rather than during it while we're fishing.

Fish on...

Todd

I do not believe it will ever be open for C&R again. It has been closed a couple times in the past but this will end like the Skykomish.
Closed doors rarely open again in Washington!

I feel like I could Vomit!

I hope I'm wrong........Forks is next after everyone goes there.

Sad, sad news...

Since the runs are obviously hurting, hence the closure, why is it that the Tribes are still netting right now? Other than it is "their right", is there any good reason?

Don't get me wrong, I am not pointing my finger at the Tribal netting as the sole problem, it's merely just one of them but it has a great impact that continues to go unaddressed.

drift boat lawn ornament

Unforunately next is probably the Sky shutting down mid Feb....even after last years returns looking like numbers might be on the way toward the positive...Sucks !!!

Really hope it is a one year deal, although last year there weren't many fish around and the year before closed a month early. Bad Trends

Yeah.......can't wait for the mass exodus.