As a trout angler who occasionally fishes for salmon, it bugs me to see complete river closures, ostensibly to protect Chinook salmon. It happens to the Humptulips, then the Skagit this year, and now the Satsop. A lot of us like to chase sea run cutthroat with 5 and 6 weight fly rods that couldn't harm a Chinook if we tried. And we don't try! Rather than enforce fishing regulations, the Washington Department of salmon just prefers complete river closures these days.

But the Chehalis did open for coho fishing yesterday, so a friend and I gave it a go. I've mostly fished in the Harbor in the past decade or so. I'd kinda' forgotten how nice it is to boat and fish in some tamer water. We boated a couple and called it good.

I agree, Salmo. They could easily craft regulations that protect salmon and allow trout fishing. Used to be that "opportunity" was the mantra. Now, they see to have given up and just open or close.

With the Chehalis tribs being very low and no rain forecast for the rest of the month I was wondering if tribs (Nooch, Satsop, etc) will open ov Oct. 1? Anybody heard anything?

https://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/rfc/

Other than Doty the basin flows are forecast below average but not record lows which is good. Now the bad the long range forecast has rain off and on through Oct. but not enough to jump flows up. The weather looks to following be following AH's old rule..... no real rain until the first week of Nov. Nov. is going to be wet for sure but then we have this, the large number of Coho moving up early is good as NT nets are in the last week Sept two days then the QIN and NT combine 4 to 5 days netting a week through Oct.

To your question who knows! If the fish come in and move above the Rec boundry lines probally not. If they fill the river and park so you have red fish ass deep maybe. The fish did that in early 80's and again early 90's.

This is not true.

I guess I could be wrong but the old rule was Chinook South Coho North but is not exclusive. Just which place to target for what fish. Lots of folks fish the South for Coho and C&R for Chinook this is not a new thing. That is why tribal fishers are not allowed in South channel.

Ah we are back. Little update fishing tidewater has been good bad really good depends on the day person. Have seen several jumpers today watching the river so it looks like the weather has had a positive impact. Time to get at it guys!

Only had one or two jumpers here so far, but some folks I know have been doing fairly well further North in Budd. A few late Chinook and more coho.

Well I know one guy had fun! Watched him hook a rather good size Chinook and that fish took him up and down the river in front of the house! What impressed me was when he got it to the boat he simply cut the leader and let his spinner go with the fish. That is how you fish tidewater to keep Chinook mortality down... do not handle the fish at all just cut the leader the barbless hook will fall out. Whoever you are guy thumbs up!

9/27/2026




Wynoochee has not been closed, that I'm aware of.....

Humptulips, Satsop, will be open for sure 10/01, I'm assuming Wishkah will be open also. Also the Chehalis above Fuller Bridge will be open.

NT net fisher's will get 2 days before 10/01, but will have to release wild chinook...

https://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/rfc/ take a look

The Chehalis at Porter had a 500 cfs jump day a half or so ago that water should be or is close to reaching tidewater. It should make a difference or not but NT nets go in the 30th and Oct. 1st daytime only 5 1/2 mesh stretched.

Shoot us stilly river fish folks have suffering longer than anyone and now that sickness has spread to the Snohomish system and the Skagit system. Yeah NS fishermen get the worst of it Again and again. Between the game department and the tribes and WFC . They all must have put a big target on region 4 as their preferred bomb site.

Region 4 is the center of population and development. Fish numbers going down but we, AK, and BC still go after them in the salt. Little left for the FW angler.

Just saw a news item that the Chehalis wants to charge $45 for bank fishing and $500 for boat fishing on a stretch of river. Coupled with the Skoks charging a few hundred for one of 50 permits at the old TPUD launch.

This should top over well.

THX CM your right this should be a goody!!!

By The Chronicle staff
The Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation are charging anglers for permits to fish on a 10-mile section of the Chehalis River, the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) stated in a news release Tuesday, Sept. 29.

