I just read on another thread that the terminals on the Snohomish basin were closing (Tokul, Rieter). This was a rumor I picked up upon reading about the native closure (C&R only). Is this a done deal? And if so, when does it take effect? I've heard that it may begin on Sunday so that tomorrow is the last day to fish these areas. Any reliable news?

Just copied this from the WSDFG home page. Go there for more answers or call your local office. It applies to natives only, that is the fish not the peoples.


The release requirement is being imposed because the harvestable number of wild-run steelhead is expected to be taken in those river
systems by Jan. 15.

The wild release rule will remain in effect through Feb. 29 or March 31 (as noted below), after which time those waters will either close or
go to catch-and-release.

For the following locations, the wild release rule is in effect through Feb. 29 after which anglers should check the standard rules pamphlet
for further guidance:

The mainstem Skykomish River from its mouth to the mouth of the Sultan River
The North Fork of the Skykomish River from its mouth to 1,000 feet downstream from Bear Creek Falls
The South Fork of the Skykomish River from its mouth to 600 feet downstream from the Sunset Falls fishway
Wallace River from its mouth to the mouth of Olney Creek
Sultan River from its mouth to a point 400 feet downstream from the diversion dam at river mile 9.7
Pilchuck River from its mouth to 500 feet downstream from the Snohomish City diversion dam
Tolt River from its mouth to the U.S. Forest Service trolley cable near the confluence of its North and South Forks
Raging River from its mouth to the Highway 18 bridge (three miles upstream from Preston)
Stillaguamish River and in all sloughs downstream of the Warm Beach- Stanwood Highway; from the highway upstream to its forks
The North Fork of the Stillaguamish River from its mouth to Swede Heaven Bridge
The South Fork of the Stillaguamish from its mouth to Mountain Loop Highway Bridge above Granite Falls
Canyon Creek from its mouth to the forks
Pilchuck Creek from its mouth to the Highway 9 bridge

For the waters listed below, the wild steelhead release requirement will be in effect until March 31, after which anglers should check the
standard rules pamphlet for further guidance:

The Snohomish River from its mouth (at the Burlington Northern Railroad bridges) including all channels, sloughs and
inter-connected waterways upstream to the confluence of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers
The Snoqualmie River from the mouth to the falls
The mainstem of the Skykomish River from the mouth of the Sultan River to the forks
Tokul Creek from its mouth to the posted cable boundary marker located approximately 700 feet upstream from the mouth


[This message has been edited by stever in everett (edited 01-14-2000).]

Thanks, yup, I read about the native release news. This doesn't bother me because I don't keep any. But it sure is nice to go to Rieter and consistently pick up a brat for the barbeque. The brats in the Sno basin move so fast sometimes it seems you have to fish on a horse. Hopefully the numbers won't be too far down this year.

I talked with the guys at the hatchery at tokul Yesterday and the count for brats are 97 fish. Usually this time of year they havce around 400 or so. that's the reason for the closure. Tokul handles all the winter fish for the snohomish system and reiter takes all the summer run fish for the entire north rivers.SAVE REITERl

Does anyone know if the tribes are still going to net next week after the catch and release?