The tribe has indicated it will cite non-tribal anglers who do not obtain a $500 boat fishing permit or a $45 bank fishing permit from the tribe, according to WDFW.

“While the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife disputes the Chehalis Tribes’ legal arguments for citing anglers lawfully participating in state-managed fisheries on a navigable river, WDFW is encouraging anglers and guides to be aware of the possibility of a citation from the tribe and their fishing gear or watercraft potentially being seized,” the department stated in the news release.

The Chehalis River in Grays Harbor County is classified as a federally navigable waterbody, WDFW noted.

“This large river flows through an area of non-contiguous Chehalis Reservation, off-reservation tribal trust lands, and private lands from approximately South Bank Road near Oakville upstream to Moon Road SW near Helsing Junction,” the news release stated. “The river is popular for fall coho and steelhead fisheries managed through the Washington Sport Fishing Rules and has a long history of both recreational and tribal fishing.”

WDFW noted in the news release that federal and state laws allow for floating navigable waters including for fishing. Washington state laws — including RCW 79.105.060 — typically allow for public access along navigable waters below the ordinary high-water mark, the news release stated. Intentionally obstructing the lawful taking of fish, shellfish or wildlife is a crime under RCW 77.15.210.

“WDFW is in conversations with Chehalis tribal leadership, the State Attorney General’s Office, and county leadership and law enforcement regarding the tribe’s claim to sole authority over fishing in this section of the Chehalis River,” WDFW stated in the news release. “WDFW encourages anglers and guides to temporarily avoid this section of river or to float through and refrain from anchoring, wading or fishing from shore.”

If anglers are contacted by Chehalis Tribe law enforcement, fisheries staff or tribal members, the WDFW offered the following advice:

Remain polite, respectful, and do not escalate the interaction.
Present a valid Washington state fishing license and Catch Record Card (CRC) to tribal law enforcement if requested to do so.
If necessary, ask tribal law enforcement, “Am I being detained or am I free to go?”
If tribal law enforcement indicate fishing gear or watercraft is being seized, remain respectful and contact your local sheriff’s office or WDFW Police.


MORE:
A Chehalis Tribal Court judge has found recreational angler Smith guilty of fishing from a boat on the Chehalis River without obtaining a tribal permit.

According to the court order, Mr. Smith argued that he was fishing on navigable waters of the United States and cited Montana v. United States as part of his defense. The court rejected that argument, ruling that the Chehalis Tribe has authority to regulate non-tribal fishing activity within the exterior boundaries of the reservation and upheld a $500 fine.

This case is far bigger than one citation. It raises major questions about tribal jurisdiction over navigable waterways, the rights of recreational anglers, and whether tribal permit requirements can be enforced against non-tribal members fishing from boats on rivers many believe are public waters.

The next chapter of this fight may not be in tribal court.
It may be in the federal court system, where broader questions about jurisdiction, navigability, and public access can be challenged and reviewed.

What do you think? Should a tribal permit be required to fish from a boat on a navigable river?

The WDFW gnus release said that they "dispute" the Tribal position. Like they "dispute" the Skok's position. They bring to score Brownie Points by saying we don't agree. But then seem to do nothing.

The question needs a legal review. What needs a political review is forcing the recreational angler to pay for fish production for all.

Guess there is more work for the lawyers. Should have had another major in college...

Just to throw napalm on the fire, how far off the coast does the QIN Rez go? Most countries, and they are supposedly sovereign, claim and enforce 3 miles. So, do I need a tribal permit to fish within 3 miles of the Rez while on the Big Blue? For that matter, any tribe whose Rez abuts saltwater, like in Puget Sound.

Chehalis are non treaty just area within the rez boundries and there no goverment agency (mostly) interferes. Used to be Chehalis tribal catch was treaty then it was changed to non treaty and charged to state harvest. Kinda been a mess since Boldt.

And there is no way QIN will allow them to get recognized fishing rights.